Shabby Fabrics Alternative: How Linda's Electric Quilters Compares
Shabby Fabrics has a devoted following for good reason — beautiful kits, block-of-the-month programs, and tutorials with a warm, welcoming style. Linda's Electric Quilters serves the other half of the quilting process. Here's an honest look at where each store wins.
Short version: Shabby Fabrics is where projects begin — kits, BOMs, and inspiration. Linda's Electric Quilters is where quilts get finished — batting by the roll, longarm thread, wideback backing, machines, and the supplies frequent quilters reorder.
Shabby Fabrics vs. Linda's Electric Quilters at a Glance
| What you need | Shabby Fabrics | Linda's Electric Quilters |
|---|---|---|
| Quilt kits & block-of-the-month | A signature strength — curated kits and popular BOM programs | 500+ quilt kits and 5,000+ fabrics by the yard, plus 108" wideback and Shannon Cuddle |
| Tutorials & project inspiration | Known for approachable, well-produced tutorials | Practical product guides on choosing batting, thread, and tools |
| Batting by the roll | Batting geared to project needs | Full rolls from Hobbs, Quilters Dream, Pellon, Warm Company — up to 124" wide |
| Longarm thread | General quilting thread selection | Superior, Glide, So Fine!, OMNI, King Tut — cones built for machine speed |
| Longarm machines & support | Not focused on machines | Longarm specialists — machines, parts, and staff who quilt daily |
| Free shipping threshold | Varies — check their site for the current offer | Free economy shipping on orders $125+ (exclusions apply) |
Where Shabby Fabrics Wins
Starting quilts beautifully. Their kits arrive coordinated and complete, their BOM programs keep projects moving, and their tutorials have brought a lot of people into quilting. That front half of the craft is theirs.
Where Linda's Electric Quilters Wins
Finishing quilts properly. Batting matched to the quilt's life and bought by the roll, thread cones that run clean at machine speed, 108" wideback that backs a queen without piecing, and the reorder catalog — bobbins, needles, interfacing — that keeps frequent quilters supplied. Add machines, parts, and daily-longarmer expertise, and the back half of the craft is ours.
Can you shop both? Absolutely.
Start a Shabby Fabrics kit, finish it with Linda's batting and thread — many of our customers do exactly that.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Linda's Electric Quilters a good alternative to Shabby Fabrics?
- For finishing supplies, yes — batting by the roll, longarm thread, wideback, and machine-quilting tools. For kits and BOM programs, Shabby Fabrics remains a strong choice.
- What batting should I put in a kit quilt?
- Most kit quilts shine with 100% cotton or an 80/20 blend — low loft, soft drape, and a gentle crinkle after washing. Our batting guide walks through the options.
- Does Linda's sell wide quilt backing?
- Yes — 108" wideback yardage that backs a queen without piecing.
- Does Linda's offer free shipping?
- Yes — free economy shipping on orders of $125 or more, with some exclusions for oversized items like batting rolls and machines.
Related Reading
Shop: All Batting · Batting Rolls · So Fine! Thread