Originally Posted by Gilla
Originally Posted by aussiequilter
Trouble is: I think we don't support our LQSs, one day they won't be there. Then we will only be left with budget fabric stores, with no 'better' fabrics for our future heirloom quilts. Unless you are like me and they are all heirlooms. LOL.
I don't think that the LQS necessarily have better quality fabrics than some of the chains. I found (and bought) the identical fabrics at a well known LQS for $4 more than I could have bought it at Hobby Lobby. I think what I'll do from now on is look t the fabrics at chains first and if I cannot find what I want there, I'll go to the LQS. I am on retirement income and every penny counts. Very few of the local chains have sales that I have been aware of.
Sounds like things are a bit different in the US and you have more choice all round. The one or two larger chain stores we have stock some fabric that is OK but the majority of it is from Asia or somewhere, and they certainly don't carry the specialist tools and books that quilters need (they also come from the US) or run classes, etc.
We have nowhere near as many LQSs as in the US, and one of the things that adds to the cost of our fabric is shipping it from the US to way down here, so no matter where you get it from there is always that additional cost.
It doesn't seem we can win here. But at least while the LQSs are around we do have a bit of choice.