Help on laying a path with or without fabric

We're in Portland OR. I'm planning to lay some stone paths with pockets in between for growing blue star creeper and county park stepables. I will also be laying some sections of stones with gravel in between the stones. In the areas with the stones and gravel only, I'm planning to lay landscape fabric to try to help keep weeds at bay. The homeowners would also like me to lay landscape fabric under the stone paths with the plant pickets as well. I was guessing I'd put the fabric down, add a layer of compost, then the stones and plant the stepables in the shallow compost.

I'm concerned about the fabric in the paths...if the soil moves and exposes the fabric, and if the plants would grow better without the fabric under it. I've seen some pretty passionate opinions both ways. Does anyone have any suggestions based on experience? Thanks for your help!

Welcome to DG, Tefame! I don't know much about landscaping, but there are a lot of people in our landscaping forums who could surely help. Here are the links:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/landscaping/all/

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/b_landscaping/all/

Good luck with your project, and again, welcome to our community!

Thanks!