Petition to SAVE the FABRIC department at Wal-Mart

Petition Online ^ | 11/13/06 | GailA

[GailA]

Help save our fabric source!

click here for petition

I make lap quilts for the VA Hospital spinal cord unit. in Memphis and Wal-Mart is the only source of fabric in Millington, TN...as a widow my income is very limited I can't afford to drive 20-30 minutes to the next 2 sources and pay $2.00 more per yard for fabric.

Quilting is my only hobby. I've made 10 lap quilts so far this year for the VA Hospital spinal cord unit.

For many rural women Wal-Mart is the ONLY source available for fabric.

Better yet call 800 Wal Mart and talk to a live person.

Please pass on the petition to other quilters, sewers and crafters.

[GailA]

I know many don't like Wal-Mart but it does make a difference for people on fixed incomes.

[GailA]

FYI

[Andy'smom]

Bump

[alisasny]

Walmart could donate the fabric : ))

[alisasny]

Walmart could donate the fabric : ))

[buschbaby]

As an avid seamstress in a rural location, Walmart is my only source of affordable sewing goods. I'll sign and make the call too.

[alicewonders]

There are several places on the internet that you can buy fabric.

[GailA]

Yes there are BUT most of their fabric is OVER $8.00 per yard plus S & H of another $5 or more. Being on a fixed income does not allow you to make many such purchases a year. I can buy Wal-Mart fabric for $2-5.00 per yard depending on what I buy. Most of what I buy is $2-4 pe yard fabric.

If the manager of your fabric department does a good job of keeping the department well stocked and clean be sure to praise them when you call.

[GailA]

Be sure to alert family and friends of the need to call. My quilt guild has been notified via email about the petition, and the rest who are not on the net will be notified Tuesday when I go to the guild meeting. We do a lot of charity quilts as our civic projects, many going to the Shriners for children with burns.

[Andy'smom]

Yes there are, but you have to wait for the deals on free shipping. Besides, sometimes you are in the middle of a project and you just need to run out and get some more thread or some needles.

[alicewonders]

Yes, I've noticed where I live, all the fabric shops are gone except for one & I don't know how much longer they will be able to hold out. I guess not that many people sew anymore.

Actually, I've noticed everytime I go to Walmart (which is mostly where I shop), their selection of items is getting less and less. Now that they've put all the mom & pops out of business, they're just not giving us the selection we once had.

I have a love/hate feeling about Walmart.

[Perdogg]

Couldn't you buy via the web and get a quantity discount??

[Andy'smom]

The closest Walmart to me is really pretty dirty. They don't have the grocery section so I really only go in there for the fabric department and sometimes the garden shop. I'm sure that will be the next department to go.

People still sew but I think it's more quilting/crafts than clothes. I've made a few simple quilts but most of the sewing I do is home decor items like drapes & slipcovers.

[GailA]

The fabric shop nearest me 20 minutes away is in a not so nice neighborhood..high crime. The other is even further away in a nice neighborhood but I don't want to have to drive 30 minutes or more to buy a spool of quilting thread or a half a yard of fabric for binding. I go to Hobby Lobby the fartherest away shop only when they have batting half price....3-4 times a year.

[voiceinthewind]

I was also told this by a Walmart craft section employee. Frustrating and silly, as sewing is apparently the new, hot hobby for younger women. There is a chain fabric store near us but it is located in a run-down strip mall. The last time we shopped there I said no more, not worth our lives.

[GailA]

Unfortunately no. Most quilters don't buy in that high a volume, we buy by the yard, fat quarter or a fraction of a yard. The only large volume of fabric (about 3-6 yards) we buy is for quilt backs. Same goes for those who sew for their children they want just what they need to make the item.

The last time I ordered a speciality fabric off the net I bought just 2.5 yards and it cost me over $20 by the time S & H was added in. I can't do that very often but I was making a special quilt for a retired military friend who has cancer and felt the added expense well worth the emotional value the quilt will bring.

[GailA]

I make my curtains and pillows too, as I live in a mobile home and store bought ones don't work well.

My Wal-mart store is clean and well run, the manager Becky is a seamtress herself so she knows what we want and need. I've been in their stores from Las Vegas to Princeton, IN and it is the best managed fabric department I've seen. Our fabric department is busy all the time.

[Corin Stormhands]

Since I'm not aware of any Wal-Marts in the Shire, what, pray tell, does this have to do with the Hobbit Hole?

[GailA]

Not much, but I was hoping for help from as many sources as possible.

[buschbaby]

Buying fabric is a more personal experience than other goods. I sew clothing and I want to put my hands on the fabric, feel the stretch and softness of it to decide how it will wear.

I do buy on the Internet, ebay is a great source, but your taking a chance the fabric won't be what you want, not to mention the wait time when your working on an order.