Dropped $80 on a fabric swatch book and it was the best move I made this month

It saved me from ordering three yards of a wool blend that looked totally different online. Has anyone else found a good source for accurate color samples?

3 comments

3 Comments

emmar752mo ago

Honestly, calling that the best move of the month seems like a stretch. Spending eighty bucks just to check a color feels like a tax for shopping online. I'd rather order a small cut of the actual fabric first, even if it costs a little more for shipping. That way you're getting the real texture and weight in hand, not just a tiny sample. A swatch book can still be off from the full production run.

theabennett2mo ago

Getting a full swatch book is more about seeing the whole range at once, @emmar75. For a big project, paying that eighty upfront saves me from ordering ten separate samples later. The tiny swatches show texture fine for me, and I've never had a color be way off from the final bolt.

mark_fisher481d ago

Playing devil's advocate here, @emmar75. I get the argument about wanting the real piece in hand, but a swatch book lets you see thirty colors side by side without ordering thirty separate cuts. That eighty dollars is basically a one time research fee. Also, I've had small cuts of fabric arrive and still feel different from the full bolt once it's unrolled, so even a 12x12 piece isn't a guarantee. Your mileage may vary, but for big decisions I'd rather eat the cost of the book than guess and pay restocking fees later.