I'm Such A Snob

I despised snobs in school. The ones who thought they were too good to hang out with just anyone. Who always had to wear the best clothes, and have the latest hair styles. This was not me. I wasn't like that.

So what has happened? How did I become one of them?

Hi. My name is Karen and I'm a fabric snob.

It started innocently enough. By accident, really. I was shopping for new bed sheets and ended up getting a set with a thread count of 400. The price was right, and the color was fun. Up until that day I didn't know how much the thread count mattered. And now my life is changed forever. I've become a sheet snob. It's too bad, too. Do you know how hard it is to find good sheets for $35? Because I'm too cheap to pay more than that. I've just got a set from mail order today that's 500 count. I cannot wait to slip into bed between them. I am in love.

(Hush, you out there with better sheets than I. I know those silky wonders exist, but since I haven't experienced them yet I'm under the delusion that ignorance is bliss.)

And fabric was just fabric to me, until I opened my store. Slowly I learned that there was good, better, best. I learned that I liked certain designer's prints better than others, and their fabric quality was better as well. And now, just walking through a fabric store, I can pick out my favorite designers at a glance. I am instinctively drawn to them, no matter where they are hiding. And I must run my hands over them. And purchase them. It's probably a good thing that most of my favorite designers don't sell in local fabric stores. It's much easier to resist the temptation when I can only look at their wonderful goodness online.

And I will not purchase Wal-Mart fabrics again. It's sad, really.

24 comments:

Pam said...

a fabric snob- that is too funny! I am a fabric idiot so I don't know the first thing about picking a good fabric....but I do know sheets with high thread counts are better....but I'm cheap so I don't know that I experience true bliss at bedtime often.

Anonymous said...

I know the feeling of silk sheets and 500 thread count sateen ones. I'd take the sateen any time any place.

Mommy to those Special Ks said...

It's ok, I'm a bottled water snob... I only will drink certain kinds. We all have to be a little snobby about something! ;)

Burgh Baby said...

Mr. Husband had NO IDEA about the whole thread count thing either. Once I exposed him to the joy of not sleeping with sandpaper, he became the biggest sheet snob you'll ever meet. He scored 2 sets of 800 count sheets at Target for $40 in January. It's moments like that when I know I married the right guy.

Deanne said...

I'm totally with you on the sheets! However, I am willing to dole out a tad more than you. Seriously though, did you really get 500 count sheets for 35 bucks???! I bought 600 count at Marshalls a few months ago. Again, I paid more than $35 (I think it was around $60...but sooo worth it!).

Jenn said...

I confess, I too am a fabric snob. We received sheets for our wedding with an insanely high thread count and they are HEAVEN!! I won't go near anything under 500 ever again!!

Yup, me = snob. Comfortable, wrapped in silky softness snob...

AutoSysGene said...

I'm a snob about other things...not so much my sheets...now talk to me about food and you'll see! ;)

Bluepaintred said...

thread count in sheets? I don't much care about that - so long as they are CLEAN, but fabrics? I know exactly what you mean. I used to buy wal mart all the time, then my granny sent me NINETEEN apple boxes of fabric - whole rolls, scraps, you name it, she sent it, now, after working with it, I cannot imagine ever going back to the "fabric" they sell at wal mart!

caramama said...

Ha! We just bought high thread count sheets at Target, and I LOVE them!

Fun fact for you: When hubby and I first moved in together as poor grad school students, hubby saw some sheets at the dollar store, and it was such a good deal, he had to buy them. For a dollar. Can you guess what those sheet felt like? I think I let them stay on the bed one day. On and off over the next year, he would suggest them if the others were dirty. I would just look at him like Are You Kidding Me? Once we bought really good sheets, he finally understood and threw out his dollar store sheets.

And I think we are all snobs about something. Fabric is a fun thing to be snobby about, and it's what you do so of course you know it so well!

Andrea said...

I love it!! I am clueless when it comes to fabric!! I am clueless when it comes to sewing. But I am a jean snob. I admit it. My name is Andrea and I am a jean snob. I will not buy Wal Mart jeans!

pb&j in a bowl said...

There are definitely worse things to be a snob over. I always choose the better material. Quality shows.

Tootsie Farklepants said...

There is nothing like a grand pair of sheets. Sleeping on sheets that pill make me want to rip my skin off.

Flea said...

Oh girl, speak it! I became a fabric snob YEARS ago and I know exactly what you mean!!! My favorite sheets were from Old Time Pottery, so they were cheap, but high thread count. I find that buying a cotton sateen makes a world of difference. Much softer than a regular high count cotton. Try it. :)

And fabric? Don't EVEN get me started! I learned years ago that if I was going to put mass amounts of time and skill into a smocked piece, I'd best start with a quality fabric that would last and feel good. That said, I hunt for less expensive venues.

ALF said...

I think my mother-in-law would classify herself as a fabric snob too - you guys can be friends!

Irene said...

I think that is true about almost anything! Once you try the good stuff, it is so hard to go back!

You have just become a connoisseur of fabrics, not a snob!

I definitely appreciate good sheets since I got a set that were on clearance. BIG difference.

And you know, if you do a lot of research, you can usually get the good quality stuff at a bargain price. For instance, I usually buy nice quality clothes for my kids, but I pay less than the cost of Walmart clothes!

Cecily R said...

My mom is a fabric snob too!! I'll have to tell her I have a friend who can be part of her support group...

I am a word snob and a kid's shoes snob. My kids HATE that I won't buy them character shoes, but I won't do it. I am a S-N-O-B about that.

Betsy, short for Elizabeth, formally known as Esther said...

LOVE IT! You snob you!!!

just jamie said...

how much would you mind if i just snuggled right into those sheets too?

Madame Queen said...

Even though I don't know anything about fabric, really, I'm kind of a fabric snob, too. I absolutely cannot sleep on scratchy sheets. REFUSE! And there's nothing I love more than running my hand over smooth, cool, polished cotton.

Wineplz said...

we got ahold of some 500count sheets on sale for like $70 and thought we were getting such a deal...where did you get them for $35??? That's awesome!
The almost best part about the high-count sheets?...the fact that they don't fall apart after being washed 10 times, so I get to keep them longer, which totally appeals to my thrifty side. But the best is definitely sliding in-between those sheets when you're good and tired...aaahhhhh...I may actually get to bed before midnight tonight!

Birdie said...

I relate to this one. I've been one as long as i can remember. I used to spend nights at my cousin's house and sometimes they'd have *gasp* pilly sheets! Arg! Can you even imagine sleeping on that? I get the willies just thinking about it.

Don Mills Diva said...

My name is Kelly and I'm a food snob. It's true. I don't know what happenened to me either...

Anonymous said...

I'm more of a 'fabric ho'... i love love love fabric... I only use the good stuff for projects, but won't turn down ANY fabric if it's donated to me.
I love the smell, the feel, the colors, the EVERYTHING about fabric ! maybe that's why i can't get 'into' my craft room and move around anymore.

Unknown said...

Fabric snob! HAHA! I am such a snob when it comes to coffee or import beer or decorating. I could easily be a fabric snob too...I know myself. I have to fight against the temptation everytime I enter a store that sells fabric.