Monday, August 13, 2018

The Lure of Online Fabric Shops

I've been searching for reproduction grey fabric for my "Blue and Gray" Civil War quilt.  It's a fabric that's hard to find locally.  Imagine my joy at seeing several offerings at an online shop.  There were five to choose from, then only four because I deliberated.  I've purchased fabric online before (from five different shops) and have always been disappointed.  Either the quality is not what I expected or the color doesn't match what I see on my computer screen.  But these fabrics, well, I was sure they would work.  How far wrong could one go with grey? 


I bought a yard of two of the horizontal greys on the bottom and a yard and a half of the top grey fabric in the photo above.  The anticipation was great.  I knew August was already busy but to have the grey fabric on hand, washed, dried, pressed, and ready to cut -- the lure was not to be ignored.

The package arrived and when I opened it and saw two greys that leaned so strongly toward purple that I couldn't (and can't) bring myself to call them grey, the disappointment set in.  The top grey may work but it truly leans toward green.  The greys in the lower half of the photo are the ones I'd already purchased.

I don't know why I don't learn.  I suspect it's the lure of quality, name-brand fabrics at great prices and the beautiful (but inaccurate) colors that draw me to online fabric shops.

I need to remind myself why I should not buy fabrics online.
  • The colors.  The colors shown online are not true.  They vary from one monitor to another.  Really, fabrics in real life vary in color depending on the light, so why should I expect anything different from photographs of fabrics online.  And yet, the colors of fabrics in online photos are different than I see in real life when the fabrics arrive, even when I look at them in different lights. 
  • The hand.  One can't tell how the fabric feels when buying online, whether it falls and folds gently or whether it's thick and stiff, or possibly thin, whether the surface is smooth, or even how smooth it is.  No matter how much I love the print or color of a fabric, if it doesn't feel comfortable to my hand, I don't want to use it.
  • The quality.  I've noticed that different lines of fabric from the same manufacturer vary in quality, especially when it comes to the hand of fabric.  One line may be smooth, soft, and flexible while another line may be thinner, less smooth, or even somewhat stiff.

It's frustrating to buy fabric that I can't use for its intended purpose.  It's even more frustrating to have spent money on fabric that's not quite what I expected.  I see only two ways around this problem.
  1. Do not buy fabric online.
  2. Buy online only after having seen the same fabric at a fabric shop.
Now, to figure out how to use those purple fabrics.  (If only purple were not one of my least-favorite colors.)

Do you buy fabric online?  If so, what tips do you have to be sure you're satisfied with your purchases?

--Nancy.
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27 comments:

  1. stick mostly to lines i've seen elsewhere or whites/neutrals...twice disappointed but was able to use for other things...

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    1. Hi, Grace. I do so wish I had local quilt shops where I could actually see more fabric before buying. The two that are almost-local have fairly small selections which makes it difficult to find much variety. I hope I'll find other uses for the fabrics that won't work for their intended purpose.

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  2. A very interesting post, Nancy. I order a fair amount online but usually not for something specific so have not been disappointed. However, I agree with you especially re colours. Even my own photos do not translate colours on my blog like they should. These do seem like pretty shades just the same.

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    1. Thank you, Jocelyn. I've found that each monitor translates color differently, too. What looks peach to me may look pink to you! And, of course, everyone's eyes see colors differently, too. Color challenges!

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  3. If I see a fabric online that I'm interested in but I'm concerned about the color I will Google that line of fabric and find it on another website to see if the colors look the same. If they differ quite a bit I can always find it on yet another site for comparison. It's not a perfect solution but has helped me make some decisions about whether or not to buy it. And sometimes it costs less on one of the other sites.

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    1. Hi, Julie. I've made comparisons between websites, too, and sometimes it's really helpful. Other times it seems that they have the same photo, perhaps taken from the manufacturer's website. Do you have favorite online shops to buy quilting fabric?

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  4. I agree with all your reasons not to buy online and I will add one that is even more important to me and that is the fact that I feel the need to support my local quilt stores. So many stores in Maine have closed due to online shopping and big box stores. I really like supporting my local shop. It may cost a bit more, but it is worth it to me. I am lucky to have a fabulous shop less than 45 minutes from my house.

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    1. Yes, Wendy, I agree about how important it is to shop from local quilt stores. You ARE lucky to have a wonderful shop so close. There was a great quilt shop a few miles away in the nearest town to us before I began quilting for fun. I admired the fabrics but didn't buy much because I was looking for fabric for one small block. By the time I began making quilts it had already closed. And another shop in an area of the city where I frequent closed a few years ago. Now there are two shops in towns on opposite sides of our large city. Both are 30 or 40 minutes away from me, but when I want fabric, I go there first. Both have relatively small selections but I often find fabrics I like. I do love being able to touch, feel, and see the fabric in person before buying. I wish there were another shop or two with a larger variety.

      I should have added that to my list (and may edit the post to include it).

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  5. I tend not to buy fabric for particular projects, and when I do, I look at them in person to see how well they play together and buy at the store. I think that colors may even vary in batches. I like that "gray" with the rest of the fabrics, but can imagine the disappointment of getting purple and green instead of gray.

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    1. My preference is to buy at a store, too, Shasta, even more so now, after these few experiences buying online. I hadn't thought about batches varying in color, though I know it happens with yarn. Probably so with fabric, too.

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  6. I do purchase a lot of fabric online and have been "surprised" a few times too. Now I tend to stick with designers I am familiar with and only well known manufacturers. I recently picked up some nice grays from a couple of Jeanne Horton lines. I think the fun is in the search!

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    1. Karen, where did you buy the Jeanne Horton greys?

      The two greys that look purple are both Pam Buda for Marcus fabrics, and the other greenish-grey is a Paula Barnes/Marcus fabrics. I think Marcus is quality fabric....

      I agree, it is fun to search, especially when one finds great fabrics!

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  7. I'm so sorry that you're disappointed again! I've had some fabric arrive that I couldn't stand but after paying the price I still feel like I need to use it. Purple isn't one of my favorites either but the fabrics will look good on a project that isn't so shade specific.

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    1. Thank you, Robin. It is a disappointment but it will be okay. I think I will check about returning it, as one commenter suggested, and if I can't do that, I'll find some other way to put it to use -- quilt back, or alternate blocks.... That's the thing, after paying the price, I can't just pass it on. I'm just beginning to wonder what other fabric next to those purplish-greys will make it look like a different color.... Hmmm.

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  8. Oh, that's disheartening! I prefer to purchase from brick and mortar stores, but they are few and far between here so I do shop online quite a bit. I have been disappointed from time to time if I was trying to match something and once or twice I received fabric that included metallic threads with no notation of such when I made the purchase. For the most part, I have been pleased with my online purchases, but I agree -the colors on the computer monitor are very deceiving.
    I'm sorry that your experience has been so disappointing. I will say that I now have a lot of different grays in my stash(albeit not in the reproduction category) that I ordered in an attempt to find the "perfect" gray for a quilt I made for our daughter. :)

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    1. Hi, Karin. I suppose it will all work out with these grey fabrics and in thinking about it, I'm sure I shouldn't have been surprised, considering what I know about colors on computer monitors. I'm going to see if I can return the ones that lean toward purple. It never occurred to me that it was a possibility until another reader suggested it in a comment. If I can't I'll see if I can find other colors to put with it to reduce the purple and increase some other shade/tone.

      LOL about your stash of greys (in search of the "perfect" grey. I guess that's one way to increase our stash.

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  9. I do buy fabric online some of the time, usually from shops that are brick and mortar somewhere, if not near here. No shop, or even group of shops, can carry everything.

    I don't usually look for a specific matching color, but I recently did and was thrilled with what came - but it was red and black - how far wrong can that go?

    If I'm not sure, I usually find something at Fort Worth Fabric Studios and then I write Jodi and ask her advice, telling her what I'm doing and what I'm looking for. She is always SO helpful and has never steered me wrong.

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    1. Thanks for suggesting Fort Worth Fabric Studios, Susan. I'll have to visit their website and look around.

      I think it could be easy to go wrong with red -- orange-red, rose red, cherry red.... It's great the ones you ordered were just what you wanted.

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  10. I buy online about 90% of the time and I have to say I have never been disappointed by a color. Maybe my monitor is good or my imagination? Or my background of buying fabrics for my work when I designed clothing. I have no local fabric shops at all, so online is my only choice. That said, I am often dismayed by the scale of prints, I'll expect a tiny calico and instead the motif is big and bold. Recently I ordered a tropical palm leaf expecting BIG and the leaves were tiny and ditsy. My customer for duvet cover and cases was not amused.

    Two

    Three thoughts: Most online shops allow returns with no questions asked and full refunds. Send the purple back.

    Never buy yardage, always order a quarter or half yard then reorder what you like.

    And 3rd, I really love Fat Quarters Shop. You can call them or email and they ll go out of their way to describe and/ or suggest what you need. They also have a very detailed specific color finder app with hundreds of shades. They do such attention to detail that once when I was buying white and blue shirtings, and then added a cream ground daisy print [for something else] they emailed me to be sure I knew the daisy was cream not white.

    I think I have a couple of true greys, Civil War era repro, do you want me to look and share?

    lizzy at gone to the beach lizzzz.d@gmail.com

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    1. Hi, LIzzy. You are so lucky to have never been disappointed by colors when buying online, but how sad that you have no local quilt shops at all! Your not being disappointed could be any of the things you mention but I also wonder if I'm too particular.... I've found that it is sometimes hard to tell scale online

      I hadn't thought about returning the fabric but I will check with the company and see if they will take it back. That would be wonderful!

      I would have bought less but I think a yard was the least I could order (because when I asked for half a yard, the cost was the same as for a yard). I wish online shops sold individual fat quarters. Gosh, I would rack up a purchase if they did!

      I'll have to look into Fat Quarters Shop more. I didn't realize they were so helpful. That's good to know.

      I would love to see your Civil War greys and buy them if you are interested in selling. Thank you for offering (but don't worry if you reconsider and want to keep them -- not a problem).

      Thanks for all your suggestions. I appreciate them.

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  11. I often buy online. I buy from many different stores. Usually I am looking for backing or borders or background fabric to go with a specific line of fabric. I tend to buy precuts and they sit until I find a project for them. I also support our local shops as I don’t want them to close. I may have a fabric addiction! ;-)

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    1. A fabric addiction? That's a good thing, right?

      If I knew lines of fabric it would probably be helpful but I don't usually pay attention to designers. It might solve some of my problems when buying online. I've only ever bought one precut -- a stack of 5" squares, and they are sitting now, waiting till I can find a use for them.

      Which online stores are your favorites?

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  12. To add to my previous comment I haven’t been disappointed because I mostly stick to a fabric line I’m already familiar with.

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  13. I do buy on-line, here in NZ we don't get the variety and our prices are high. I buy from the Fat Quarter Shop quite a bit, and haven't been disappointed. Having close-up pics are helpful. I also try & support out two local shops, they have very different 'styles' and buying habits, but I can usually find something I want, it's just expensive. Also, as I'm a 'scrappy' quilter, I can usually make most 'accident' purchases work! Hope you have beeter luck next time.

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    1. Thanks, Linda. I hope for better luck, too! I hadn't thought about the expense of fabrics in New Zealand. I suppose more are imported from other countries? Being a scrap quilter helps, for sure!

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  14. Online I asked one shop to hold a certain number and description fabric for me, I was coming there. When I got there they were holding a different fabric than I wanted. Fortunately they still had loads of the fabric I did want and was able to get it. Another online purchase: ordered YARDAGE of a print, instead got the panels, and much less fabric, and could not make what I had intended. By the time I got my shipment the fabric I wanted was out of stock.

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    1. It sounds like you've had several bad experiences with ordering online, QuiltGranma. Of these two, at least you had a good outcome (in a round-about way) with one, but sad that the other experience was so dismal. Thanks for sharing.

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