Lindastaley

Hi all from Southern California!
I am fairly new to quilting and hoping to get quilts done for all 7 of my children this year. Because of this economy, times are lean, so do any of you have ideas of inexpensive places for fabrics? I have seen some of your beautiful quilts and hope one day to be able to do some just as nice!

Linda

Moonpi

Welcome! I like yard sales, thrift stores, estate sales, and such. You may try placing an ad on craigslist or freecycle if you have one in the area. Don't overlook good fabric that may have been made into curtains and tablecloths and such. Do you have public bulletin boards at your grocery store?

E-Bay used to have some great sales, but shipping prices have driven prices higher and higher, and dealers chop fabrics up into tiny bits and charge more.

earthwalker

Hello and welcome....Moonpi is spot on with ideas. It's amazing what you can find "out there". I have even bought clothes (still with the price tag on!!!) from thrift stores, just to use the fabric...men's shirts in big sizes can be useful, as well as jeans and long skirts. Once you get started, you will get really good at spotting what you can get the most fabric out of (and save the buttons too). The ladies at one of our local thrift stores now know I am into quilts, so they frequently save everything in a big box so I can blissfully rummage away. So spread the word and go hunting for treasure!

pocoellie

Welcome from northeast CA. Glad you joined us. There's lot of help and inspiration here. Moonpi and earthwalker are right on in their advice. I've bought plenty of fabric at yard sales, auctions, thrift stores, etc., even though I have plenty of fabric, just because I liked the fabric. LOL

Bevanger

Welcome aboard from Washington
Sew glad you joined us :D

Quilt4u

Hi and welcome.

Jim's Gem

Welcome from Ventura County in California. What part of the state are you in? I watch for sales and always check the sales racks in the back of the quilt shops I visit. Do you have any quilting friends that want to clean out their stash? As the others say, there are many ways to be resourseful!

Lindastaley

Gayle, thank you for your reply! I live in Wildomar, mid way between Los Angeles and San Diego. I have a cousin who was a quilter, but she got rid of her stash quite a while back. I often check at Wal Mart and have found a few nice pieces there, as well as some nice remnants. Thank you for the suggestions!

Lindastaley

Thank you for the ideas! There sure are a lot of ways to find things if we are willing to look!

Jim's Gem

Wildomar, I don't think I have heard of that town. I grew up in Mission Viejo, Born in Torrance, we now are up in Camarillo. Lived in Pacific Beach for a while with the Navy. Are you further inland?

There is a shop in San Deigo, called Rosie's it has good quality fabrics at pretty good prices. They always have a bunch of fabrics in their "sale" room for $2 and $3 a yard. I love to hit their Memorial Day sale and buy a bunch of fabric for $2 a yard.