I will confess that I purchase most of my fabric at JoAnns and use a coupon every chance I get. The LQSs are all at least 20 miles from me. Most of the quilts I make are for Linus, about 20 a month. I couldn't afford to make them if I had to pay quilt shop prices. I recently visited a LQS with a friend and was able to get some fabric on clearance, $5-$6 a yard that I will use on Linus quilts. I have also shopped at a Walmart that carries fabric and gotten some good buys.
I recently won a raffle quilt made by a local guild. They admitted to me that it had at least $400 worth of fabric from a LQS is in it plus a donated backing and batting. You can imagine how many raffle tickets they had to sell just to break even before they made any money. I am trying to sell the quilt as it is to big for my bed and doesn't fit any colorscheme in my home. Even quilters who are well aware of what the fabric costs are not willing to give me what it is worth even without the labor costs included. Even quilt snobs can be stingy when it comes to paying. I know that some of you think I am mean to ask what it is really worth for it if I sell it. Remember if we sell our work for less than it is worth or even cost us to make it we devalue quilts and quilters.