Fabric Prices
 

There have been lots of threads on the forum about fabric prices, which run the gamut from thrift store finds to chain stores to LQS fabrics.

What would you guess is the *average* price you have paid per yard this year, considering the various places where you have shopped? And do have a feel for whether your average price went up, down, or stayed the same compared to last year?

i usually stay around 5-6.. and that is the clearance and sales... Generally i wont spend more than 6..

the prices locally have gone from what use to be 6-9/yard to 11.99.....

Not including the thrifty finds through Craigslist, garage sales or thrift stores, the average I have paid would be around $6-7 per yd. I buy online and have been to Lancaster a half dozen times so that keeps the average down. Average price stayed about the same because my allotted budget stayed the same. LQS prices have shot through the roof - over $11 per yd.

I have purchased lots of new fabric (to my husband's chagrin), but I am going to do a moratorium for awhile. I have purchased the fabrics during inventory closeouts and major sales and therefore, my average price for first quality fabric or name brand is about $4.00/yd. Remember that this is an average. I have noticed that the sale prices are rising and it is really cutting into my usual budget. It looks like brand new fabric is running $10 - $13/yd. I will try and use up what I have before I purchase any more (or wait for the next inventory reduction ) LOL

I am in Canada so our average price for fabric is around $15/m (a meter is 3" larger than a yard), in quilt shops.
It is an expensive hobby. Our notions, scissors, rlers, etc. are about the same price as yours.
The Walmart here carries only pre-packaged fabric. I just started using Connecting Threads fabric for backing which I can get for about $4.50/yard and is excellent quality.

I was just in my LQS last weekend. Prices have gone up from 9.90 (mostly) to 11.90 per yard. Fat quarters are 3.00 - which follows from the increase in yardage price. Clearance fabrics which used to be about $5.00/yd are now 6.00/yd to 7.00/yd.

I was looking for fabric for a small project for a preschool (or two)! The really cute fabric I wanted was 11.90/yd. I got the not-as-cute clearance fabric for 6.00/yd plus 10% off. I went to Joannes for the backing - it was still 4.99/yd with 20% off total price coupon.

I do buy online but I now watch the total price - shipping seems to be ever on the rise also and I hate to be put in the position of buying more to get "free shipping" (nothing is free - it is buried in the price somewhere!). So I am careful not to be persuaded by a "sale" price which turns out to be not that good of a sale.

Oh - almost forgot: I shop at my LQS or online stores like yours. I do not shop thrift stores, rummage sales, estate sales, Walmart, Connecting Threads, ets. so my price per yard is high. (My choice - nothing against anyone else's choice.) This year I am spoiling myself and splurging on fabric - retirement is coming soon and then I won't be able to buy like this.

My average has probably been $5-7 a yard. I also use sales and coupons. My LQS has had a big sale all month because they are moving into a larger building in a few weeks. I have bought quite a bit more than usual from them because of the sale prices.

I usually won't pay over $6 a yard unless it's a for the focus fabric in a quilt. Then I don't mind paying more if I have to have it. I do subscribe to many BOMs and the fabric is expensive for those kits. I can find name brand fabrics on clearance somewhere online for $6 a yard. I don't care if it's an older line. I shop by color not by design. I buy 80% of my fabrics at a fabric distributor warehouse. My guild members and I buy bolts and swap yardage from each bolt. It's usually about $2.95 a yard by the bolt. $1.95 a yard if we buy flat folds.

If I had my choice, I would go to Choice Fabric in Tennessee. They are one of those distributors and have deeply discounted bolts and 5 yard flat folds. You need a business license to apply and it is quick and easy. I have gone twice with a friend and the choice changes fast but there is a warehouse of bolts all laid out and easy to see on tables.

Mostly, I am the garage sale, estate sale, etc. person. I have two of these sales this weekend and another onecoming up in August. (Dont tell anyone but she is letting me come the day before.) I wont pay more than $3 per yard at a garage sale and that is for something I consider special.

Was at my LQS this week and one of the fabrics I checked was $12.49!!? There was nothing special about it...it was just a plain cotton fabric. I prefer buying from my LQS as I am always pleased with their fabrics. I will get notions and other items at Joanns with my coupons. I usually try to shop the sale fabric, use coupons, and buy online where I can get free shipping. It does help to keep the costs down but I may have to consider a new "hobby" if the fabric costs keep increasing. I think my average may be around $8-9 a yard.