Sewing Mamas...

[Sandra Dee]

HOW can I find wovens that are high quality and won't fade?
I'm learning all too quickly that Joann sells inferior fabrics and my daughter's stuff is fading and the flannels are pilling!!! :(

[jjquilter]

The best place to find quality fabrics is a quilting store. Unfortunately, you're going to pay top price for good quality flannel, at least $8/yard, but you'll get a top notch product as well. JoAnn doesn't carry quality fabrics, in general, and a serious quilter won't shop there.

I haven't found an online company that I really like, though I can probably get a name of good quality flannel for you from my stash downstairs. My favourite quilting store is Eddie's Quilting Bee in Mountain View, CA. He has an online store, www.quiltingbee.com. I've only every shopped at the store (which is just wonderful) but Eddie is a great guy and I can't imagine that you'll have a problem shopping online. You can also always find great deals in the store. In fact, I'd trust Eddie's judgement when it comes to fabric quality and say that anything you buy from him will be of top notch quality.

Good luck!

[LdyBluNH@aol]

fyi momschooling, the links in your signature are for making email

they arent links to web pages -- i'm not certain what your intent was with them

[sklt]

Momschooling, the very best quilt shop I've ever run across is Faye's Henhouse in Mayville, North Dakota. You would not BELIEVE the selection. If you're within 3 hours of there, it's worth the trip. They also have a website (don't know the address; if I remember, I'll go find it and edit it in here - but I make no promises ;) ), and she has said numerous times that she will do online and phone orders with no problems (I'm in Iowa, and get up there a couple of times a year to visit my brother and his family). But, as mentioned above, you will pay more for the quality, usually more than twice as much as JoAnn's. It's well worth it, particularly for flannels, in my opinion.

[Maribel]

jjquilter! I LOOOOOOOVVVEEEEE Eddie's Quilting Bee!

I don't know how to quilt (or sew for that matter), but I'm thinking of taking some classes there. I've been in his store quite a few times during my lunch hour (right near where I work) just drooling over all the sewing machines and fabrics. Small world.

[jjquilter]

Hi Maribel!

I just moved away from California and haven't found a quilting store that is quite the same... The classes there are pretty inexpensive and the ones that I took were quite good. The fabric is reasonably priced and the people who work there LOVE their jobs -- many of them just work there to support their quilting addiction!

Too bad I'm not in your vicinity anymore... I used to live and work in Palo Alto.

Happy sewing!

[onediaperinmama]

With fabrics, you truly do get what you pay for. The higher the price on a nice woven or flannel the more fade resistant, pill resistant it will be. South Seas Imports makes gorgeous bright flannels & wovens for around $7.49 - $8.00 that stay looking fantastic. Look for the Kaufmann name in flannels too, pricey but nice.

Good luck!