Happy Harper Quilts
Many of my #happycampers ask me
why I recommend purchasing name brand fabric from retailers other than
Jo-Ann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart.
The
short answer is: QUALITY.
Name brand fabric is more durable and easier
to work with. In my experience, when I
work with off-brand or cheaper fabrics, you get what you pay for. You get . . .
seams that do not match up (even if you trim and doctor your blocks a
hundred times over!); frays galore; damaged fabric after seam ripping (because
the fabric frays); rotary blades that dull faster; and a frustrating work
environment. Think about how the rotary
blade has done wonders compared to scissors when it comes to cutting a straight
edge. What a time saver! And you know you are going to get as accurate
a cut as humanly possible! Well, it is
the same for name brand fabrics. When I
work with name brand fabrics, I save time, get better final products and
avoid unnecessary frustration! Quilting
is not always enjoyable-hey, it is hard work!
But in the end, you can relish over your finished product! So many times, after completing a quilt using
off-brand fabric, I regret all the time I spent, because the finished product
is sub-par! No one wants to feel that
way after spending countless hours on a quilt!
Some people like to purchase cheaper
fabric so they can “practice” a pattern.
Little do they know, the cheaper fabric is not helping you hone your
craft. Instead, it ends up frustrating
your efforts and preventing you from accomplishing the very thing you intended to practice--achieving those perfect seams or stitches. If you want to practice, but don’t want to
splurge, then opt for a name brand charm pack (42 5-inch squares, about $10 retail) or just practice on a smaller
project (using name brand fabric).
If you have worked with off-brand
fabric successfully, hats off to you, darling!
It has not been so easy for me. I
am not saying that you should never choose fabrics from Jo-Ann Fabrics, Hobby
Lobby, or Wal-Mart. BUT - if you are going to invest your time in a project that you want to
stand the test of time, splurge on some name brand fabrics. I promise it is worth it!
My personal experiences are noted
below, per retailer:
Wal-Mart – all fabric I have
purchased is thin, frays easily, and my seams were never “perfect”. Not good for any type of quilt-top piecing or
paper piecing patterns, IMO.
Jo-Ann Fabrics – this one is hit or
miss; about 50% of the time, I get good quality, but beware of thin or rough
fabrics.
Hobby Lobby – a lot of cute
fabrics to choose from, and I have purchased off the bolt and successfully
completed a few lap size quilts with these fabrics with no regrets. However, I have purchased their fat quarters
a couple of times, and my rotary blade and machine needle needed replacing
after this single project! Talk about
rough!
Hope this info helps! And as always ...
Happy Quilting,
