From – June 29, 2010
So many quilting fabrics, so many designs, how does one choose? My first cut comes in the area of quality. I have a typical quilter’s husband. He dutifully lugs my sewing machine out to the car for me for my classes when he is here. He loads his trunk with my containers of fabric, quilt patterns, and accessories for our trips to the cabin. He patiently oohs and aaws at all of my projects.
AND…he thinks I have more quilting fabric than anyone on earth and I spend much too much on it. He really has no idea the capacity a quilter has for collecting fabric and really, really no idea how much I do spend. But, he now understands about why my fabric cost the amount I spend.
My stash is neatly (well fairly neatly) displayed and my daughter Liza came by to request a quilt and chose some fabric. She picked out a collection I particularly liked and which suited her well that I purchased on vacation a few years ago. It was beautiful, soft, very good quality cotton. But, she also happened upon a piece of JoAnn’s sandpaper cotton that she insisted she wanted included and I didn’t even realize I still had.
I thought that this would be the perfect illustration for my husband. I took 2 swatches out to the living room and had him feel them. “This is what I purchased in Healdsburg for $10 a yard,” I said, “And this I bought at JoAnn’s for $2.97 a yard. Please feel them. Liza wants both in her quilt.”
He looked at me and said, “Why do you even have that cheap material?” Voila! He has never said another word to me about the cost of a piece of fabric. He still complains about the cost of the volume of my stash, but, one step at a time.
Quality material not only feels better, but it lasts longer, sews easier, and produces a much more satisfying sewing experience and result. It is always worth the extra expense.
And I refused to include the cheap stuff in Liza’s quilt.
You aren’t going to find this anywhere, but, isn’t it interesting?
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Karen Dennison
Learn, Grow, Share – And most of all – Create!
