Fabric - designer versus chain store like Joann's

Littlejen22

Is designer really that much better?  If yes, is it the quality or the design choice or something else like the dye.  I bought some really cute fabric from Joann's but am wondering if my next big purchase should be online.  Of course the great thing about Joann's was that it was on sale plus I had a 20% off your entire purchase including sale items.  Oh, and what about the "higher end" stuff at Joann's like their Legacy fabrics from South Korea

Oh, and Bubbly, if you are reading this I am mad at you for your Etsy seller suggestion b/c that is what set me off, lol...now I want lots and lots more fabric!

BubblyToes

LOL, isn't that site awesome?

pincushions

There is a HUGE difference.

While Alexander Henry, Michael Miller and some others sell their fabrics at chain stores, there is a reason that they don't carry all the lines.

Grab a yard of an Amy Butler fabric and take it in to a chain store... you will automatically notice the weight, sheen and over all feel.

For personal purposes I don't mind buying from joann's. I normally don't. If I am selling something... I can count on 1 hand the # of times I have used chain store fabric.

Also there is a lot of personal taste that goes with choosing fabrics. I find very little at Joanns or Hancocks that I want to play with. Send me to the 1 store that carries all my favorite lines and I can't walk out of there without dropping $100.

Littlejen22

I need to find another fabric store near me and I do not think there are any.  I did find a few (read handful) really cute fabrics but there is not a lot of nice stuff to coordinate with it which is obviously another benefit of designers.  Off to search for fabric stores!

BubblyToes

God I love Amy Butler.

soontobemrs.S

warmbiscuit.com is where I got the fabric for Charlotte's curtains.