You can spend a lot, or you can spend a little. It's up to you. Quilts have been made from scraps since quilts started being made. Return to that and it really doesn't cost a lot. You gather from family and friends, thrift stores, yard sales, etc. It's great fun to see how creative you can get with these things. If you can/want to spend a little more, get yardage from Walmart, JoAnn, etc, when things are on sale and/or you have coupons. If you want excellent quality/LQS, new line, all coordinating, etc., fabric, and all the "best" of everything else, yes, it's expensive. Really, it's all up to the individual.