Buying fabric?

[HeatherJay]

My hubby bought me a sewing machine for my birthday (Singer Quantum 9920). I love it, but so far, I've only done some mending clothes and that type thing. I don't know very much at all about sewing, but I'm interested in starting off on some craft-type projects...and possibly some quilting (baby quilts for the moment).

What's my best bet for buying fabric at the best price? I live in a small town and we don't have a fabric store. My hubby works in a bigger city, but I wouldn't trust him to pick out fabric for me...lol, I'd end up with Nascar or something. I've seen some pretty fabrics on eBay that I like, but I don't want to overpay for anything...and since I'm not that familiar with fabric, I thought I'd hold off there...unless someone can offer insight. Any suggestions?

Also, which fabrics are soft and nice to touch, but still not too expensive?

What the heck is a fat quarter? And is it something that I could work with on quilting and crafting?

Help me, please...lol. I know my hubby bought this for me with the hopes that I'll become Suzy Homemaker...lol...I'd really like to make him proud.

And if you guys have any ideas about simple, fun projects I might start out with, please, let me know those, too.

 

[pmcleanj]

I don't know that I'd like buying fabric over the 'net. Fabric is one of those things I need to see and touch to know what I'm getting. Long ago, when I lived in the middle of nowhere and Eatons still had a catalogue, I did buy some plain fabrics out of the catalogue, but only very predictable things like solid colour muslin broadcloth.

I'd stick to 100% cotton for beginning projects: it's inexpensive (5-10$ Canadian a metre, so you should be able to get it for 3-6$US a yard), takes dye well so that it has bright stable colours, and is easy to handle and comfortable to wear. Pre-shrink pure cottons before sewing with them.

Silk noile is relatively easy to work with and has a nice feel, as does worsted wool. If you can get silk noil for $10-15/metre you're doing fine. Worsted is more like $20/metre. Colours on silk are even more vibrant than on cotton; colours on wool will be a little muted.

I think your best bet will be to go in to the city for a fabric-buying field trip. Make sure you get some of the middle-weight pure cotton for your first couple projects, but get some other fabrics too so you can gain experience with the different textures and feels. The shop clerks are usually knowledgeable, so ask their advice.

Turn this into a treat for yourself, and have lunch out -- and get someone else to kiss boo-boos for that day ! You really don't want to be chasing children among the fabric bolts! There are too many places for them to hide, too many precariously balanced bolts waiting to fall on them, and too many delicate pale fabrics for them to wipe their noses on. Oh, you can look after toddlers in a fabric store -- I've done it plenty of times -- but it means you won't be able to relax and enjoy the rich varieties of fabric. There's a kind of meditative calm comes over you when contemplating the relative charms of three metres of silk duppioni versus cotton velvut -- that just isn't compatible with "M0mmmmy! I want to go-o-o-o-o!". If you have to travel out-of-town to buy fabric, you don't want to waste the experience!

 

[razzelflabben]

Some of Wal Marts fabrics are pretty decent if you have one close. Feel the fabric, take a corner of it and squeeze it in your hand, that is a good indicator as to how bad it will wrinkle. The bolt should also give you a lot of help like washing instructions. Cotton and cottom blends are good to start with, like already suggested. Don't get anything to slippery.

A good starting project would be a rag quilt. A little bulky in the machine, but all straight lines and simple design. I made my first dress, (set in sleeves and zipper) when I was 7. Now our 7 year old wears the dress and is hand quilting a rag quilt as one of her first projects, then she will put the quilt together on the machine but you can do the entire project on the machine.

 

[pmcleanj]

Feel the fabric, take a corner of it and squeeze it in your hand, that is a good indicator as to how bad it will wrinkle.

Oh, that reminds me of something I wanted to mention about the feel of the fabric on the bolt. The manufacturers often size the fabric before winding it onto the bolt. The sizing is like starch -- it gives the fabric more body and makes it stiffer. When you pre-shrink the material the sizing comes out and you have a softer, flimsier material. Be a bit cautious if you find a cotton fabric that's much cheaper than the other cotton in the shop -- if you look closely you'll probably see that it has a looser grain -- it's relying on the sizing to make it pass as a more durable fabric. With a bit of experience you can feel the difference.

I've had good experience with fabrics from Walmart. The selection is a bit limited compared to a fabric warehouse, but as long as you don't have your heart set on something in particular you should be able to find something you can use. You don't get the Zen effect, though .

 

[pmcleanj]

Regarding projects, most of the sewing machine companies have websites with projects on them to get you started. Try out:

http://www.janome.com/projects.php

http://www.singerco.com/projects/

http://www.sewing.org/enthusiast/enthusiast.html

 

[HolyRoller]

What the heck is a fat quarter? And is it something that I could work with on quilting and crafting?

A fat quarter is 1/4yd of fabric. Cotton quilting fabric is about 44" wide and a quarter yard is about 9" long so a 1/4 yd is 44" X 9". A fat quarter is 22"x 18" so it is narrower and longer. Considered a more useable piece of fabric.
Have fun sewing

 

[HeatherJay]

You guys are so helpful, thank you. My hubby actually bought me my first project. He got me one of the quilting kits (attic windows, or something like that)...not very high quality fabric, but it's something that I'm really getting the hang of, I think. Nothing complex, just straight line stitching. But it's building my confidence that maybe I'll be decent at this kind of thing after all.

Thanks again for all the advice, and keep it coming if you have more. This is something I really think I'll enjoy a lot.

 

[pegatha]

What the heck is a fat quarter? And is it something that I could work with on quilting and crafting?

A regular quarter-yard is nine inches long by about 44 inches across. A fat quarter has the same amount of fabric (in square inches) but a different shape: 18 inches by 22 inches. Other than the shape, they are interchangeable. Some shops (such as quilters' shops) will cut fat quarters for you from any bolt of cotton you like, and some only sell pre-cut fat quarters.

 

[Heatherondo]

I have bought some beautiful fabric off ebay at a fair price.
I also have gotten fabric from www.hancocks.com/

Walmart does have some descent stuff, but its pretty bare bones.

before being disabled i shopped at hancocks stores since i was a kid (my grandmom, aunt and mom all sew, and i learned young)

the website doesnt offer as much as you would find int the store but it offers alot more than walmart lol.

There may be a hancocks near you and ya just might not know it.

 

[pmcleanj]

I also have gotten fabric from www.hancocks.com/

Probably not. I tried the link and got

Please Note:
This is a private website and is NOT affiliated with any business. The opinions you see on this page reflect my personal opinions and not those of anyone else.
If you are looking for a fabric store or an Insurance Company we are not them.

Maybe this one?
http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/

 

[Garnet]

Heather -

Sounds like everyone has given you some great advice. Just wanted to add something - a really easy and fun project to start with is pajamas. They don't require extra precise techniques - no darts or anything. You can make pajama pants, nightgowns, shorts - anything really easily, and the fabrics are cheap, because you can just use quilting fabrics. My very first project was a pair of pajama pants. Good luck!

 

[1haytc]

I just love art