This chartreuse knit represents why I have such mixed feelings about shopping for fabric online.As I mentioned in my last post I haven't been to the garment district much lately to shop. Though I love going into the city, it's expensive (about $15 to $22 per round trip train ride, depending on time of day) and a visit can eat up a big chunk of your day. So, encouraged by my good friend Carolyn, online shopper extraodinaire, I have been buying fabric online to satisfy my fabric needs.
Carolyn, don't yell at me, but I'm just not as happy with online shopping as you are. Sure, I love the faux fur and the wool coating I bought from Fabric.com, but everything else has disappointed me when I pulled it out of the package. I mean, there's been nothing I've bought online where I've said "yuck, hate this stuff." It's more like an "oh, I thought this was going to be prettier" kind of let-down. [Note: I am, however, very content with the $1.95/yard fabric I just purchased from Fabric.com. Who wouldn't be for this price?]
Recently I wanted to buy some wool sweater knit after the positive experience I had sewing with the wool knit I bought at Mood. I found some wool knit on sale at Fashion Fabrics Club. Here's their description for the chartreuse fabric shown in the photo at the top of this post:
Chartreuse Green Wool Knit Fabric
The most exquisite knit we've seen.
A blend of 97% worsted wool and 3% lycra,
it is perfect for a dress or sweater.
It's so soft, you won't believe it is wool.
Enjoy for many years to come.
Imported from Japan
70" Wide
Dry Clean Only
Usually $50.00/yd.
The most exquisite knit we've seen.
A blend of 97% worsted wool and 3% lycra,
it is perfect for a dress or sweater.
It's so soft, you won't believe it is wool.
Enjoy for many years to come.
Imported from Japan
70" Wide
Dry Clean Only
Usually $50.00/yd.
My heart was pounding, this sounded so delicious! I clicked "buy" without a second thought. But when I opened the package a few days later, I kicked myself for being swayed by marketingspeak and not swatching first. This stuff is just glorified French terry! I'll do a burn test at some point if I can find some matches in the junk drawer, but this fabric feels and looks like a spongy polyester. Yes, I'll still go ahead and make it into this McCalls cardigan, though it will end up being more weekend wear than work attire. Wah!Word of advice: Always get swatches first so you can test-drive the merchandise. I need to remember this.
What about you, dear readers? Do you have a better success rate with buying fabrics online than I do? Do you always request swatches first? Do tell!
58 comments:
I've had tremendous success with my internet fabric shopping . . . in fact, I probably get 98% of my fabric from internet vendors these days (and thread, notions, patterns, tools as well). I don't think I've ever received anything where I've said "yuck, hate it, won't use it", but there have been a few instances where maybe the color wasn't the same as I thought it would be. I've only gotten swatches twice, and they really didn't help the purchasing process any. I'm pretty easygoing with my purchasing, though, so I'm probably more forgiving than I should be, but I really can't think of any situation where I've been even slightly motivated to return an internet fabric purchase.
For the most part I am pleased with my online shopping. I have had a few disappointments, but that is usually me getting too excited about a big sale and buying some fabric that just isn't me or my lifestyle. I have great luck ordering via the phone from my good friend, Anne owner of Needle Nook Fabric. Online is my best option for fabric, as I only have Joann's in my area. I did get lucky yesterday and find some good solid knits at Joann's.
The other problem with FFC, in my experience, is that their swatches take forEVAH to arrive, making shopping one of their sales nearly impossible. For some types of fabric (mostly stuff I buy for my 4-year-old daughter), they're a smokin' deal, but in general, I would prefer to spend my limited fabric dollars at places with exceptional customer service.
My most positive experience to date has been with Emma One Sock. I think I probably ordered three or maybe four sets of free swatches from Linda (all the while thinking, "OK, she's going to send a polite email any day now asking if I actually plan to BUY anything") from them before I purchased my first yardage.
And Gorgeous Fabrics has some very nice things, but I find it terribly frustrating that I can only order whole yard cuts there. If I need just an 1/8 or 1/4 yard more for a particular garment (especially if I'm only ordering a yard to begin with), I have to buy more than I need. Even providing the option of a half-yard cut would be helpful. EOS will cut to a tenth of a meter for me, which really lets me stretch my dollar on her rather pricey wares.
I shop online at Emma One Sock and have been so please with her fabrics! They may cost a bit more, but totally worth it. I love some of the piece I have made, mostly due to the fabric.
Well, I actually purchased the same fabric from them in maroon and it arrived in the mail yesterday. I had much the same reaction as you did. Blah! BUT, they take returns! So even though it is a pain to box it all up and go to the post office, I'll definitely be sending mine back with two other cuts I'm not happy with. Their wool jersey is so thin it is see through. Just warning you in case you were looking into that as well. I usually have such good luck with them!
I'm not a big fan of the Fashion Fabrics Club. My favorite remains Emmaonesock. The other place is Banksville Designer Fabrics. You can e mail them with your requests, or call and ask for Lori.
I found thier stuff to be either feast of famine. They have the worst customer service and very very slow shipping. At least that was my experience. I quit ordering from them. I ended up throwing out more than I kept. Not worth it. I've had the best luck with fabric.com (great customer service and returns are easy), lucy's fabrics, fabric fairy, and gorgeous fabrics (if you are looking for nice quality and great service this is the one). I've had mixed luck with fabricmart -but they have good service.
I too have had some disappointments online fabric shopping and have promptly sent them back. Overall, I'm usually pleasantly surprised when it turns out more beautiful in person. As others have said, there are a few sites that you just have to be careful shopping at but, EOS and Gorgeous Fabrics are both winners in my book. BTW, who doesn't love that $1.95/yd fabric???
There is a pretty dismal group of fabric shops in Austin -- one newer standout called The Common Thread but they are small -- and I have been courting the idea of online fabric shopping. I still might purchase online, but will be sure to have low expectations and be sure the price is a steal. I will check back and read other comments later today. Thanks for addressing, Lindsay T.
I'm with you Lindsay. I have to say I am more often disappointed with buying fabric online rather than surprised. I ordered "tropical wool" online and was disappointed at how much polyester it had in it, and a similar thing happened with some summer linen. I have tried swatching services, but they offer so little selection that I eventually dropped it. I notice some one else said that it depends on where you shop - maybe I'll try a swatching service with some of the higher end vendors.
Those train fares sound like the LIRR! I live on Long Island and do go into the City frequently for social reasons and shop there. I appreciate your reviews and found Metro Fabrics by reading your blog. I have had some luck with Fabric.com. Emmaonesock has great stuff but a bit pricy for me and I see things on Gorgeous Fabrics that I'd like but I would like the option of ordering in increments like 1 1/2 yards, which is all I need for tops.
All in all, you cant beat the City. Noreen
Nowadays I only order from Emmaonesock and Gorgeousfabrics online and I am never disappointed. I have ordered online from other places and wasn't happy, so I stick with the tried and true. I don't have good sources locally either, so if I don't buy online I would be forced to either drive for an hour or shop at Hancocks
I'd say I'm happy with about 75%. I agree with the comments about FFC - they are so slow, by the time you get a swatch the fabric is often gone! I do get things from them occasionally but only when I really feel sure of what I'm getting.
I'm very happy with fabric.com, I definitely am "eh" on a good bit of fabric I get from them but since they let you return it on their dime it's worth it. Again, swatches don't necessarily help you as fabrics can sell out so fast. Last year I swatched a handful of coatings -- all of them were sold out by the time my swatches arrived!
I order alot of things online but fabric is tricky. I have ordered from Denverfabrics.com and have gotten exactly what was pictured. Of course I tend to order jersey fabric and play it safe. I find it difficult to tell the weight of the fabric from a picture and have been burned before. I have not ordered swatches cause I dont want to wait. I make higher end purchases in person.
I'm happy with most fabrics I buy online now, but there was a learning curve. Although there are a few great deals, you do usually get what you pay for. FFC is very hit and miss for me and I haven't ordered from them in a while. Fabric.com is nice because returns are free, and it's a low minimum for free shipping. My favorites, though, are Emma One Sock, Gorgeous Fabrics, and Sawyer Brook. All are a bit pricey, but you do get what you pay for, and I've never been disappointed with something from them. It's not always exactly what I was expecting, but it is always lovely.
OMG, I ordered the same stuff (3 colors!) but am still awaiting its arrival. Was hoping to make some knit dresses. Hmm.
I have found that the more familiar I get with types of fabric, the more successful I am at online fabric shopping. I purchase at least 99% of my fabric online because I have no real fabric sources locally. I joined the swatch club at fabricmart.com so I could learn about their descriptions and what they meant when they said tropical wool (for example). This has been a huge help. Fabric.com allows you to return fabric (they cover the shipping), if it's not what you want. I rarely swatch because I live so far from them (it takes 5 business days to receive a box) the fabric would be gone by the time I received the swatches.
Your best friend in online fabric shopping is knowledge about fabrics. Read the descriptions carefully, not just the "name" of the fabric. Read the contents. If you ordered what you thought was 100% wool and it contains polyester, then either the description was erroneous or you went by the "name" of the fabric. It may seem that only bargain stores misname their fabric, but there is an expensive (to me) online fabric source that has "named" poly lycras as "silk." Don't be mislead. Read the fabric contents.
And if in doubt, call. Obviously don't order from an online source that doesn't provide a phone number.
Those are my best practices and I have rarely been disappointed. I have received excellent customer service from both fabric.com and fabricmart.com.
I just bought a bunch of the $1.95 fabrics from Fabric.com. They were *okay*. None were what I would have purchased in person (some b/c of color, others b/c of hand). In the past I've limited my online shopping to basics, like Amy Butler cottons for making a totebag.
Honestly, my office in is in NYC so I have no excuse for buying on-line instead of supporting local merchants in the Garment District.
I do all of my shopping online these days. I would say that I'm about 98% happy with what I buy. I don't bother with swatches (by the time they arrive the fabric is often sold out) and stick to a handful of TNT sources. I like shopping in my jammies!
I ordered the same stuff too, and was definitely surprised. I generally agree with the best practices that people have recommended, but that one was a total surprise. I thought it still felt like wool, so you'll have to update us on the results of your burn test!
I do most of my shopping online. I do order swatches when I want to be very sure of the color and/or weight/texture. I try to order from places that will allow a return if I am not satisfied. I am very careful, so that has only happened a couple of times. So, for the most part, I have had good luck.
I have had success, but there are only a few vendors I use, Fabric.com being my main site. I have gotten some great stuff from Josh at Trendy fabrics and Fabric Mart is about 50/50...some things were great but I got one bundle that was like..."Really???" I also buy from Fabric Depot's website too, even though I live within driving distance. The nice thing there is I can purchase there and have them hold it at will call, avoiding the cost of shipping and the hassle of waiting for cutting and paying!
I've had a lot of success, however, I only order from Sawyer Brook Fabrics and Gorgeous Fabrics. Sawyer Brooks has a swatch club for a nominal fee and you get the swatches before they put them up on the web-site.
To bad about the French Terry!
I buy almost all my fabric online because I am limited to Hancock's or JoAnn's. I buy a lot from Fabric.com because of the sale prices, excellent customer service, and free shipping. I only buy from Denver Fabrics when I know exactly what I want and don't want to wait for a sale. Their everyday prices are pretty good but they are slow and don't package fabrics well. I agree with other people that the best way to shop online is to know your fabrics. I only buy from businesses that give you fabric width, care instructions, fiber content and suggested uses. They also must have a close-up photo. I've hit a bad streak with Fabric.com this month, however. I placed 2 orders and both contained several fabrics that were too thin for the suggested use or the patterns were huge when the scale online suggested they would be much smaller. Thanks to a previous poster for warning about the wool jersey. I was considering buying that.
I do most of my online shopping at fabric.com and I'm usually very happy. I no longer buy from Fashion Fabric Club because I didn't like their service and products... I was disappointed with every order! I also love ordering from Gorgeous Fabrics.
I think you got alot of good advice here. And I have to tell you that I would have never bought that fabric from FFC. They just don't have the quality of fabric that I want to sew with now. Besides the fact that its to hard to go through the dreck to hope you have a quality piece coming home to you.
I also think that you can't give up easily on online shopping. You have to take the time to learn the companies you are purchasing from - just like you do in the garment district. You have to be willing to make a mistake - just like you can in person. And you have to be willing to try again.
Since you are a Moods girl - I would suggest that you shop from the higher end online stores...EOS, Sawyer Brook and Gorgeous Fabrics - the Nordstroms, Neimans and Bergdorfs of the fiber world. I think of Fabric Mart and Fabric.com as the Macy's & Dillards of the fabric world. And FFC and Denver Fabrics are the Wal-Marts of the fabric world.
Also don't forget the old adage...you get what you pay for and this is never more true than in online fabric shopping!
Next time call me first! *LOL*
I ordered the same fabric in burgundy and while it's not exactly what I was hoping for, it's actually perfect for another dress pattern, so it's working out just fine. But, I do agree with your assessment - it's much more casual than it's described.
Otherwise, I've been pretty happy with my online fabric shopping, but for most things, I prefer to shop in person. As I'm a stone's throw from the LA garment district, I really shouldn't be buying anything online, it should all be from local shops.
I think FFC bought out Denver Fabrics. They now have the same mailing address. I've given up on both of them, the quality is too hit or miss.
I've had much success with my online fabric adventures; thank goodness I've never had to return anything. Two of my most recent orders were from Gorgeous Fabrics and Spandex House - both of which actually exceeded my expectations! What a pleasant surprise those were. I stay away from the ones with questionable customer service or slow shipping (FFC and Denver Fabrics) no matter how good the sales are.
I can't honestly call what I do "online shopping". I subscribe to Vogue Fabrics Swatches and I go online to place an order when I see a swatch I like. I bought fabric, sight unseen, from Candlelight Valley Fabrics when they were in business. I wasn't disappointed, but I was very apprehensive.
Thai Silks does great swatches with yearly updates and price lists. It's important to see what you're getting when you pay Swiss customs duties!
inkstain
I have been very pleased with EOS and Gorgeous Fabrics when ordering without getting a swatch. Fabric.com and FFC have been big disappointments. And I agree with Carolyn - you get what you pay for. What has been the most successful for me is requesting swatches since there are some good sources that don't offer online options.
Oh no! I'm sorry this happened. I was actually eyeing those sweater knits too and only out of sheer brute willpower did I not hit the "order" button. Denver Fabrics/FFC, unlike many other online fabric suppliers, does not get "emotional" in their fabric descriptions, so when they raved about how beautiful it was, I figured it must be something really special. I'm glad I held off, but I'm sorry you're disappointed. As for swatching with online places, I usually don't because I'm always worried that supplies will run out while I'm waiting for the swatches to arrive! My experiences with both FFC and Fabric.com have been mixed. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it's a letdown. I just have to stock up more when I'm able to get to the garment district in NY.
I once bought some sale fabric from Fabrics.com for a blouse project. It came wrapped in plastic and was a little damp but was otherwise OK.
Since then, I tend to buy from Paron, B and J Fabrics, Mood, New York Elegant Fabrics and once, Lace Star. I prefer to see the fabric in person. In addition, I'm impatient and the idea of paying $2 a swatch as charged by some places is ridiculous.
I am considering buying some Liberty fabric online from a non-U.S. vendor because B and J charges so much. I assume that will be OK.
I mainly order from Gorgeous Fabrics or Emma One Sock but I only do limited shopping. I should add Sew Sassy (for lingerie fabrics) as well and I have not been disappointed. I do try to order a swatch first if I can hold out but I'm always afraid they will sell out before the swatch arrives. I keep the swatches on hand anyway in case they get more in stock or have similar fabrics available.
Because I live in an isolated rural area--650 miles round trip to the nearest fashion fabric store--internet fabric shopping is my best option. Emma One Sock and Gorgeous Fabrics have never disappointed me.
I am a bit wary of on line shopping as well. I am such a touch feely when it comes to fabric. I have found my answer in Banksville fabrics. You work with a real human, talk with them about your pattern/project and then entrust your desires to somoeone as fanatic about fabric as yourself. They send great swatches, big enough to make an intelligent decision with. I have been happy there.
I have shopped ffc and fabric.com. I'm not real picky with fabric. You take a chance each time you order online. I'm not displeased with either company. I do have a price limit, so if I'm not happy with the fabric it did not cost me much. I would say that most of the fabric that I've brought was from ffc and after awhile you kinda know what you will get when you order by their description. But really! if I was in or near NYC, I wouldn't be buying fabric online(transplanted NYer here!)
I am so sorry you were disappointed with your purchase! But I think for you the biggest problem is that you have the PROMISED LAND (Garment District)available to you, and like many of the other commentors, we MUST resort to online shopping to have a prayer of getting quality fabric. I live in the deep south with only a very small Hancocks and Joanns, with NO natural fibers in sight. Several weeks ago, I literally could not purchase 100% wool locally, so ended up buying some gorgeous RL stretch wool from Fabric Mart. I echo the other comments as far which online sources have the quality goods, customer service, etc. Carolyn (as always) had it exactly right. But please don't let this disappointment discourage you forever! Because sometimes it is just too much fun to be the only one awake in front of the glow of the computer, browsing fabrics....
GIRRLL! You need to call Sherri Bearman at Michael's Fabrics right this very minute. Do not waste one more second of your time. Trust me. K
Is it possible that the store made a mistake with the description of the chartreuse "french terry"? you really ought to do the burn test, and if it doesn't show up as wool, request your $$ back. That said, I do get a lot of stuff on the internet, and am satisfied with my swatch-less buying for the most part. My most spectacular groaner was a bi-colour stretch silk from Michael's - surprising I know, but it was obvious upon receipt that the web photo showed the back side; the front was something that only a La Cage Aux Folles drag queen would deign to wear. Not kidding. I think the only save for that one is to dye it a good solid BLACK. Eventually.
I rarely order swatches (for fear of it being sold out) and have been disappointed a few times. I have put FFC on the bottom of my fave online stores though. Good price but the picture rarely matches the actual product - in my experience.
I do buy fabric online but only from site that state the Pantone Color number under the listed fabric. I have the Pantone color guide at home and then I can quickly go straight to the color sample and see exactly what it looks like or at least the nearest color. I've found it to be the best thing and I haven't had the disappointment of seeing the fabric when it arrives and it not being what I imagined. I think that all online fabric shops should supply the Pantone number for their listed fabrics so that online shoppers know what they are buying. This guide is universal and is used by decorators, painters and textile companies for home and fashion.
I bought my color guide from
http://www.firemountaingems.com/search.asp?skw=pantone+color+guide
but it says they are temporarily out of stock right now.
Gorgeous Fabrics uses the Pantone numbers with their fabrics.
It's even more disappointing if you have bought the fabric to coordinate with something you have already made and/or you have a specific pattern in mind to go with it.
For summer I wanted a vibrant red stretch fabric to make a loose-fitting cardigan and I bought online from a fabric site which stated that the fabric was tomato red (and the photo even looked like that) but when it arrived it was a dark, rusty/brick red and nothing at all like what was desribed. I didn't send it back but I learnt to shop elsewhere! It's sitting in my cupboard but I'm never going to use it because it just is not a color I would ever wear.
I don't buy online (much). We have a lot of stores here in Melbourne. And the postage to here from elsewhere is just too expensive.
Unfortunately, I have little choice but to buy online since I live in the boondocks. Although I prefer to actually see the fabric and touch it, I have had good luck with some online sites -- Emma One Sock has very good quallity fabric and communication is great. Also, Gorgeous Fabrics has never disappointed me. There is always the added benefit of working with Ann who is very helpful. I guess the tip here is to be very familiar with the vendor -- and as Carolyn said, always remember that you get what you pay for!
Cissie
I just bought a silk charmeuse from fabric mart which, I swear, is taffeta! It is so stiff.
Since you are so close to NY garment district, it is probably worth the cost of commute . It probably works out less than shopping at the higher end fabric stores online. Shipping is expensive too!! The problem is time!
BTW, my favorite online store is Mood Fabrics--great with help and sending samples! Great quality. No surprises.
I'll concur with AuntieAllyn and others. I too get most of my fabric online. In my neck of the Southwest, there is Joanne's and quilt stores.
There is not one single solitary quality garment fabric store within a 3 hour drive.
What's a girl to do? Shop online....
Every time I order from Fashion Fabric Club, I have at least one fabric that I have an issue of "misdescription" with. It borders on falsity, the way they describe those fabrics sometimes.
And forget about ordering a swatch. By the time they get the swatch to you two weeks later, the fabric you wanted will be long gone.
Stick with Emma Onesock, Gorgeous Fabrics and Sawyerbrook. I have some supposedly "purple" wool brocade from Fashion Fabrics and it is a sickly greyish-mauve. Will use for a muslin. Was very disappointed in FF. Emma sends samples ASAP and her quality is above reproach. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER!!!
Lydia
I love fabric shopping online, but FFC/DF has just been too hit or miss- well really just miss- for me. I purchased some velour from them last spring, and it was the crappiest velour I've ever seen. I didn't even know there was crappy velour, lol. But I kept it and I figure I'll go ahead and use it. Although, I will admit, I'm tempted by their fun ITY knit. I'm telling myself, they can't mess those up right, lol.
As for good vendors ofcourse EOS and Sawyerbrooks, but they are so out of my budget right now. But when I had the money, I loved everything from them. In fact all my EOS stuff, I loved even more when I got it. Also Fabric.com has been pretty good to me lately and I just joined Fabricmart's swatch service so we'll see how that goes. I guess it just depends where you shop.
As for swatching, it's just too expensive for me. After paying for the swatch or sample plus shipping, I feel like I could've just bought some fabric for that price. So I just try to only order safe stuff and not take risks.
Well, this all goes back to the closure of a lot of fabric stores starting in the late 80's. There used to be fine and I mean very fine fabric stores throughout the US in key American cities. Even my little metro had one that was to die for - memories of spending lunch at the local downtown fabric emporium were like visions of sugar plum fairies! Gradually most stores and online outlets closed. The sewing industry and home sewists were dwindling and the market just wasn't there.
With the rise of the quilt and craft interest and now into clothes, refashioning and all the wonderfully styled basic things you can do, fabric stores are lagging behind...this is the nature of the economy, and particularly now with the bad economy. It will take a while for marketers to catch up.
If I were a gambling sort, I'd get into the fine fabrics business, but that would also require beaucoup time - my interests and passions are elsewhere.
So buying online is an art - a sort of keen caveat emptor-ish/seventh sense to figure out what the fabric really is. It's hard to do successfully.
I subscribe to annual fabric clubs, like Vogue Fabrics by Mail. They do an excellent job of sampling fabrics, and if there is something in there sort of like what I want or in another color, I can call them or email them and they will let me know if they have something comparable. I like that.
The bottom line - You, my dear Lindsay, are very, very fortunate. You have a glorious wonderland right in your neighborhood, and can at any time, go visit your wonderland, and when you try to find another, it's just like a wasteland. There is nothing like putting your hand on a fabric and thinking sweater, or another fabric and thinking blouse. There's just really no substitute to being able to feel the hand of a fabric! That's why we all love to hear about all your glorious adventures in the fabric wonderland right in your neighborhood!!!!
I have had great success with ordering from Ann at Gorgeous Fabrics, with great customer service. I'll admit I sometimes order when Fabric.com has a great sale, like the most recent $1.95/yd, but I was unhappy with my last order: a 3 yd order came in two cuts, 1 yd + 2 yds, without any prior notice. Oh well, at that price I can make it work. I am lucky to have Haberman Fabrics about an hour away, and visiting my daughters in Chicago allow for visits to Vogue Fabrics. A visit to New York is next!
I buy mostly online from EmmaOneSock, Gorgeous Fabrics and Sawyerbrook due to the issues you wrote about. What you expect is usually what you get from them. I've also really liked what I've ordered from FabricMart but ordered only a few times. However EOS and Gorgeous Fabrics both have a lot of prints and now that I'm overloaded with prints, I need more solids. I tend to buy solids in person due to my pickiness about color. But getting braver about ordering blacks and browns online. I have been surprised by some things from EOS being more sheer than I expected, so now I read the descriptions carefully. She does have sheer items but it's in the description.
I have had the exact same experience with Fabric dot com as you. And, I order too much because of their free shipping if you buy more than $35. I go there to get one thing and end up with a cart full. I did buy some stretch wool there (on Carolyn's recommendation) that I love and have had several other pieces that were good. And they have wonderful service.
I did join FabricMart swatch club so will look forward to that. I also tried a sample of the Vogue fabric swatch club and I might do that one too.
I think you need a friend who is a seasoned online fabric shopper like Carolyn who will give you the heads up on the sly. Then, after you are assured of your order, they can broadcast to everybody else. ROFL
Personal recommendations help a great deal.
I rarely buy from Gorgeous Fabrics because of their whole yardage requirement. If I could do half or quarter, I would buy more there.
I do about 20% of my fabric shopping online. I've got enough stores here to choose from that I can get pretty much what I want. With that said, I've had great success with my online selections. No surprises, but I pretty much limit it to fabrics that I know. And I limit myself to certain sites. I here a lot of mixed reviews about FFC. Gorgeous Fabrics is pricier, but I have never been disappointed the working with Anne is fantastic. She's truly helpful.
What's even funnier is that I ordered some of that wool knit, same price and description as yours, but mine is a really nice wool jersey. It's so weird how they have the same descriptions for totally different fabrics. I've ordered twice, and have been happy with what I got (one color was totally off though - I thought it was a nice blue violet, but it's super purple (think Barney the dinosaur.) I have to order online because our nice big downtown fabric store closed suddently last year... I am so sad about it.
Well, I have pretty good luck. Color is the hard one for me. I haven't tried swatching since FFC quit doing their swatch service. (I'd like to subscribe to Christine Johnson's swatch service though!) I have hit & miss luck (more hit) with FFC too. Out of the 8 pieces I recently bought, only one was not quite what I wanted (but will work). The rest were perfect and fit their description.
I've had good luck with emmaonesock and Tessuti (it's a bundle o' bucks but worth it) and not so much with Gorgeous Fabrics. I've had poor response with swatch requests and questions, I feel that the color is off (could be my monitor) and I've been disappointed with the few purchases I've made.
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