|
Quilting fabrics used to be readily available in local fabric shops and large crafting stores. Now many of these stores have vanished or are so jammed with craft supplies that the space for quality fabric is reduced. While you can find many sundries used for quilting in the craft store, at big-box retailers, or online, finding fabric for quilting is more of a challenge. The Rising Popularity of Quilting The diminishing number of fabric stores is due to diminished interest in sewing apparel. With clothes at discount stores priced cheaper than home sewers can make them, sewing is not as popular today as in the past. At the same time, quilting is booming in popularity. According to Quilts, Inc., 10.3% of U.S. households (12.62 million) have at least one active quilter, which makes the total population of quilters over 16.4 million. The average household with a quilter spends nearly $300 on quilting fabrics and supplies - up 36% since 2010. Some dedicated quilters who responded to a survey reported that they spent at least 10 or 12 times that. Online shopping for quilting fabrics has become very popular with the rise in quilting coupled with fewer brick and mortar fabric shops. As any quilter will tell you, there is more to online fabric shopping than availability and convenience. Creating Art with Quilting Fabrics Modern quilting is more of an art form than a way to make bedding. Quilters seek out designs that offer a challenge and plan out their work, which they often carry out in specific coordinated color schemes, known as a medley. Since the top of quilts are usually composed of squares, rectangles, and other shapes, quilters stock up on "fat quarters", quarter yards of fabric that are 18" x 22" square, rather than the usual 9" x 44" strip. Shopping online offers quilters the chance to peruse many choices and stock up on fat quarters and yards of fabrics. Online stores may have the same small floral print or design in a myriad of colors. The online store might carry kits that contain everything to make a quilt, as well as scrap bags that carry fabric odds and ends, thread, batting, needles, and other supplies. You make your choice, pay online, and wait for your fabric to arrive. More Quilting, Less Driving The convenient process of buying quilting fabrics online allows you to spend more time quilting and less time driving from store to store to find what you want. If you need more fabric or other supplies, you can easily reorder and have them at your door in a day or so. A drive across town might be wasted if your local craft shop has sold out of what you need. For convenience and a huge selection you won't find at your local craft store, buy your patterns, supplies and quilting fabrics online.
Related Articles -
quilting, quilting fabrics, fabrics, online shopping, crafts, hobbies,
|
