I was talking with a friend, who just informed me that fabric prices that are currently $9-$12/yd, could be rising to as much as $27/yd! Has anyone heard prices will be jumping? Heard an idea how much an avg yard? Any explaination as to why? I know price of gas is speculated to be about $5/gal by summer, which means fuel surcharge on shipping for everything. Crops have failed and prices are already climbing in grocery stores. Wendy's has a sign out that tomato's are much higher, if you want a slice on the burger it will cost more. Our daughter works in a grocery, and lettuce and tomato's have climbed more than 3x higher than a month ago. So, so we hurry and buy for our fabric stash now? Or do we retreat to using from our fabric stash and count our blessings for having it now?
Or is this just a horrible rumor? Hope someone has honest truth to share with us. I know the economy will be getting worse yet before we see recovery, but this is a huge price jump in fabric if this has any truth to it, hope not. Debbie

I don't know. But even though I just bought a whole roll of cotton batting in January, I decided to buy another whole roll today with my 50% off JoAnns coupon just in case. I have fabric a plenty to hold me for a while if it comes to that but I would need more batting to continue my quilting. I don't want to have to quilt giving quilts away just because I can't afford to put batting in them!!

Our economy would never be able to support that.
However, my wholesale costs went up in Jan, and are now $5.00 for the very lowest solid fabrics and up to $8.00 for top name prints....that is wholesale!

I know fabric prices are going up, but had not heard about any jump that drastic. Heard there was a cotton shortage. Oh well, guess we will all be forced to use our stashes

Wow, that would be terrible. And I think $10.00 is high!

Can I ask what those $5 & $8 prices are retail then?
I agree, our economy can't support this big a jump if it was true to the $27, I believe it would put a lot of independent quilt shops out of business, they couldn't compete with big buying chains. But I also agree, unfortunately, my pocket book can't afford big prices either, and would look toward coupons like mentioned in the previous post, about JoAnn's. I also never thought about it, but maybe I should stock up on threads, batting & backing basic fabrics. We tend to buy beautiful fabric's at a whim to add to our stash, and at least I neglect to consider the batting & backs, to finish them. I have hundreds of patterns, and fabric I could sew 30 yrs before I saw the bottom of my supply...but could I finish them, and afford to??? I would like to know what your retail prices are after these wholesale prices, if you could share it. I hope quilt shops can stay open, we have few to choose from in my state as it is, and I love the "fancier" fabrics we can find at these shops vs chain outlets. Debbie

We were discussing this here a few weeks ago, as warnings had gone out from manufacturers and retailers. Fewer cotton crops, higher demand.

I'm really concerned about food prices. For the first time in years DH and I are planting a good size garden. It's always been much cheaper to buy at local farmer's markets, he thinks that won't be the case this year. I pulled out my pressure canner, had it checked out, found my boxes of canning jars stored in the attic and I told my girls it was time they learned how to can this summer, want to or not.

We may be forced to "repurpose" fabric like in olden days. I've been getting nice blankets at garage sales, thrift shops etc , wash them really well and using them for batting. Much cheaper and make very nice quilts. Maybe not for competitions, but for giving and using everyday. You can usually get them for just a little money also rou quilts can be pieced on both sides. Think about it as two for one. We have to start being a lot more practical. Double the pleasure, double the fun.

I am so affraid some of our LQS will close if it goes anywhere near those prices!