Roll With It Quilt Pattern: www.sewthedistance.com/store/p/roll-with-it-quilt-pattern Video Tutorial: th-cam.com/video/WPlodcqgQfw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=3Ebr-DXoKuTCpkod
Another way to look at it is that the designer version performed only marginally better, and that might not justify costing twice as much, depending on your priorities.
And if the cost of designer fabrics is keeping you from creating, Joann's, cut up shirts, sheets, etc. Is a way to still let you create a masterpiece. Remember, most old quilts were cut up clothing, feed sacks, anywhere they could save coth.
Another thought to consider is time. If you don't have the time to shop at a store for hours then the higher dollar might be a good fit. If you have the time to spend at the shop and not the money to buy the more expensive fabric then Joanne's may be your answer. It's good to see that both options are very viable.
The big winner is the Joannes quilt. You had the memories of choosing fabrics and time with your son. You will look at that quilt and remember that. Both are lovely quilts. I loved this video! Thanks Kris
My pleasure! It's funny--I mention that in the video and then I got to rambling about it, and it ended up on the "cutting room floor" during editing. I kind of wish I would have left in now. Someday he may be watching my videos long after I am gone and realized just how much that meant to me. Next time I will leave in it. 🥰
I made my first quilts with Joann Fabrics and they only lasted about 5 to 10 years (based on how much use they got) but they definitely frayed and the fabric just wore away. I had hand quilted both full size log cabin quilts and that was a lot of work. Using better fabrics, I'm finding that quilts last 20-30 years with regular use before I see any wear. So quality fabric wins in my book.
There are so many factors to consider, for sure! Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I also have the quilt I made last year for the $20 quilt video that gets washed weekly (Joann's fabric on the front and Walmart beach towels on the back). I am always shocked at how well that has held up after 50+ washings and dryings. So crazy the differences in fabric quality even within the fabric lines!
Love your enthusiasm. Great test, but it's personal at best. My first thought was looking at design of fabric before you stated your categories. I guessed Moda as my favor for material design but after seeing more of your quilt I liked it just as much. Great test,appreciate your time n effort. Time is a factor too to shop vs already to go !😊😊😊
I'm no fabric snob and will often mix designer and lesser quality fabric. If it's pretty I buy it and use it! Thanks for this fun video. I'm sharing it with all my quilty friends.
I don't think my mom and granny cared about designer fabric on the farm! They even took the bull Durham bags apart dyed them and quilted them. No designer fabric there.
A fabric store 4 miles from me has fabrics for &4.99 a yard. Many are designer and maybe from 1-2 years ago. Who cares? I only get the designer labels.i am a lucky woman!
i live on a fixed income so i have to be smart about supplies, one big money saver is not using batting, i live in texas and it rarely gets cold here, what i use instead is fleece, i quilt the top right on the fleece and they come out so well, i also go to thrift shops and get cotton sheets and mens cotton dress shirts which i dont have to worry about shrinkage, just think outside of the box
I live in South America. We don't have a tradition of quilting here, so supplies are at best hard to find. I have to buy cotton fabric abroad, which in the end makes it around twice as expensive due to shipping. When I decided I would try quilting I quickly found out there's no cotton batting here at all, not even poly/cotton batting, so I made that first quilt with polar fleece instead of batting and backing. I've been doing that eversince mainly because of the lack of supplies here, but also because I save a lot on fabric, and fleece is cheap and easy to find. I've even used it as batting for baby quilts. I'd say it's a great alternative for quilting on a budget.
@@txsunshinecowgirl I love the idea of fleece! I live in the tropics and even though we can buy batting here it is expensive and sometimes we don’t end up by using the quilts because they make us too hot. Fleece would make them so much lighter, plus it would remove the cost of backing fabric. Quilting fabrics average around AUD28 a metre, with Kaffe, Tula and others costing AUD36 (which is obscene) so making quilting cheaper is tempting. Thank you for this, definitely food for though 🤢
@@SewtheDistancebut one consideration with the sheets is the tight weave (thread count). Older sheets found at thrift stores or less expensive sheets with lower thread content would be more workable. It can be more difficult for the needle to pierce the high thread count. Be sure your needle is fresh and a smaller size.
@@mb6833- do you have thrift shops? You could use men’s dress shirts - 100% cotton - dresses My sister goes & gets wool jackets & takes them apart for her wool appliqué.
I'm glad you made this video comparing the fabrics. I think it's just fine to use fabrics from the big box stores if that is what you can afford. That's where my fabric came from when I first started quilting. I'm very frugal when it comes to fabric and usually buy it when it's on sale. I get a little upset when the quilt police make comments to new quilters about their fabric choices. I made my kids and grandkids clothes from those big box stores fabrics and if they can hold up to weekly washing and the abuse of a small child, it should be just fine in a quilt. Thanks for sharing!!
Absolutely!!!! When I started quilting, I was a single parent and could not afford fabric. My mom and aunt were very gracious and gifted me their scraps or gave me fabric for birthdays and holidays. I now work in a quilt shop and it makes me sad when teens or young moms come in for help w their projects and apologize for their fabrics being from a big box stores. I tell them, no quilt police here!!! You quilt with what fabric you can afford!! What matters is the time and love that went into it. Not the cost.
Both are pretty. I love the brightness from The knockoff. Joann's does have nice fabric too. I think I need more yellow. When I go to Quilt shops I usually ooh and awe, then go see what's on sale.😁. The quilt I'm cuddled up under right now is a mixture from different stores. Mainly scraps. Cotton, cotton flannel. Scrappy makes me happy. Thank you Kris for this fun video. Just don't buy cheap underwear!
Love the concept of this throwdown.. i would Love to see you take it a step further and showdown the diff types of cottons from Joanns.. the cheapie keepsake calico, versus the novelty, versus the premium.. many of the premiums are namebrand quallity
If you do this, make sure you weigh say a yard of each before you start working with them (on a kitchen scale). That would be an interesting side-by-side.
I love the comparison, and the effort you put in. I'm a fabric snob, so the designer fabric will win every day for me. BUT... you mentioned the Joann fabric not being printed straight, that's not just a cheap fabric problem - I've had many designer fabrics (including Moda) that aren't printed straight (ginghams drive my brain crazy for this reason). And you can't correct them (by wasting fabric) with a jelly roll. So, you could maybe give the Joann fabric an extra point or 2 😂
I agree with you about Moda’s poor quality control related to straight printing. I find that most of their designers create prints based on straight line repeat rather than scattered prints. It’s difficult to cut their fabrics and their precut charm packs are terribly crooked.
I can’t think of any designers that print on grain. They’re ALL bad at it. Lori Holt is some of the worst I’ve seen, Northcott can be bad, Moda is bad, Figo is 50/50.
Ohhh! Good to know! I am a fabric snob, too, but am slowly reconsidering this. That said, I just placed an order for some never Moda Christmas fabric. 😛
If I try to straighten it the pattern isn't straight then either. Trying to sew with linear patterns is so frustrating for me that it isn't worth the hassle. I won't buy a fabric anymore if it isn't patterned enough to hide "not straight" printing.
What a great video! My nearest quilt store is an hour's drive, my nearest Joann is 5 minutes. So my stash is probably about 50/50 between the "good" stuff and the "cheap" stuff. I love the quilts I make, regardless of the fabric source, but I have to admit that the ones that I make with the intention of keeping them for myself or showing off tend to be made from the quilt shop fabrics. Funny thing is, the ones I make intending to keep are the ones I give to people I love, so the ones I do wind up keeping are the "cheap" stuff, and I love them like children. It's nice to see confirmation that in the end, a lovely quilt is a lovely quilt, regardless of its pedigree and in terms of quality its a coin toss.
We sound so much alike! I do the same thing, have both in my stash, everything. I can really relate to this. So happy you liked this video! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this!
This was so helpful to newbie quilters like me. I don't have to feel guilty or less-than for utilizing knock-off fabrics. I will purchase higher end when on sale and feel good either way! Thank you! :D
Thank you for this video. I appreciate the time and effort to do this comparison. I purchase Moda fabrics because they make my heart sing. If I’m going to spend all that time on making a quilt, the fabric needs to be something I absolutely love every time I look at it, before, during and after I complete it. Years later I make a bed and still say, “Wow!”
I've had the same results. Quilts I've made from Joann's looked pretty good compared to designer fabric. Which lead me to not be too hesitant anymore to shop at Joann's. Your quilts look beautiful!! ❤ Thanks for sharing!!
You are so welcome! 🥰 This helps me a lot. While reading and responding to comments today, I am taking a ton of notes. So many opinions and experiences in this area! Thank you for the validation that we both are having similar outcomes!
some Joanne's fabrics are really thin, but most are just fine. Same with Walmart's. I think just skipping the thin fabrics and not spending hours trying to match a jelly roll changes the outcome entirely.
Well, this is true, although it is also not the premise of the original video. This is a follow-up to that one. I hope this helps understand where I was coming from. ❤️
Not sure if you watched the original video, but we had a lot of fun picking the fabric together. He took some Graphic Design courses in college so I like hearing his input from that perspective. ❤️😊
Loved the video! Everyone is a winner! Buy what you are comfortable buying. I buy both andsometimes I mix them. I avoid the super cheap stuff for quits. It’s so thin. Even the Walmart Waverley fabrics are good quality. The worst case of bleeding and running I ever had was from a Tula pink fat quarter that I had prewashed to make a bag.
Yay! So glad you love this video! Wow--interesting about Tula! I have had some bad luck with bleeding and designer fabrics, too! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, as well as your experience.
I have found that the fabrics I find at most “quilt shops” are a nicer quality with higher thread counts that make a tighter weave. Fabrics from Joanne’s, Hobby Lobby and Walmart (and Fabricland in Canada) have a less dense thread count. I decided a few years ago to only buy the ones with the higher thread count. I love the feel better.
I was JUST like this until I did this experiment! So surprised and impressed with the results, especially the ending where I measured after I washed them both. I think I’m not reformed.
Thread count-- Quilt cotton fabric thread count will vary between good quality at 60 to 75 threads per inch to high quality with 200 threads per inch in the length (warp) and width (weft). Batik fabric uses 200 to 220 thread count and a finer thread as required for the wax and dye process. Higher thread count than 75 makes it difficult for hand quilting. Fabric weight is also as important as thread count. The weight comes from the cotton thread size and how tightlly it's woven. For example using very thin cotton thread and a 75 thread count will make for a loosely woven fabric and not quality. Too bad this info isn't on the ends of bolts. Perhaps they should be, like in grocery stores the price per ounce is listed.
@@marinaabad4995 Thanks for the information. I like to feel all the fabric I buy. Some you can see the low thread count, usually on cheaper fabrics. I decided a few years ago that I have to pick out the fabric myself, not buy online unless it is something I already know. (Like same designer, same pattern, different colour). I also love choosing fabrics out myself. I just have to love the pattern and feel. I guess I am a fabric snob LOL.
60 threads per inch is now industry standard for quilting cotton. Kaffe Fassett uses a bit higher than that with thinner threads for a silky feel and often gets grief about it as if it is inferior. Higher thread counts generally mean that the individual threads are thinner.
I loved this video and the info, I prefer designer fabric the print is just sharper and the fabric feels better, I do buy it on sale when I can, I live in a small town with limited access to 2 quilt stores not very nearby one is cheaper than the other and this one has knowledgeable ladies which means a lot to me jelly rolls and layer cakes work great cuz we don’t have access to a lot of the same line of fabric
Hi Kris, i was pretty surprised by the shrinkage of both quilts. I dont pre-wash my fabrics so it taught me if i want an exact size i need to make it bigger to figure in shrinkage. I like the crinkled texture after washing. The cost is the biggest difference to me. If budget is a consideration...then JoAnn's fabric is the big winner. I have a wonderful quilt shop in my small town and i love shoping there. I also find high quality vintage fabric at thrift stores. I do not have Jo Ann's fabric or Hobby Lobby in my area but when i travel to a larger city I prefer to shop at Hobby Lobby. They have high quality prints and beautiful solids that perform well. They also have a great selection of high quality decorator (home dec) fabric and good sales. Thanks for sharing your results, great video. ❤
My pleasure! And thank you for sharing your experiences as well. I think Karen Brown did a great video on how much fabric shrinks. So interesting, isn't it? Although when you think about it, it is cotton and cotton shrinks. Still, I am always surprised, too.
I love seeing this comparison. I think the knock off actually wins because you tried to make your quilts look similar. The chain stores do "jelly roll" strips, which would have the same company and therefore similar consistency in fabrics and less time to search for the pattern. I think the true test will be the test of time. Which one lasts longer over the long haul.
Great points! That’s true. I have to say that I am impressed with how my $20 quilt (another video from last year where I used a Joann Fabrics fat quarter bundle) has been washed at least 20 times and is still in excellent shape. As a recovering self-proclaimed “fabric snob,” I am impressed but cautious! Thanks so much for your thoughts on this. ❤️
I have used Joann’s flannel for rag quilts and gave them to all my daughters and grand kids and with regular us, after 4 years they are faded and I am sure will not last much longer. Personally, if I am putting in the effort, I expect the quilt to last more than one decade. Sometimes the extra cost is worth it. I also understand some people are on a budget. By all means do what is right for you.
Thank you for taking the time to do this comparison. I have wondered myself how much of a difference there would be. I happen to like coordinating the fabrics myself, but otter times the ease of having it already done is great too. Thank you!!
It's nice to see that the JoAnn's held up very well. Designer fabric is getting so expensive that I think more quilters are turning to the less expensive fabric.
I’m so glad this came across this video. I recently took over the charity quilt program for my guild and I’m purchasing lots of fabric. I always buy fabric for my projects at quilt shops and thought I would have to shop for sale fabric at quilt stores to have a decent product to give away. You’ve convinced me that Joanns and perhaps Hobby Lobby are good enough.
@dcwatashi I have another quilt that I made using Joann's fabrics that has been washed 50+ times. It still looks great! It is the quilt form the $20 quilt video. Here's a link: th-cam.com/video/YhSg88mR2bw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=hbDLTLzUcI8V2U3w My dog has "claimed" that quilt. I wash it ever week. You'd never know!
I like the brighter colors on the Joann quilt and the watermelon fabric is so cute. I bought really cheap fat quarters from Joanns for my very first quilt project which was placemats. I didn’t care for the colors very much but I figured I’d wash them once and they would fall apart and I’d toss them so it didn’t matter. I have washed and washed and washed them and six years later they still look the same. For some reason I just cant throw them out.
YES! I have had the same experience. They hold up surprisingly well. I have a video tutorial called The $20 Quilt which is made with precuts from Joann Fabrics. I use that quilt all of the time! It has been washed at least 20 times now (the dog loves it, too) and looks like the day I made it! I am so surprised.
Great comparison!!! Thanks so much for this! I won't feel so guilty for shopping on a budget from now on! From here on out, if I can find designer fabric marked down, then I'll treat myself to it!
I just love your videos - both quilts are gorgeous. I love the fact that you delve into the facts of quilting and comparing. You are just amazing. Monica from Australia
The Joann’s quilt is by far my favorite! You made excellent fabric choices. I appreciate you taking time to do the comparison. I have stayed away from big box store fabrics, because I thought the felt a bit rough to the touch. It is great to know they soften up in the wash! Thanks Kris.
I love this! If I’m making what I hope will be an heirloom I use the higher thread count fabric so it’ll be more likely to last decades. For items such as picnic quilts, which may get stained quickly, table, runners, wall, hangings, we’re a child’s quilt that uses novelty fabrics and their likes may change quickly, I have no problem using the less expensive fabrics. Thank you for taking the time to do this extensive comparison.
You are right on point! For wall hangings, go for the design or pattern of the fabric, as it will not be used or washed regularly. If dusty (this same advice for fabric items or plushy toys) put it in the dryer on air only, no heat, and tumble it for 10 minutes. All the dust is sucked away and freshened without laundering.
I love the comparison you did for everyone. It is always interesting to see how they perform. I like picking out the patterns for the quilt, also picking out fabrics, cutting them, sewing them etc. I do not hurry in my quilting journey as I love the whole process. I have used many Joann fabrics for my quilts before finding quilt shops and never had a problem . I think your comparison is so close it is hard to call. Thank you for your time and work it was fun.
My pleasure! Thank you so much for your kind words and for watching this! So many factors--it is hard to consider all the variables. I agree with you--the process is where it is fulfilling. Thank you for this!
Thank you again so much Kris for such an information video. The time you spent with your son is priceless and every time you look at that quilt you will smile and it will always be special. I started out using only quilt shop fabric but then “broadened” my horizons and have used both quilt shop and JoAnns. All the quilts I have kept in my home are old, the oldest my first, is 35 years old and still looks good as do all the others up to the newest which is about two years old. Some are designer and some are JoAnns fabric. To be honest with the older ones don’t think I could say which are which. I think as you have proven they are pretty even and my experience is the same, buy what you can afford at the time. The pleasure comes in choosing the fabric, design and joy in completion. You make the most interesting videos, always look forward to them. Gloria
Interesting video! I love that they were so close in quality after washing. I have wondered about this in my own quilts. You can buy designer fabric on sale, which I do. The cost is closer then and you still have the convenience of the pre cut. But you should sew with what you can afford and create a project that you love. ❤️ Thanks for the video.
Fantastic job and I appreciate the time and effort. There are so many factors to consider when choosing fabric for a quilt. I for one live in a rural area and the only fabric stores within 25 miles are Joann's and Hobby Lobby. So if I do not have it in my stash and Iam in the middle of a project those are my choices. I also try to consider how the quilt will be used. I simply like to spread my budget around, trying to justify my splurges LOL
So glad you quilted them yourself! I cannot for the life of me figure out how people pay so much for the fabric and then pay additional cost to send it off. Scrappy quilts😊
I used to be a LQS/"designer" fabric snob. Then my mother took a seasonal job cutting fabric at a big box store. She was shocked when she saw the owners of the LQS coming into the big box store to buy bolts of clearance fabric at $1.49/yd to stock the shelves of their store, repriced of course at $12 to $14/yd.
And yes, it works because some people are convinced if they walk through the doors of a LQS, suddenly the fabrics become high quality and worth the money.
That is definitely not the norm for a Quilt Shop - I am an owner of one and I would never deceive my customers like that, nor do any of the shops in my area do that. That is not a good business practice at all.
I would agree, that is not the norm for most quilt shops. It sounds like one person was acting dishonorable. I know a few quilt shop owners and they have never done that nor would they ever consider that.
All you have to do is read the information at the end of the bolt. A lot of the fabric that is found at your local quilt shop is not found in the big box stores
I have quilts made from designer quilt store fabric that i have been using on my beds for more than 30 years. They have been washed and line dried many times, and they still look great. Not so much with the knock-off fabric. My first quilts were made from less expensive knock-off fabric, and they only lasted 10 years at the most.😢 They were handled the same way, but the knock-off fabric faded and rotted quickly, which was sad because they were hand pieced and hand quilted. The proof is in the long term, i think. Designer fabric seems to stand the test of time much better than Jo Ann's knock- off fabric. I useJo Ann's fabric for clothing only. ❤️ Love your channel.
I found that one of my first quilts I made I used various brands of fabrics. The first one to disintegrate was the brown - and I have no idea what brand it was but I believe they were all brand name fabrics. I found it fascinating that it was the fabric that was colored brown to be the first to break down. Obviously something with the dye.
Thank you for sharing. I think the Knock Off won because the time and effort that went into it is priceless as you spent it with your son. No amount of money could pay for that.
If you're on a budget, then the "knock off" would be the clear winner. Thank you for sharing! It's good to know for future planning. With possible shrinkage, one could make a bit larger.
Great video! This is so interesting to quilty folk because I think many of us have preconceived notions about big box vs designer fabrics. I am a little prejudiced against big box but given what you showed here, that may not be quite fair! I was once a very resource-strapped quilter and so I know how important fabric cost can be. It's nice to know that choosing to use the big box fabric is a pretty decent option when this price difference matters. Also, Kris, I must say that you are so very creative in coming up with fun and interesting quilting topics. They are so fun to watch! Very well organized, excellent visuals, and concise. All this suggests skills honed in a classroom! Teachers and former teachers can be such amazing communicators. Thank you, Kris!
Thank you so much for this! You are so sweet! I do miss being in the classroom and working with students, but I love this, too. Teaching and writing lesson plans, objectives, etc. has helped me with my video outlines. I am grateful for the experience. I love that you love this video! It was eye-opening for me, too! I am a recovering fabric snob. 😀
This was a great test! Thanks for taking the time to do it. I'm working on a quilt right now that has designer fabric mixed with JoAnn fabric that I had left over from another quilt. The JoAnn fabric (very dark) bled horribly the first time I used it, so I also mixed prewashed with not prewashed. Will see how that goes!
It was my pleasure! Oh no! I am so sorry that happened to you. I hope it works out! So glad you liked this video. Thank you for watching and sharing your experience.
Great video. I am on a fixed income and use Joann's when they have stock. Never had a problem tho I wash in cold and hang dry outside. Little to no shinkage.
I love this video! I like many started my journey with big box store fabrics. Over the years I have been collecting more designer fabrics simply because I can buy a collection of fat quarters and have a variety of fabric that all play well together. It takes much of the time, effort and in some cases cutting out of the process. That being said, I do a lot of donation quilts for the NICU where my daughter works as a nurse. For many of those quilts, I do buy more from the big box stores because then I can do more than if I was using exclusively designer fabrics. I’m happy to know that the fabrics from each category perform in much the same way! As always I enjoyed this video and look forward to seeing more! Thank you so very much for sharing! This video was very informative and helpful!❤😊
My pleasure! I am thrilled it was helpful for you! That is so wonderful of you to help out like that! I love it! So sweet. I am sure it is a blessing to many. Thank you for sharing and inspiring others to do the same.
I just discovered you about a month ago. You are the best teacher ever. I have quilted for many years and you have answered questions that others could not make me understand. thank you for being super!
Great Video!!! I would love a video on quilting on vacation. We rented a cottage for a week. I brought a small sewing machine, iron, cutting board, cloth, easy pattern and etc supplies. The cottage did not have an ironing board or iron. The sewing machine I brought needed a horizontal thread spool. So I ended up doing some crazy running around. I also do not love my my travel machine. It is smaller so it fit in the packed car but it’s not really a very good piecing machine. Are there smaller machines that are better for trips? ??? You always seem so organized Help ❤
I guess i wonder how they will wear over time with repeated use and washings. I've only been quilting seriously for 3 years so i don't own any quilt that is very old. I do have some pillow covers that were my first projects and made with inexpensive fabric. I'm beginning to see some wear on some of those fabrics. High quality fabrics will most often be my choice BUT for holiday or seasonal wallhangings that don't get much wear, I'm open to using whatever is cute 😊
I love Moda, it's so consistent. I've had some Joann quilting fabrics, even the premium, unravel as I was working on the quilt and I think in the long run they don't hold up as well on actively used and washed quilts. I find they don't hold up well on quilts I take my time on or the ones I carry back and forth to my Friday quilt group. It seems like the more you touch them, the more the edges unravel. I rarely buy Moda at full price, keep an eye on the deal of the day and the sales at Missouri Star and you will be surprised how much you can save on the good stuff. *Maybe you could test these washing and drying them 10 times or more. I know that sounds crazy but I think you will see the difference. I've decided my Joann days are over. We all decide how to spend our money in life. I don't have cable TV. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't buy coffee drinks. I'd rather spend my money on good fabric that will last.
I beg to differ about Moda. I've had a few bad experiences with Moda fabrics. I buy online from a very reputable store. Emailing the manager about problem I was told I left it too late to complain. I contacted Moda about the poor quality fabrics only to be told WE DON'T DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC. My response WHO DO YOU THINK BUYS YOUR FABRICS? Silence.
I understand. Everyone has to make their own decisions as to how they spend their money. Although this hasn't been my experience, I respect your experience and appreciate you sharing your experience. Happy Quilting!
First off thank you so much for taking the time to do this and share with us. Please consider a yearly update. When you wash one of them also wash the other and keep a log somewhere in the washroom. I made rag quilts entirely from Joann’s flannel and they have been washed many times. The color of the flannel has faded a ton. I wonder about the quality of the different types of fabric at Joann’s and compare them to Hobby Lobby fabrics. Hmmm 🤔
My pleasure! ❤️ I was just thinking about how to do that. Would you wash them weekly? Would you wash them other items or separately? Does the detergent matter? I’m sorting it out the perimeters. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thought on this! I really appreciate it!
What a fabulous video. I don’t shop at Joann’s a lot, but only because the one closest to me isn’t convenient to get to. I don’t mind shopping for fabric online as long as I am familiar with the brand and since I don’t use fabric from Joann’s often I would be worried to buy online. I do get fabric from Walmart often though! Since I can actually feel it I’m not so worried about the quality!
I started my quilting using Joann Fabrics and Walmart fabric. I still buy from them, but I will purchase designer fabric only when they go on sale. I do want to note that I only wash my quilts in cold water on the gentle cycle and dry them on low heat and have never had that much shrinkage. When they are a gift, I include a few color catchers with the quilt as well as instructions for washing and drying. So far, so good! Thanks for the video! ❤
Interesting! I would love to hear back in a few years to see how both are holding up, assuming they see similar wear. There's huge variability between the designer brands of quilting fabric. I own a quilt shop, and I won't buy certain supposed premium brands because they aren't any better than the lower tier fabrics from big box stores. Before owning a shop, I made a couple of quilts from Joann fabric, and one faded immediately while the other is still going strong almost 10 years later. This isn't 100% foolproof, but if the fabric feels stiff, then it probably won't perform well. If the fabric feels nice on the bolt, it is usually a quality fabric that will last well.
I've made quilts with designer fabric and knock off fabric (Walmart). I prefer the look of designer fabric. My husband prefers the softness of knock off. Yes, the designer fabric lasts longer, but the quilts are not used as much because of the stiffness. The knock offs need more repairs, but they are used daily because of the snuggle factor is so much higher.
Yay! So happy to help! I can honestly say this gave me a new outlook on their fabric, too. I was so surprised when I pulled them each out of the dryer and compared them. Thanks so much for watching and sharing!!
Great video Kris!! Things you’ve always wondered about but never tried for yourself lol I buy both good fabric and cheaper fabric and I really have never had a problem with any of the cheaper fabric. Sometimes gingham will unravel threads like crazy, but that’s about the only problem I’ve encountered. I enjoyed this video thanks!
Thanks so much for this Kris! It's a good discussion. Sometimes "designer" doesn't always equal quality - and sometimes the cheap (cheaper) stuff really is cheap. I always try to shop with my hands - how does the fabric feel? Does it feel like quality (no matter the price)? It can be a challenge to understand what is quality fabric and what is fabric filled with sizing and fabric anti-fade chemicals for sale, so I try to avoid anything that feels like cardboard. No fabric snobs in this house!
I recently made a flannel quilt made of from both $3/yard flannel from Joann and $13/yard flannel from a quilt shop. That's over 4x cost difference! I have washed the quilt twice, and I can't tell the difference between the different flannels in the quilt. I'm a huge supporter of my local quilt shop, but it can be much more expensive.
Thinking about the price/time involved in preparing the fabric. I have found in my busy life, sometimes I have more time than money and other times I have more money than time. So I love your information for people who want to quilt something beautiful and need to save a few dollars.
What a terrific comparison. I'd be curious about a "long-term study" which would seem to prove a bit more difficult to document, as to how well the quilts wear over time with similar usage and washing.
This was fascinating! I would not have guessed the two different fabric sources would come out so close. When I first started quilting, 40+ years ago, there were no designer fabrics other than the people who designed the fabric pints for the manufacturers. Fabric from Cloth World and House of Fabrics lasted just fine and I have two from that era. I do think that some of the quality has been lost over the years. Other than batiks, I find that most fabrics do not run because I use Color catchers the first time I was any quilt.
YES! This is so true! OHHHH, how I miss House of Fabrics and Cloth World! So many memories. I have seen such a shift in the 30 years I have been quilting, too. The quality seems to ebb and flow like everything, doesn't it? Thank you for this!
I really appreciate all of your hard work on this video making the comparisons. I've used both designer and lesser quality fabrics. Both serve a purpose, depending on how the quilt will be used. I love using precut fabrics (layer cakes and jelly rolls) and will buy them online when there is a good sale. That way I get the designer fabric at Joann prices. 😊
Over 2 decades ago, I was weaving rugs and placemats using homespun fabrics. Fabric was about $8 a yd at my LQS and I was going through so much fabric. JoAnne’s had it for $2 a yd, so I figured it was worth a try. The first thing I noticed was the color coming off onto my hands. I looked like I was dying the fabric without gloves! I persevered anyway, and finished the rug. But it only took 2 cold water washings to wash most of color out of that rug. The other rug and placemats are still used today, and look beautiful. Lesson learned. I have stuck with quality fabric ever since. If I’m going to put the time in to make it, I want it to last.
Enjoyed this video! I was told by my store manager while working at Joann that I was a fabric snob! "You only buy the premium and better fabric that we sell!" So most of my fabric IS Joann's! Thank you for video!!
Thanks for the video. I really would like a one year follow up after usage. lol. Based on the same criteria with regards to durability and fabric feel.
I very often use quilt shop fabrics for tops and Joann’s better flannels for the back. Saves $, and the flannel crinkles up nicely (don’t know if it’s more or less shrinkage than quilt flannels…). I always enjoy your videos…they’re informative & interesting, and you are so fun!😊😊😊
Thanks for making this comparison video it was so informative and interesting. I mostly use fabric from joanns and hobby lobby for affordability reasons but every now and then I'll buy better fabric if it's on sale. I honestly cannot see a big difference for the most part 😊
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Roll With It Quilt Pattern: www.sewthedistance.com/store/p/roll-with-it-quilt-pattern
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Another way to look at it is that the designer version performed only marginally better, and that might not justify costing twice as much, depending on your priorities.
Yes! I completely agree. The purpose of the quilt also may be a factor. There is a lot to consider.
Thank you so much for your insight. ❤️
And if the cost of designer fabrics is keeping you from creating, Joann's, cut up shirts, sheets, etc. Is a way to still let you create a masterpiece. Remember, most old quilts were cut up clothing, feed sacks, anywhere they could save coth.
Another thought to consider is time. If you don't have the time to shop at a store for hours then the higher dollar might be a good fit. If you have the time to spend at the shop and not the money to buy the more expensive fabric then Joanne's may be your answer. It's good to see that both options are very viable.
I guess bottom line sew what you can afford ! Thanks for this .❤
You are so welcome! That's my takeaway, too! I was pleasantly surprised!
Thanks so much for watching and sharing! 🥰
The big winner is the Joannes quilt. You had the memories of choosing fabrics and time with your son. You will look at that quilt and remember that.
Both are lovely quilts. I loved this video! Thanks Kris
Excellent point. How do you put a value on that...priceless.
My pleasure!
It's funny--I mention that in the video and then I got to rambling about it, and it ended up on the "cutting room floor" during editing. I kind of wish I would have left in now. Someday he may be watching my videos long after I am gone and realized just how much that meant to me. Next time I will leave in it. 🥰
@@SewtheDistance yes, I thought it was sweet how he was part of the process of making the knockoff quilt. ❤
Any one of us might cherish such a time with our sons (or daughters)...I know I would.
I made my first quilts with Joann Fabrics and they only lasted about 5 to 10 years (based on how much use they got) but they definitely frayed and the fabric just wore away. I had hand quilted both full size log cabin quilts and that was a lot of work. Using better fabrics, I'm finding that quilts last 20-30 years with regular use before I see any wear. So quality fabric wins in my book.
Meanwhile, I have Joann quilts that are washed weekly and still going strong in year 6 - but designer that’s falling apart before quilting.
There are so many factors to consider, for sure! Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
I also have the quilt I made last year for the $20 quilt video that gets washed weekly (Joann's fabric on the front and Walmart beach towels on the back). I am always shocked at how well that has held up after 50+ washings and dryings. So crazy the differences in fabric quality even within the fabric lines!
Yes, I'm thinking that the designer fabric would be the better choice for hand quilting... you want this to be around for as long as possible
Love your enthusiasm. Great test, but it's personal at best. My first thought was looking at design of fabric before you stated your categories. I guessed Moda as my favor for material design but after seeing more of your quilt I liked it just as much. Great test,appreciate your time n effort. Time is a factor too to shop vs already to go !😊😊😊
Appreciate your time and effort. I always wondered about how that experiment would turn out. Great information to have! ❤
I'm no fabric snob and will often mix designer and lesser quality fabric. If it's pretty I buy it and use it! Thanks for this fun video. I'm sharing it with all my quilty friends.
Thank you so much for sharing! So happy you enjoyed this video. 🥰
I don't think my mom and granny cared about designer fabric on the farm! They even took the bull Durham bags apart dyed them and quilted them. No designer fabric there.
A fabric store 4 miles from me has fabrics for &4.99 a yard. Many are designer and maybe from 1-2 years ago. Who cares? I only get the designer labels.i am a lucky woman!
Same here!
i live on a fixed income so i have to be smart about supplies, one big money saver is not using batting, i live in texas and it rarely gets cold here, what i use instead is fleece, i quilt the top right on the fleece and they come out so well, i also go to thrift shops and get cotton sheets and mens cotton dress shirts which i dont have to worry about shrinkage, just think outside of the box
That's a great tip! Thank you so much for sharing!
Love thrifting materials, too. 🥰 Works so well.
I live in South America. We don't have a tradition of quilting here, so supplies are at best hard to find. I have to buy cotton fabric abroad, which in the end makes it around twice as expensive due to shipping.
When I decided I would try quilting I quickly found out there's no cotton batting here at all, not even poly/cotton batting, so I made that first quilt with polar fleece instead of batting and backing. I've been doing that eversince mainly because of the lack of supplies here, but also because I save a lot on fabric, and fleece is cheap and easy to find. I've even used it as batting for baby quilts.
I'd say it's a great alternative for quilting on a budget.
@@txsunshinecowgirl I love the idea of fleece! I live in the tropics and even though we can buy batting here it is expensive and sometimes we don’t end up by using the quilts because they make us too hot. Fleece would make them so much lighter, plus it would remove the cost of backing fabric. Quilting fabrics average around AUD28 a metre, with Kaffe, Tula and others costing AUD36 (which is obscene) so making quilting cheaper is tempting. Thank you for this, definitely food for though 🤢
@@SewtheDistancebut one consideration with the sheets is the tight weave (thread count). Older sheets found at thrift stores or less expensive sheets with lower thread content would be more workable. It can be more difficult for the needle to pierce the high thread count. Be sure your needle is fresh and a smaller size.
@@mb6833- do you have thrift shops? You could use men’s dress shirts - 100% cotton - dresses
My sister goes & gets wool jackets & takes them apart for her wool appliqué.
I can't afford the Designer fabric. So the knock-off is the winner for people like me. Both quilt are beautiful. Thank you.
I'm buying leftovers or heritages from others
You are very welcome! Thank you for sharing!
I buy designer quilting cotton, but only stuff that’s on a big time sale.
There is no quilt police, you buy what you can afford - I bought "knock-off" fabric many times too.
@@graybynature2449 agree
I'm glad you made this video comparing the fabrics. I think it's just fine to use fabrics from the big box stores if that is what you can afford. That's where my fabric came from when I first started quilting. I'm very frugal when it comes to fabric and usually buy it when it's on sale. I get a little upset when the quilt police make comments to new quilters about their fabric choices. I made my kids and grandkids clothes from those big box stores fabrics and if they can hold up to weekly washing and the abuse of a small child, it should be just fine in a quilt. Thanks for sharing!!
My pleasure! I am so glad you like this.
I agree. It is frustrating, isn’t it? Thanks so much for sharing and your kind words. ❤️
Absolutely!!!! When I started quilting, I was a single parent and could not afford fabric. My mom and aunt were very gracious and gifted me their scraps or gave me fabric for birthdays and holidays. I now work in a quilt shop and it makes me sad when teens or young moms come in for help w their projects and apologize for their fabrics being from a big box stores. I tell them, no quilt police here!!! You quilt with what fabric you can afford!! What matters is the time and love that went into it. Not the cost.
Millions of quilts have been made with fabric from Joann. Everyone loves them just as much. They also sell jelly rolls there.
That is a fair point. 😊
I love your comparison. Thanks for doing that. The designer may have won but I think the difference in price would make me choose the knock-off!
You are so welcome! So glad you enjoyed this!
The cost difference is amazing, isn't it? I am surprised at that, too.
Both are pretty. I love the brightness from The knockoff. Joann's does have nice fabric too. I think I need more yellow. When I go to Quilt shops I usually ooh and awe, then go see what's on sale.😁. The quilt I'm cuddled up under right now is a mixture from different stores. Mainly scraps. Cotton, cotton flannel. Scrappy makes me happy. Thank you Kris for this fun video. Just don't buy cheap underwear!
Thanks for sharing and watching, Marion!
That last line is the best! LOL! Great advice!
Love the concept of this throwdown.. i would Love to see you take it a step further and showdown the diff types of cottons from Joanns.. the cheapie keepsake calico, versus the novelty, versus the premium.. many of the premiums are namebrand quallity
Ohhhh! Great idea! Thank you!
If you do this, make sure you weigh say a yard of each before you start working with them (on a kitchen scale). That would be an interesting side-by-side.
I love the comparison, and the effort you put in. I'm a fabric snob, so the designer fabric will win every day for me. BUT... you mentioned the Joann fabric not being printed straight, that's not just a cheap fabric problem - I've had many designer fabrics (including Moda) that aren't printed straight (ginghams drive my brain crazy for this reason). And you can't correct them (by wasting fabric) with a jelly roll. So, you could maybe give the Joann fabric an extra point or 2 😂
I agree with you about Moda’s poor quality control related to straight printing. I find that most of their designers create prints based on straight line repeat rather than scattered prints. It’s difficult to cut their fabrics and their precut charm packs are terribly crooked.
I can’t think of any designers that print on grain. They’re ALL bad at it. Lori Holt is some of the worst I’ve seen, Northcott can be bad, Moda is bad, Figo is 50/50.
Ohhh! Good to know! I am a fabric snob, too, but am slowly reconsidering this. That said, I just placed an order for some never Moda Christmas fabric. 😛
If I try to straighten it the pattern isn't straight then either. Trying to sew with linear patterns is so frustrating for me that it isn't worth the hassle. I won't buy a fabric anymore if it isn't patterned enough to hide "not straight" printing.
@@Carol_Sews It's not exclusive to Moda, I mentioned Moda because of Kris' jelly roll choice.
What a great video! My nearest quilt store is an hour's drive, my nearest Joann is 5 minutes. So my stash is probably about 50/50 between the "good" stuff and the "cheap" stuff. I love the quilts I make, regardless of the fabric source, but I have to admit that the ones that I make with the intention of keeping them for myself or showing off tend to be made from the quilt shop fabrics. Funny thing is, the ones I make intending to keep are the ones I give to people I love, so the ones I do wind up keeping are the "cheap" stuff, and I love them like children. It's nice to see confirmation that in the end, a lovely quilt is a lovely quilt, regardless of its pedigree and in terms of quality its a coin toss.
We sound so much alike! I do the same thing, have both in my stash, everything. I can really relate to this.
So happy you liked this video! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this!
Awesome video. So interesting! I honestly never realized quilts shrunk so much! I’ve never measured mine after washing. But now I might for science 😂.
Thank you! 🥰
I love that shrinking and the crinkle from it. It's my favorite. ❤️
There is a really fascinating video Just Get it Done Quilts on this.
Very interesting!
I prewash/preshrink and iron all of my fabric before cutting. The amount my quilts shrink depends on the batting I use, not the fabric.
@@elizabethhollingsworth7226 That is so interesting!
This was so helpful to newbie quilters like me. I don't have to feel guilty or less-than for utilizing knock-off fabrics. I will purchase higher end when on sale and feel good either way! Thank you! :D
Glad it was helpful! 😊❤️
Thank you for this video. I appreciate the time and effort to do this comparison. I purchase Moda fabrics because they make my heart sing. If I’m going to spend all that time on making a quilt, the fabric needs to be something I absolutely love every time I look at it, before, during and after I complete it. Years later I make a bed and still say, “Wow!”
You are so welcome! I am a Moda fan, too. They are my favorite!
I have used Joan's fabric many, many times, and Walmart fabric also. Both fabrics hold up surprising well.
I am so surprised, too! I think I am becoming a reformed fabric snob. 😀
I've had the same results. Quilts I've made from Joann's looked pretty good compared to designer fabric. Which lead me to not be too hesitant anymore to shop at Joann's. Your quilts look beautiful!! ❤ Thanks for sharing!!
You are so welcome! 🥰
This helps me a lot. While reading and responding to comments today, I am taking a ton of notes. So many opinions and experiences in this area! Thank you for the validation that we both are having similar outcomes!
some Joanne's fabrics are really thin, but most are just fine. Same with Walmart's. I think just skipping the thin fabrics and not spending hours trying to match a jelly roll changes the outcome entirely.
Well, this is true, although it is also not the premise of the original video. This is a follow-up to that one. I hope this helps understand where I was coming from. ❤️
Great video. Loved the input from the dog. 😂😂
Thank you!
She ALWAYS has something to say. 🐶😆🥰
Well done! Another unique video!
Thank you so much! I try! 🥰
Glad it was a tie…many of us can’t afford so-called quilting fabric. Great you spent that time with your son, by the way. 💖🇦🇺
Not sure if you watched the original video, but we had a lot of fun picking the fabric together. He took some Graphic Design courses in college so I like hearing his input from that perspective. ❤️😊
This video answered all of my questions that I have had since I started quilting 5 years ago! Thank you!!!
Oh my goodness! That is awesome! Yayyyy! So glad it is helpful!
Loved the video! Everyone is a winner! Buy what you are comfortable buying. I buy both andsometimes I mix them. I avoid the super cheap stuff for quits. It’s so thin. Even the Walmart Waverley fabrics are good quality. The worst case of bleeding and running I ever had was from a Tula pink fat quarter that I had prewashed to make a bag.
Yay! So glad you love this video!
Wow--interesting about Tula! I have had some bad luck with bleeding and designer fabrics, too! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, as well as your experience.
I have found that the fabrics I find at most “quilt shops” are a nicer quality with higher thread counts that make a tighter weave. Fabrics from Joanne’s, Hobby Lobby and Walmart (and Fabricland in Canada) have a less dense thread count. I decided a few years ago to only buy the ones with the higher thread count. I love the feel better.
I was JUST like this until I did this experiment! So surprised and impressed with the results, especially the ending where I measured after I washed them both. I think I’m not reformed.
Thread count-- Quilt cotton fabric thread count will vary between good quality at 60 to 75 threads per inch to high quality with 200 threads per inch in the length (warp) and width (weft). Batik fabric uses 200 to 220 thread count and a finer thread as required for the wax and dye process. Higher thread count than 75 makes it difficult for hand quilting. Fabric weight is also as important as thread count. The weight comes from the cotton thread size and how tightlly it's woven. For example using very thin cotton thread and a 75 thread count will make for a loosely woven fabric and not quality. Too bad this info isn't on the ends of bolts. Perhaps they should be, like in grocery stores the price per ounce is listed.
@@marinaabad4995 Thanks for the information. I like to feel all the fabric I buy. Some you can see the low thread count, usually on cheaper fabrics. I decided a few years ago that I have to pick out the fabric myself, not buy online unless it is something I already know. (Like same designer, same pattern, different colour). I also love choosing fabrics out myself. I just have to love the pattern and feel. I guess I am a fabric snob LOL.
60 threads per inch is now industry standard for quilting cotton. Kaffe Fassett uses a bit higher than that with thinner threads for a silky feel and often gets grief about it as if it is inferior. Higher thread counts generally mean that the individual threads are thinner.
I loved this video and the info, I prefer designer fabric the print is just sharper and the fabric feels better, I do buy it on sale when I can, I live in a small town with limited access to 2 quilt stores not very nearby one is cheaper than the other and this one has knowledgeable ladies which means a lot to me jelly rolls and layer cakes work great cuz we don’t have access to a lot of the same line of fabric
Hi Kris, i was pretty surprised by the shrinkage of both quilts. I dont pre-wash my fabrics so it taught me if i want an exact size i need to make it bigger to figure in shrinkage. I like the crinkled texture after washing. The cost is the biggest difference to me. If budget is a consideration...then JoAnn's fabric is the big winner. I have a wonderful quilt shop in my small town and i love shoping there. I also find high quality vintage fabric at thrift stores. I do not have Jo Ann's fabric or Hobby Lobby in my area but when i travel to a larger city I prefer to shop at Hobby Lobby. They have high quality prints and beautiful solids that perform well. They also have a great selection of high quality decorator (home dec) fabric and good sales.
Thanks for sharing your results, great video. ❤
My pleasure! And thank you for sharing your experiences as well. I think Karen Brown did a great video on how much fabric shrinks. So interesting, isn't it? Although when you think about it, it is cotton and cotton shrinks. Still, I am always surprised, too.
I love seeing this comparison. I think the knock off actually wins because you tried to make your quilts look similar. The chain stores do "jelly roll" strips, which would have the same company and therefore similar consistency in fabrics and less time to search for the pattern. I think the true test will be the test of time. Which one lasts longer over the long haul.
Great points! That’s true.
I have to say that I am impressed with how my $20 quilt (another video from last year where I used a Joann Fabrics fat quarter bundle) has been washed at least 20 times and is still in excellent shape. As a recovering self-proclaimed “fabric snob,” I am impressed but cautious!
Thanks so much for your thoughts on this. ❤️
I have used Joann’s flannel for rag quilts and gave them to all my daughters and grand kids and with regular us, after 4 years they are faded and I am sure will not last much longer. Personally, if I am putting in the effort, I expect the quilt to last more than one decade. Sometimes the extra cost is worth it. I also understand some people are on a budget. By all means do what is right for you.
Thank you for taking the time to do this comparison. I have wondered myself how much of a difference there would be. I happen to like coordinating the fabrics myself, but otter times the ease of having it already done is great too. Thank you!!
You are so welcome! Thanks so much for watching!
It's nice to see that the JoAnn's held up very well. Designer fabric is getting so expensive that I think more quilters are turning to the less expensive fabric.
I totally agree! I was surprised and happy to see it perform so well. Thank you so much for watching and sharing!
I’m so glad this came across this video. I recently took over the charity quilt program for my guild and I’m purchasing lots of fabric. I always buy fabric for my projects at quilt shops and thought I would have to shop for sale fabric at quilt stores to have a decent product to give away. You’ve convinced me that Joanns and perhaps Hobby Lobby are good enough.
Just remember her quilts only got washed one time
You still have to be selective if you shop at those big box stores
@dcwatashi I have another quilt that I made using Joann's fabrics that has been washed 50+ times. It still looks great! It is the quilt form the $20 quilt video. Here's a link: th-cam.com/video/YhSg88mR2bw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=hbDLTLzUcI8V2U3w
My dog has "claimed" that quilt. I wash it ever week. You'd never know!
@gretchenjaspering9696 You are so welcome! I am happy to help!
@@SewtheDistance thanks I will watch that video
@@dcwatashi yes, I’m aware of that.
Very interesting result, did not think it would be so close . Thanks
My pleasure! 🥰
Me neither! I was so surprised! Thanks so much for watching and sharing!
I like the brighter colors on the Joann quilt and the watermelon fabric is so cute. I bought really cheap fat quarters from Joanns for my very first quilt project which was placemats. I didn’t care for the colors very much but I figured I’d wash them once and they would fall apart and I’d toss them so it didn’t matter. I have washed and washed and washed them and six years later they still look the same. For some reason I just cant throw them out.
YES! I have had the same experience. They hold up surprisingly well. I have a video tutorial called The $20 Quilt which is made with precuts from Joann Fabrics. I use that quilt all of the time! It has been washed at least 20 times now (the dog loves it, too) and looks like the day I made it! I am so surprised.
Great comparison!!! Thanks so much for this! I won't feel so guilty for shopping on a budget from now on! From here on out, if I can find designer fabric marked down, then I'll treat myself to it!
I just love your videos - both quilts are gorgeous. I love the fact that you delve into the facts of quilting and comparing. You are just amazing. Monica from Australia
Wow! Thank you so much! You are so sweet! 🥰
The Joann’s quilt is by far my favorite! You made excellent fabric choices. I appreciate you taking time to do the comparison. I have stayed away from big box store fabrics, because I thought the felt a bit rough to the touch. It is great to know they soften up in the wash! Thanks Kris.
You are so welcome!
Absolutely a tie. I like the look of the JoAnn fabric a little more, which surprises me since I am a huge Bonnie and Camile fan. Great video!
Thanks for sharing!!
Great video Kris!! Interesting how those quilts are so much the same!! Good job
Thank you so much! It was fun to make a follow-up! Thank you for watching. ❤️
I love this! If I’m making what I hope will be an heirloom I use the higher thread count fabric so it’ll be more likely to last decades. For items such as picnic quilts, which may get stained quickly, table, runners, wall, hangings, we’re a child’s quilt that uses novelty fabrics and their likes may change quickly, I have no problem using the less expensive fabrics. Thank you for taking the time to do this extensive comparison.
You are right on point! For wall hangings, go for the design or pattern of the fabric, as it will not be used or washed regularly. If dusty (this same advice for fabric items or plushy toys) put it in the dryer on air only, no heat, and tumble it for 10 minutes. All the dust is sucked away and freshened without laundering.
My pleasure!
Great points! I like the way you think! There is so much to consider. ❤️
I love the comparison you did for everyone. It is always interesting to see how they perform. I like picking out the patterns for the quilt, also picking out fabrics, cutting them, sewing them etc. I do not hurry in my quilting journey as I love the whole process. I have used many Joann fabrics for my quilts before finding quilt shops and never had a problem . I think your comparison is so close it is hard to call. Thank you for your time and work it was fun.
My pleasure! Thank you so much for your kind words and for watching this!
So many factors--it is hard to consider all the variables. I agree with you--the process is where it is fulfilling. Thank you for this!
I enjoyed it but I always enjoy seeing you you are a lot of Fun 😊
Thank you so much! I love what I do, so it is easy to have fun. I am glad it shows on camera. 🥰
Thank you again so much Kris for such an information video. The time you spent with your son is priceless and every time you look at that quilt you will smile and it will always be special. I started out using only quilt shop fabric but then “broadened” my horizons and have used both quilt shop and JoAnns. All the quilts I have kept in my home are old, the oldest my first, is 35 years old and still looks good as do all the others up to the newest which is about two years old. Some are designer and some are JoAnns fabric. To be honest with the older ones don’t think I could say which are which.
I think as you have proven they are pretty even and my experience is the same, buy what you can afford at the time. The pleasure comes in choosing the fabric, design and joy in completion. You make the most interesting videos, always look forward to them. Gloria
Thank you so much, Gloria! Such wonderful insight. We can learn so much from each other.
Thank you for your kind words, as well. 🥰
Interesting video! I love that they were so close in quality after washing. I have wondered about this in my own quilts. You can buy designer fabric on sale, which I do. The cost is closer then and you still have the convenience of the pre cut. But you should sew with what you can afford and create a project that you love. ❤️ Thanks for the video.
My pleasure! 🥰
I was pleasantly surprised, too. "Sew with what you can afford and create a project that you love"-- Words to live by! Thank you!
Thank you for this informative video. I buy designer and Joann’s fabric based on the project needs. I have not had any issues with either fabric.
My pleasure! 🥰
Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts on this!
Fantastic job and I appreciate the time and effort. There are so many factors to consider when choosing fabric for a quilt. I for one live in a rural area and the only fabric stores within 25 miles are Joann's and Hobby Lobby. So if I do not have it in my stash and Iam in the middle of a project those are my choices. I also try to consider how the quilt will be used. I simply like to spread my budget around, trying to justify my splurges LOL
Thank you so much! I am glad you love this video!
Yes! Convenience and use all come into play, doesn't it? Thank you for sharing your insight on this!
So glad you quilted them yourself! I cannot for the life of me figure out how people pay so much for the fabric and then pay additional cost to send it off. Scrappy quilts😊
I am still learning FMQ but I enjoy it so much! 😊
I always send my quilts to the "Longarmed Lady". I put in a lot of time, effort and expense to make a work of art. I won't skimp on the final step.
This was really fun to see. I appreciate your honest comparisons.
Yay! So glad you liked it! ❤️ Thank you!
I used to be a LQS/"designer" fabric snob. Then my mother took a seasonal job cutting fabric at a big box store. She was shocked when she saw the owners of the LQS coming into the big box store to buy bolts of clearance fabric at $1.49/yd to stock the shelves of their store, repriced of course at $12 to $14/yd.
Oh wow! So interesting! That's crazy! Thanks for sharing!
And yes, it works because some people are convinced if they walk through the doors of a LQS, suddenly the fabrics become high quality and worth the money.
That is definitely not the norm for a Quilt Shop - I am an owner of one and I would never deceive my customers like that, nor do any of the shops in my area do that. That is not a good business practice at all.
I would agree, that is not the norm for most quilt shops. It sounds like one person was acting dishonorable. I know a few quilt shop owners and they have never done that nor would they ever consider that.
All you have to do is read the information at the end of the bolt. A lot of the fabric that is found at your local quilt shop is not found in the big box stores
This was really fun! I see worth anything and everything so I'm glad to know that the quality is pretty even between the two
So happy you enjoyed this! I agree! 🥰
I have quilts made from designer quilt store fabric that i have been using on my beds for more than 30 years. They have been washed and line dried many times, and they still look great. Not so much with the knock-off fabric. My first quilts were made from less expensive knock-off fabric, and they only lasted 10 years at the most.😢 They were handled the same way, but the knock-off fabric faded and rotted quickly, which was sad because they were hand pieced and hand quilted. The proof is in the long term, i think. Designer fabric seems to stand the test of time much better than Jo Ann's knock- off fabric. I useJo Ann's fabric for clothing only. ❤️ Love your channel.
So interesting! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you so much. I am thrilled you love my channel. 🥰
I found that one of my first quilts I made I used various brands of fabrics. The first one to disintegrate was the brown - and I have no idea what brand it was but I believe they were all brand name fabrics. I found it fascinating that it was the fabric that was colored brown to be the first to break down. Obviously something with the dye.
I enjoyed this comparison! Thank you so much!
You are so welcome! 🥰
Thank you for sharing. I think the Knock Off won because the time and effort that went into it is priceless as you spent it with your son. No amount of money could pay for that.
You are so welcome!
Great point! It was a wonderful experience and certainly was priceless. 🥰
I like both quilts. I usually pre wash Joanna fabric, whereas I don't with quilt shop fabric. Enjoyed your video. Thanks
You are very welcome! Thank you for watching and sharing! 🥰
If you're on a budget, then the "knock off" would be the clear winner. Thank you for sharing! It's good to know for future planning. With possible shrinkage, one could make a bit larger.
Yes! So true. Cotton will shrink, so that is a great plan. ❤️
Great video! This is so interesting to quilty folk because I think many of us have preconceived notions about big box vs designer fabrics. I am a little prejudiced against big box but given what you showed here, that may not be quite fair!
I was once a very resource-strapped quilter and so I know how important fabric cost can be. It's nice to know that choosing to use the big box fabric is a pretty decent option when this price difference matters.
Also, Kris, I must say that you are so very creative in coming up with fun and interesting quilting topics. They are so fun to watch! Very well organized, excellent visuals, and concise. All this suggests skills honed in a classroom! Teachers and former teachers can be such amazing communicators.
Thank you, Kris!
Thank you so much for this! You are so sweet! I do miss being in the classroom and working with students, but I love this, too. Teaching and writing lesson plans, objectives, etc. has helped me with my video outlines. I am grateful for the experience.
I love that you love this video! It was eye-opening for me, too! I am a recovering fabric snob. 😀
This was a great test! Thanks for taking the time to do it. I'm working on a quilt right now that has designer fabric mixed with JoAnn fabric that I had left over from another quilt. The JoAnn fabric (very dark) bled horribly the first time I used it, so I also mixed prewashed with not prewashed. Will see how that goes!
It was my pleasure!
Oh no! I am so sorry that happened to you. I hope it works out!
So glad you liked this video. Thank you for watching and sharing your experience.
Really enjoyed this comparison and run down. Thanks so much for doing al the work for us. Much appreciated.
I am glad you enjoyed it. 😊
Great video. I am on a fixed income and use Joann's when they have stock. Never had a problem tho I wash in cold and hang dry outside. Little to no shinkage.
Thank you! So glad you like it!
Great tip!
I love this video! I like many started my journey with big box store fabrics. Over the years I have been collecting more designer fabrics simply because I can buy a collection of fat quarters and have a variety of fabric that all play well together. It takes much of the time, effort and in some cases cutting out of the process. That being said, I do a lot of donation quilts for the NICU where my daughter works as a nurse. For many of those quilts, I do buy more from the big box stores because then I can do more than if I was using exclusively designer fabrics. I’m happy to know that the fabrics from each category perform in much the same way! As always I enjoyed this video and look forward to seeing more! Thank you so very much for sharing! This video was very informative and helpful!❤😊
My pleasure! I am thrilled it was helpful for you!
That is so wonderful of you to help out like that! I love it! So sweet. I am sure it is a blessing to many. Thank you for sharing and inspiring others to do the same.
I just discovered you about a month ago. You are the best teacher ever. I have quilted for many years and you have answered questions that others could not make me understand. thank you for being super!
Awwww. Thanks for such kind words. ❤️😊
Great video looking at the differences in the categories that you mentioned! I too was surprised.
Right?! I was surprised with the outcome too. 😀
Great Video!!! I would love a video on quilting on vacation. We rented a cottage for a week. I brought a small sewing machine, iron, cutting board, cloth, easy pattern and etc supplies.
The cottage did not have an ironing board or iron. The sewing machine I brought needed a horizontal thread spool. So I ended up doing some crazy running around. I also do not love my my travel machine. It is smaller so it fit in the packed car but it’s not really a very good piecing machine. Are there smaller machines that are better for trips? ???
You always seem so organized Help ❤
LOVE this idea for a video! Thank you for this and for your kind words!
I have a lot of tips on this subject! I love to sew while on vacation.
I guess i wonder how they will wear over time with repeated use and washings. I've only been quilting seriously for 3 years so i don't own any quilt that is very old. I do have some pillow covers that were my first projects and made with inexpensive fabric. I'm beginning to see some wear on some of those fabrics. High quality fabrics will most often be my choice BUT for holiday or seasonal wallhangings that don't get much wear, I'm open to using whatever is cute 😊
True! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, as well as your experiences! Great idea about the low-use items.
I love Moda, it's so consistent. I've had some Joann quilting fabrics, even the premium, unravel as I was working on the quilt and I think in the long run they don't hold up as well on actively used and washed quilts. I find they don't hold up well on quilts I take my time on or the ones I carry back and forth to my Friday quilt group. It seems like the more you touch them, the more the edges unravel. I rarely buy Moda at full price, keep an eye on the deal of the day and the sales at Missouri Star and you will be surprised how much you can save on the good stuff. *Maybe you could test these washing and drying them 10 times or more. I know that sounds crazy but I think you will see the difference. I've decided my Joann days are over. We all decide how to spend our money in life. I don't have cable TV. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't buy coffee drinks. I'd rather spend my money on good fabric that will last.
I beg to differ about Moda. I've had a few bad experiences with Moda fabrics.
I buy online from a very reputable store. Emailing the manager about problem I was told I left it too late to complain. I contacted Moda about the poor quality fabrics
only to be told WE DON'T DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC. My response WHO DO YOU
THINK BUYS YOUR FABRICS? Silence.
I understand. Everyone has to make their own decisions as to how they spend their money. Although this hasn't been my experience, I respect your experience and appreciate you sharing your experience. Happy Quilting!
Very interesting!!! Thanks for sharing the final wrap up on this experiment! ❤
My pleasure! Thank you so much for watching!
First off thank you so much for taking the time to do this and share with us. Please consider a yearly update. When you wash one of them also wash the other and keep a log somewhere in the washroom. I made rag quilts entirely from Joann’s flannel and they have been washed many times. The color of the flannel has faded a ton. I wonder about the quality of the different types of fabric at Joann’s and compare them to Hobby Lobby fabrics. Hmmm 🤔
My pleasure! ❤️
I was just thinking about how to do that. Would you wash them weekly? Would you wash them other items or separately? Does the detergent matter? I’m sorting it out the perimeters. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thought on this! I really appreciate it!
👋👋 Wowzer. Interesting. Thanks Kris for your time in providing this information for us quilters.
My pleasure! Glad it was helpful! 🥰
What a fabulous video. I don’t shop at Joann’s a lot, but only because the one closest to me isn’t convenient to get to. I don’t mind shopping for fabric online as long as I am familiar with the brand and since I don’t use fabric from Joann’s often I would be worried to buy online. I do get fabric from Walmart often though! Since I can actually feel it I’m not so worried about the quality!
I think they were both winners since you got two fabulous quilts out of it!
Thanks, Fallon! Such a great point about feeling the fabric and shopping where you can. Love it!
Great job. I am surprised how well the Joanne fabric held up 💚💙💜
Thank you! 😊
I started my quilting using Joann Fabrics and Walmart fabric. I still buy from them, but I will purchase designer fabric only when they go on sale.
I do want to note that I only wash my quilts in cold water on the gentle cycle and dry them on low heat and have never had that much shrinkage. When they are a gift, I include a few color catchers with the quilt as well as instructions for washing and drying. So far, so good!
Thanks for the video! ❤
Including some color catchers is a great idea! 💡😊
Interesting! I would love to hear back in a few years to see how both are holding up, assuming they see similar wear. There's huge variability between the designer brands of quilting fabric. I own a quilt shop, and I won't buy certain supposed premium brands because they aren't any better than the lower tier fabrics from big box stores. Before owning a shop, I made a couple of quilts from Joann fabric, and one faded immediately while the other is still going strong almost 10 years later. This isn't 100% foolproof, but if the fabric feels stiff, then it probably won't perform well. If the fabric feels nice on the bolt, it is usually a quality fabric that will last well.
Great points. Thanks for sharing your experience. 😊
Nice to see the comparison. Thanks for taking the time to do it!
My pleasure!
I've made quilts with designer fabric and knock off fabric (Walmart). I prefer the look of designer fabric. My husband prefers the softness of knock off. Yes, the designer fabric lasts longer, but the quilts are not used as much because of the stiffness. The knock offs need more repairs, but they are used daily because of the snuggle factor is so much higher.
Thank you for sharing your experience with this.
What a fantastic idea for a video! Thank you for comparing these. Now I’m not gonna feel nearly as bad when I make a quilt from a big box store.
My pleasure! I am thrilled you liked this and that it gave you food for thought. 🥰 It changed my perspective, too!
I pretty much make quilts from scraps gifted to me so quality varies. Very interesting comparson
Love that! Scrap quilts are my favorite.
Thanks! Glad you like this!
Tie it is! Love the knock off as well as the designer😊
Yay! Thank you! Me, too!
You made me much more comfortable working and giving my time to a quilt made of Joann fabrics . I see some cute things there that I have passed up..!!
Yay! So happy to help!
I can honestly say this gave me a new outlook on their fabric, too. I was so surprised when I pulled them each out of the dryer and compared them. Thanks so much for watching and sharing!!
Great video Kris!! Things you’ve always wondered about but never tried for yourself lol I buy both good fabric and cheaper fabric and I really have never had a problem with any of the cheaper fabric. Sometimes gingham will unravel threads like crazy, but that’s about the only problem I’ve encountered. I enjoyed this video thanks!
So happy you liked this! I found it interesting, too, especially because I am a recovering self-proclaimed fabric snob. 😀
Great presentation! Very interesting and useful information. I would use the designer jelly roll because I am lazy.
Thank you for this comparison. I buy my fabric at Joann and also from FQS and MSQC. All of my quilts come out wonderfully! Thanks again💕
You are so welcome! Thank you for watching and sharing!
The hunt is half the fun.
Thanks so much for this Kris! It's a good discussion. Sometimes "designer" doesn't always equal quality - and sometimes the cheap (cheaper) stuff really is cheap. I always try to shop with my hands - how does the fabric feel? Does it feel like quality (no matter the price)? It can be a challenge to understand what is quality fabric and what is fabric filled with sizing and fabric anti-fade chemicals for sale, so I try to avoid anything that feels like cardboard. No fabric snobs in this house!
Well said! ❤️
I recently made a flannel quilt made of from both $3/yard flannel from Joann and $13/yard flannel from a quilt shop. That's over 4x cost difference! I have washed the quilt twice, and I can't tell the difference between the different flannels in the quilt. I'm a huge supporter of my local quilt shop, but it can be much more expensive.
The cost is getting to be ridiculous. I totally agree!
A good experiment. I often wonder about this myself.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Visually. I like the knock off one. But really both are great. It’s a great pattern, one that I have used already.
Thanks for sharing. 😊
Thinking about the price/time involved in preparing the fabric. I have found in my busy life, sometimes I have more time than money and other times I have more money than time. So I love your information for people who want to quilt something beautiful and need to save a few dollars.
Thank you for sharing.i was surprised with the results.❤
Me too! 😊
What a terrific comparison. I'd be curious about a "long-term study" which would seem to prove a bit more difficult to document, as to how well the quilts wear over time with similar usage and washing.
That would be interesting! 🥰 Thanks so much for watching!
This was fascinating! I would not have guessed the two different fabric sources would come out so close. When I first started quilting, 40+ years ago, there were no designer fabrics other than the people who designed the fabric pints for the manufacturers. Fabric from Cloth World and House of Fabrics lasted just fine and I have two from that era. I do think that some of the quality has been lost over the years. Other than batiks, I find that most fabrics do not run because I use Color catchers the first time I was any quilt.
YES! This is so true! OHHHH, how I miss House of Fabrics and Cloth World! So many memories. I have seen such a shift in the 30 years I have been quilting, too. The quality seems to ebb and flow like everything, doesn't it? Thank you for this!
Thanks for the demo Kris - both are lovely - wish you would have held them up so as to get a better look 🤗
You are so welcome! I will be posting pictures on Facebook, Instagram, and on my website today.
I really appreciate all of your hard work on this video making the comparisons. I've used both designer and lesser quality fabrics. Both serve a purpose, depending on how the quilt will be used. I love using precut fabrics (layer cakes and jelly rolls) and will buy them online when there is a good sale. That way I get the designer fabric at Joann prices. 😊
You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed this video! ❤️
Great great video. Well done!!! It was surprising to me as well !!!
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!
What a fun experiment! Thanks so much!
Thanks.
Over 2 decades ago, I was weaving rugs and placemats using homespun fabrics. Fabric was about $8 a yd at my LQS and I was going through so much fabric. JoAnne’s had it for $2 a yd, so I figured it was worth a try. The first thing I noticed was the color coming off onto my hands. I looked like I was dying the fabric without gloves! I persevered anyway, and finished the rug. But it only took 2 cold water washings to wash most of color out of that rug. The other rug and placemats are still used today, and look beautiful. Lesson learned. I have stuck with quality fabric ever since. If I’m going to put the time in to make it, I want it to last.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Enjoyed this video! I was told by my store manager while working at Joann that I was a fabric snob! "You only buy the premium and better fabric that we sell!" So most of my fabric IS Joann's! Thank you for video!!
My pleasure!
I’ve been accused of that, too! 😂 I think I am slowing turning a new leaf!
Thanks for the video. I really would like a one year follow up after usage. lol. Based on the same criteria with regards to durability and fabric feel.
You are very welcome! Thanks so much for watching!
Great idea! Thank you!
I love this comparison! Thank you.
I'm so glad! ❤️😊
I very often use quilt shop fabrics for tops and Joann’s better flannels for the back. Saves $, and the flannel crinkles up nicely (don’t know if it’s more or less shrinkage than quilt flannels…). I always enjoy your videos…they’re informative & interesting, and you are so fun!😊😊😊
Oh, thank you! 🥰 You are so sweet! Love that idea of using flannel from Joann's for backing! Thank you!
great job on all accounts. I found it very interesting 😊
Thanks! So much fun to do.
Thanks for making this comparison video it was so informative and interesting. I mostly use fabric from joanns and hobby lobby for affordability reasons but every now and then I'll buy better fabric if it's on sale. I honestly cannot see a big difference for the most part 😊
My pleasure! ❤️
Thanks for sharing your experience! It is so helpful, too!