Hi sval- I am sorry about your sticker shock. When I first started quilting in 2002, Hoffman's and other top of the line
fabrics were $6 or $7/yd with normal fabric at about $3 to $4. My first shock came when I multiplied out what a
B.O.M. quilt cost and realized I still had to add batting, backing and spend the hours to make it.
LQS in my area [outside Boston[ are still $11 to $12/yd.
I recommend trying online sites - I've only been disappointed twice: once by garish colors and once by size of print.
The cheapest sites that I have found that still carry quality fabric include: (1) Thousands of bolts but only one nut;
(2) Marshall's Dry Goods; (3) Connecting Threads-fabric is regularly $5.96 but goes on sale for $3.99 and $4.99;
and (4) Fabric Shack. JoAnn's is good too but you need to shop in store because I have been fooled by fairly transparent
solids on occasion. Best of luck - Judy