I too wonder about this at times then I think of all the joy I see in the faces of my family when they open a present that I have HM. yes it can be more costly to hand make. I found a person that was giving up her stash for one dollar a yard!!! BOY did I go nuts!!! try going to yard sales/tag sales/ garage sales/ estate sales I have gotten many a yard of fabric from em. also sad to say if a store is closing I haunt em... buying as much as I can afford.