A Guide to Buying Quilt Fabrics on the Internet
On Line Quilt Fabric Stores Make Customer Satisfaction Their Goal
Oct 12, 2009
Quilters don't always have easy access to a large selection of fabrics. Shopping in the comfort of home in your pajamas can be a very exciting and satisfying experience. And just maybe, by the time it arrives, you will have finished another project and cleared the cutting mat for the next project. It is a nice goal anyway.
There is no substitute for seeing and feeling fabric before buying. A very close second, however, is buying from a reliable on line fabric store. Quilters have an advantage when buying on the web because quilting fabric doesn't vary a great deal in weight and quality, especially when buying trusted brand names. Before you buy, check out their return policy, just in case. Keep in mind that all monitors display colors differently, and the color may be slightly off from what you expected. The shipping to returning fabric can get expensive, so choose carefully.
Tips for Selecting Colors
Trying to match a color you already have can work when purchasing fabric made from the same manufacturer, but don't expect a perfect match. Scrappy type quilts don't require perfect matches. If you must have the same fabric throughout, be sure to purchase extra fabric, just in case. If you are just building your stash, the exact color won't be a problem. If you are coordinating fabric for a particular quilt, it may be best to purchase all of the fabric from the same site. That way the colors will coordinate with each other, even if they aren't exactly as shown on your monitor.
Adjust Your Browser
You may also need to adjust your browser to display the fabric larger in order to get a better idea of the pattern. Check the help section for your particular browser. This is very helpful to avoid being surprised by details of the pattern that are difficult to see without enlarging the screen. Also keep in mind that it is sometimes hard to judge large overall fabric patterns from just the small swatch on the screen.
Some On Line Fabric Stores
There are many reliable on line fabric stores for quilters. Just like brick and mortar stores, if you don't find what you want in one, shop in another. You won't be burning gas, so you can buy more fabric with the money you save on gas. Some stores offer free shipping on orders over $50. If you're close to $50, paying for more fabric instead of shipping is a good way to go.
Hancock's of Paducah is celebrating their 40th anniversary. In addition to many excellent fabric collections, they sell a full range of quilting notions. Get a cup of coffee or other drink, and settle in, you'll need a lot of time to completely shop this site.
A smaller site that offers free shipping over $50, Connecting Threads has fabric exclusive to them at a lower price. The cotton for their fabric is now grown exclusively in the USA. Their Essential Thread is inexpensive, comes in wonderful colors, and is great for machine quilting. Their sample quilts are always beautifully quilted.
On Line Fabric Bargains
On line stores have good sales, too. Check out the bargain fabric first! Chances are good you can find something you can't pass up.
You don't have to live near a large fabric store or travel great distances to shop for quilt fabric. Shop on line in the comfort of your home, at the time most convenient for you. You may also be interested in Sewing With the Right Thread.
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