Virginia, is there any way we can help you?

Virginia, I can't help you personally, a bit too long a commute! LOL But what I was trying to say above was that I want to try and help ppl like you. Shop locally where possible and that's not only fabric. :-D

Here in AZ all "quilting" fabric what Joann's call Good material is $9.95-$10.95 a yard. At the Quilts store all their material runs $9.95 all the way up to $12.95 a yard. I stay away from that material..or wait for it to be discounted.

I just received a Hancock notice for a 1 day sale June 22 fabric on sale cheap!

If gas goes up to $7.00 a gallon, as predicted, the only thing we will be able to buy is gas and food. Guess we will all use up our stash.

[quote=Favorite Fabrics]Judi,

The prices are inching up everywhere. I would say that the wholesale prices have risen about 50 cents per yard in the last year, so that would likely translate to $1 / yard at the retail level.]

Even Wal-Mart's $1/yd bargains are now $2.00 and $2.50. Prices are inching up.

Thanks for the offer, but the decision is already made. I decided to not renew my lease for another year. Can't afford all that fun. I will be moving my longarm machine back home and hope to keep my customers that I have for that. That part of the business is the only that that kept me from closing 6 months ago...that and the lease.

I taught school for 40 years and always dreamed of having my own fabric shop. Thought I could just quilt all day long...that was a joke...quilting keeps me pretty busy and I don't have any time for personal work. Quilting business is good but it doesn't pay the all the bills.
Now to get busy for all the close out sales....I hope they are big. Don't want to store all this fabric.
Thanks everyone.
Virignia

I agree, the prices are going up. We are lucky here in San Diego.We have a quilt shop that still sells most of their fabrics for $ 7.50 to 8.00 per yard. You can get all the quality fabric,even batiks. She has thousands of bolts. You can order some on her web site. The shop is Rosie's Calico Cupboard.Check it out.

Yes, they are expensive. However, if my LQS didn't exist I would never have taken quilting lessons and become sucked up by this obsession! I constantly take classes there, go on their shop hops, meet new friends and take any quilting problems I have (always get them resolved). Recently I completed a quilt top but needed somewhere to lay it out to assemble the batting and backing. They let me use their classroom, helped me push tables together and then helped me stretch out the fabrics and helped me spraybaste - all at no charge - just friends helping each other. This week I'm taking one of their mystery travel all-day classes. They pick a country (Egypt, in this case), put together a surprise quilt package for participants to make in class, provide snacks and lunch and information about the country we're "visiting." All for $45. I rarely buy fabric or supplies elsewhere, even though I know I'm paying a premium. I figure it's worth it.

As most, we have had to figure out how to survive the higher costs of everything in the last few years. And it seems a never ending battle for retailers and consumers. We have lost 2 local quilt shops in our area and that hurts us all in some way.
My husband makes thread stands and I was going to ship to a friend in Australia and a few quilting books. For an eight pound package it was $68 to send. Sadly the shipping price was more than the value of the gift so I did not send.
When our income changed with retirement, my shopping had to change also.