Do you prefer to purchase your materials online or at a store?  I know for some folks it may be a necessity to purchase online (living in a rural area, etc.).

I live in Austin Texas and there's a fair number of craft and arts stores here (JoAnns, Hobby Lobby, and local ones) as well as fabric stores.  There's often a sale on at one of them on fleece and other supplies.  Because of this, I've done almost all of my puppet material purchasing in a store (with the notable exception of gasket rubber).

I was wondering if you guys think it's a better deal to buy online, or if it's just really specific to the material or what have you.  I decided I should probably start price checking, but thought maybe you guys might have some general thoughts.

Thanks!

It really depends on different factors. Sometimes I find items cheaper online but when I pay shipping it ends up being what I would have paid in a store. If and when I can get free shipping and get the price below a store retail then I order online. If you buy wholesale or from online companies that require minimum purchases and all you need are a couple of items then often I will shop Ebay or go to a retail store. It also depends on time frame... how quick do I need a item. Overall I look for the best prices whether they be wholesale, retail online shopping or at a retail store. I also look at convenience of buying online or shopping retail. It pays to shop around.


Billy D.

I've only just gotten back into sewing projects after a six year hiatus, but my preferences are the same now as they were back then. I'd prefer to buy my materials from a store, that way I can get exactly how much I want and I can handle fabric to determine its usefulness. But, the stores here generally don't have what I want! Hobby Lobby and Hancock Fabrics don't sell brushed tricot, minky, or robe velour, and their fleece selection is a bit limited, as is their faux fur. I wanted to try painting acrylic eyes recently (might be a good side business to fund my puppet habit) and had to order the eyes online because the local stores don't stock the clear eyes.

Today I went to Hancock Fabrics to get some faux fur and various notions. I wanted solid colored fur in two colors, but didn't see any that were both a good color and thin and soft enough to not hamper the movement of my puppet. A lady working there told me another store - Premier Fabrics I think it was - sold minky, but that brings up another problem I have: I can't drive due to my health, so I only go to stores when someone can take me. It's not hard to get a ride from a family member, but I hate imposing.

So, long story short, I get things from the stores when I can, but if I make more puppets after this one I'll likely be ordering my fabric from fabric.com and Minky Delight. The good thing about online stores is that although you can't be there to see the bolts in person, they do usually tell you on the site what the width and weight of the fabric is, and you can order samples for a small fee.

I buy from both as well. I find greater deals online, especially when buying bulk items that can't generally (at least where I live) be found in large (or at all) quantities in-store. On the other hand, if I need something simple right now, I can usually find something that will do what I need at a local craft store, walmart, or hardware store. It's amazing how many places you can find puppet supplies that aren't geared toward making puppets. Check out thefleecelady.com for material. She seems to carry the widest selection of colors for quality polar fleece I have found. I guess the bottom line is, you can find great products and deals both online and in-store, you just have to look for them.

~Nate

I prefer to go instore. Most of the fabrics available to Americans (ie. furs and antron fleece, etc) aren't available here - or some are available but expensive or low in supply/diversity.

Mainly I go in for two reasons: one, I often don't know what exactly I want but will know it when I see it. It usually has to do with texture, something you can't figure out via photos. The second is that I always check the bargain bin, here in Australia the largest fabric store often has off-cuts or remnants (even bolts) at discount prices. I can usually get scrap fleeces for a third of the price, and I always stock up on handy materials like plain black cottons, whites, etc. The bolt I got: probably about 10 yards of chiffon for the price of a cup of coffee (not Starbucks, the cheap coffee!).

You can't often do that online. Or at least, without expensive shipping costs that outweigh the price of the discount.

You're right Na. Being an American, I think I am spoiled by the availability of just about anything I could want for a relatively low shipping cost. I often forget that people here are from outside the US and my advice may not always apply or work for them.

~Nate

It really comes down to if you need a certain material or item that you can't find at local stores, but is available on the Internet then really there is no choice but to get it off the Internet.  I am not a big fan of getting material off of the Internet because I like touching my fabrics before purchases however I don't live in a perfect world.

Basically I only order what I can't find or get in my own city/community.

Daryl H

You're right Na. Being an American, I think I am spoiled by the availability of just about anything I could want for a relatively low shipping cost. I often forget that people here are from outside the US and my advice may not always apply or work for them.

~Nate

When I went to Atlanta last year I was in total glee to get my hands on 5 yards of antron (giving the current worldwide shortage, I'm almost disappointed I didn't stock up on more. Could have made a fortune selling it on!!) and I can tell you, it's no fun not living in a fabric-full country. To think I saved myself about $200 on shipping just by being in the same state as the seller!

I think actually that's the main reason for not finding similar ranges of supplies. Australia is expensive to get to if you're making things in the US (weird, because most US things seem to be coming from China, and China's quite close to Aus.). The only way to ship your fabrics is by plane or ship.

Sigh... I miss going shopping in South Korea. All those huge malls of stationery. Wharehouses full of every fabric bolt imaginable. A puppeteer's delight!