Big Box Blunder

Boy did I learn a new lesson the hard way today. I've been plugging along making my triangle quilt and I'm in the home-stretch. I decided to add some white strips in between the rows of triangles and I'm liking the end result. That was, until I noticed that I had 2 different colors of white. I bought what I thought was Kona White at a local big box store. Okay, who am I trying to protect here? I purchased it at Joann's. I like the fact that I can easily get Kona solids there and at a great price when using their 50% off coupons. My original purchase was for 1 yard but I ended up needing a bit more so I went back for another yard at a later date. I was just finishing up my quilt top yesterday when I saw that they weren't the same white!


The white on the top was my original purchase, of which 85% of my quilt is constructed with. The strip below is the more recent purchase. I'm hoping you can see in this photo that the one on top is more of an ivory color, closer to Kona Snow. I double checked my receipts and sure enough, both stated that I purchased Kona White. Will the real Kona White please stand up?

I might have just left it if I didn't have the 2 whites touching one another in places on the quilt. Given the circumstances, I went back to Joann's to show them the issue. They informed me that there was nothing they could do since I had already cut into the second fabric and that they are different because of different dye lots. SERIOUSLY??! Now don't get me wrong - I've been a knitter for 20 years and I am very aware of differing dye lots when it comes to yarn. I was NOT aware that this could be the case for fabrics. How am I just now hearing about this? Is it true or were they just blowing smoke up my @$%#?

So I ended up buying another yard, first matching it with the swatch I brought to the store. Now to rip out some sewing and repair the damage. Not my idea of fun. Having easy access to a big box store is convenient (especially when most of the quilt shops around me are 30-40 minutes away with toll roads) but after this blunder, I'll think twice before I purchase fabric from them again.

Comments

  1. Oh bummer! Yes, I have noticed dye differences before, but on much bolder things like Chinese Red... so I try to make sure I'm using fabric from the same bolt if it is really important. It really does look like they had Kona Snow and not Kona White, though. That seems really odd... so sorry about all the seam ripping!

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  2. what a pain but yes different dye lots vary, you were lucky to get a match. I bought a green patterned fabric as I was running short and there is a difference in that too.

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  3. I'm surprised that there is a difference in white but I recently experienced the same with different dye lots with a darker shade of grey... This taught me a lesson... buy a lot, then I won't run out LOL

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  4. I've seen a big difference in dye lots in thread but not so much Kona. Definitly looks like Kona Snow to me!

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  5. I have had this experience with the store brand solids of the big bo here in Australia. I am happy with the quality of the fabric, but I will always overbuy for a specific project because I have had cases where I thought I'd matched the colours and the dye lots were different. It's so frustrating!!

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  6. Super frustrating! I'm glad you were able to find a matching piece. I agree with the others though, looks like Kona Snow to me!

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  7. Absolutely the same as with yarn, just fabric manufacturers tend to do bigger batches. It is far more common with darker colors, and especially since there was such a difference, I would expect the bolt was mislabeled. Considering last time I was in JoAnn's they didn't know what freezer paper was, or why I was asking for it there, I wouldn't be surprised. Glad you found something close enough though!!!

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