I buy fabrics, battings, some threads and notions from the USA for delivery to France. EU allows you to import 130 Euros worth without paying duty - but you are still liable for the VAT. Here if the amount of VAT comes to less than 10 Euros they waive it - do not bother to collect. Maybe Germany does the same? So I keep value of individual orders under approx. $70-$80 (excluding shipping) and have never had to pay anything to Customs. The summer offer of Hancocks of $10 shipping per $100 has been great. Fabric Shack as mentioned above have $18 for a flat rate envelope. eQuilter.com has regular shipping discounts, one on at the moment, which is 50% off their most economical rate to ship your package.
I just bought 4 1/2 yards of a premium Kaufman fabric from Hancocks with their special $10 shipping, cost me total of $52 (39 Euros.)
Found the same fabric in a UK fabric store...... the fabric and shipping would have cost me £73 (91 Euros.)
Here is a duty calculator:
http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-im...x-calculation/