Posted on 11/13/2006 4:57:50 AM PST by GailA
Help save our fabric source!
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.
FYI
Bump
Walmart could donate the fabric : ))
Walmart could donate the fabric : ))
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.
There are several places on the internet that you can buy 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Since I'm not aware of any Wal-Marts in the Shire, what, pray tell, does this have to do with the Hobbit Hole?
Not much, but I was hoping for help from as many sources as possible.
E-bay is a really good source for upholstery fabrics. And sometimes you can get good deals on fat quarters.
I guess Walmart wants to be more like Target? They've not only eliminated the mom & pop stores but many other retailers so in some areas they are pretty much the only source to purchase from.
WalMart PING.
Other than WalMart the nearest place for me to purchase fabric is more than 50 miles away. If WalMart follows through with 86ing its fabric department I will be 86ing most of my sewing.
BTTT.
Thanks for your kind service to disabled vets!
jm
I could live in the fabric/crafts department of the local WalZMart, however I did notice on a recent stop there that the cross stitch section has shrunk from about 30feet to 3 feet of wall space.
Ping
Rats!
Wellllll, I suppose given the last election . . . and the direction the DIMRATS want to rush us toward the global government . . .
sackcloth and ashes might be more fitting anyway.
BTTT
I only mention this because while Walmart is convenient there are a lot of quilting goodies they just don't carry.
BTTT
ping for your comments/suggestions.
Bttt
BTTT
I only quilt on a daily basis, I don't bead or scrap book..there isn't any desire..I'm a quilt-aholic and will be until my arthritic fingers force me to quit.
We seem not to do the group ordering for some reason...there are about 50 of us.
I couldn't even find any one going to Paducah for the day to ride with this year....all were taking classes and spending the night..which I can't do.
"I know many don't like Wal-Mart but it does make a difference for people on fixed incomes."
Darn right about that. However, Wally World is slowly becoming more high end. Did you know there is no more lay-away there because it was not profitable for them? That was how I could purchase things like printers, TVs, stereos etc. Now have to do as much shopping as I can at Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General and such stores.
As to discontinuing fabric, there is a general trend in doing away for fabric stores. Where are people who sew supposed to get their fabrics from? There are plenty of people who sew their own clothes for various reasons; getting a better fitting garment is just one. And believe it or not, some people still make their own curtains and slipcovers? What next, getting rid of the crafts and art supplies?
Gail,
Could you freepmail me your address? I know that I have several fat quarters that I probably not going to get to for a long time, if ever, and I would like you to have them.
If you specifically need any colors, I have a Jo-Ann's about 15 min. away and I could get you more - no charge. I think we are all very appreciative of the donation you are making to our vets.
Some stores have from reading the comments at the petition site or gone to prepackaged lengths..which don't work for those who make clothes or quilt. I may buy several yards for a quilt, but often they are 1/8th to 1 yard lengths depending on what block or quilt I am working on.
That is driving me nuts, but what I plan on doing is just starting to buy gift cards, like $10-20, each time I am in WM. One of the reasons (in addition to the profitabilty) for doing away with lay-away is because so many people are using gift-card. When I read that, I rembered something told to my husband at the Sears appliance store near here. They don't do lay-away and for folks without credit cards or Sears cards that is how they save up for purchases. So that is what I plan to do starting the first of the year in order to be able to do my 2 major annual outlays, back-to-school and Christmas (I have an 8yo - everyone else gets homemade)
There are plenty of people who sew their own clothes for various reasons; getting a better fitting garment is just one. And believe it or not, some people still make their own curtains and slipcovers?
I don't make clothes, because I am not much of a seamstress, but I do make curtains, pillows and throws.
I'm really not happy about them doing away with the fabric, not that I buy all that much, but knowing it's there if I get a notion to make something......
I was a divorced mom for 10 years and learned to rummage sale for my boys clothes, the only things I bought new were, socks, under wear and shoes. The rest came from yard sales.
I'm not much of a seamtress either, curtains and throw pillows. My passion is hand quilting.
I didn't think any banks did the Christmas Club Accounts any more.....thanks for the heads up. I remember doing them when I was a kid.
I have no qualms about yard sales or thrift stores. My husband discovered a Disabled American Veterans Thrift Store near where he works and has become a fixture there. Other than socks, underwear, shoes and a particular jacket that she REALLY, REALLY wanted, all of our daughter's back-to-school clothes for this year were either hand-me-downs from friends with older children, or from the DAV or Hospice Thrift Stores.
I haven't been able to get the hang of quilting, or knitting for that matter. I started crocheting when I was about 8, learned how to use a sewing machine around 13, but never really used it again until I was nearly 40, and took up cross stitch about 10 years ago.
Gail, I imagine that you are like my Mother, my Sister, and my late Grandmother. In addition to price, you want to be able to physically inspect the material before you buy it.
Something you just can't do over the 'net.
That is a large part of quilting. There is just something emotional about fingering a particularly fine piece of fabric. Then there is inspecting the weave, color, and matching colors something you can't do over the internet..although the few special fabrics I've bought have been high quality 100% cotton. I take my fabrics I already have at hand and audition them against a new piece when I'm making a new block as I may not have the necessary color or style in my stash.
"I didn't think any banks did the Christmas Club Accounts any more."
You are right about that. They are becoming a thing of the past. What a shame. Would use those savings, plus lay-away to do some serious shopping. Love those DAV Thrift Shops. Everytime I go there come away with some very nice things.
Check out some of the smaller banks in the area. They cater more to individuals than the big national banks. I think my credit union still has Christmas saving accounts. If not, just shop around for the bank that requires the lowest minimum balance on a savings account, and you can create your own Christmas savings account. It looks like there is an Insouth Bank in your area. They have a Custom Savings Account that only requires $25 to open without fees if you abide by their withdrawal rules. http://www.insouthbank.com/personal_savings.html#Regular
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