NZquilter

I love thrift stores too! I could never afford quilting if I only bought brand-new fabrics.

Boston1954

$9.99 is a bargain for me. I have almost exclusively been buying batiks for about 4 years now. They are approaching $13.00 and more. I believe that may be related to where you live though. I sometime shop online and do better there.

Sewnoma

If you aren't in a guild, maybe try checking with your local guilds to see if they do fabric sales. One of the guilds in my area has an annual sale where members donate fabric they don't want anymore, and it's sold off CHEAP by the pound. It's open to the general public - all the proceeds benefit the guild.

I love that sale, it's always right near my birthday so gives me an excuse to splurge. Not that a splurge costs much there. A lot of the fabric is really nice, too. And sometimes there's great old vintage fabrics up for grabs too. It's a fun event.

There is also a local charity shop that accepts only crafting items - a lot of local elderly folk turn their spouse's stash over to this shop, because all of the proceeds benefit local seniors. Another great place to find deals on fabric, if something like that exists near you.

We've got to be creative to find those deals!

Jane Quilter

I love thrift shops and so does my hubby. Even when we go traveling, we stop at all we see. I have to say I have never see fabric at any of them....and I have loved fabric and been sewing since I was 11 years old. I have gone to many Goodwills and truthfully, I dont even know what section they would be in .....but I still look, and I have never seen fabric or even scraps. I have bought wool skirts and cotton shirts and cut them up when they were reasonable...but fabric....not yet. So folks, please share what you know.....

Anniedeb

Jane Quilter....I was just going to post basically the same thing! There are 4 thrift shops near me, and they never have fabric! Just was at Goodwill also, and they had nothing. There are several LQS's around, and they are pricey! I usually just buy FQs from them. I buy most of my fabric from SR Harris fabric outlet. That is my happy place!!

pocoellie

In CA., quilt store fabrics start at a minimum of $13.99 and up. The fabric store where I've been teaching for 3 years, their quilt shop quality fabrics are $11.99, but she has a lot of cotton fabrics, starting at $4.99, even though it's not "quilt shop quality" fabrics, they are very nice fabrics, UNFORTUNATELY, the owner doesn't have any interest in the store, has decided to close the doors.

elnan

I head first to the area where pillowcases end. That is where I find fabric at GW, usually on hangers. GW has gotten too expensive, especially for a thrift store. Recently, I was in several stores owned by Visiting Nurses in Chehalis, WA. Also in same town is a large store in the same lot as Sunbirds. Husband goes to Sunbirds, and later meets me in the thrift store. This thrift store has the sewing stuff on the left side of the store as you go in. More and more they are offering how-to books and patterns. You can either look for thrift stores with an internet search, or get a phone book for the town you are headed for. I have even asked in stores "Do you have an extra or outdated phone book?" In some places a church will open a thrift store. They have good bargains. Your best bet is to do an internet search of the area you expect to stop in.
Value Village in Seattle used to sell clothing by the pound and I have bought items just to get the buttons. If you went in thrift stores and did not find the fabric, you should have asked an employee where to look for the "sewing stuff" Happy hunting!

Jingle

I bought most of my fabrics a while back so I don't really need much. Although that doesn't mean much. I buy fabrics at Walmart and Hobby Lobby.

quiltingshorttimer

our thrift shops rarely have any fabric--even sheets. About all there is are poly curtains. Our guild has an annual sale and I sometimes find something I can't live without (like when I scored a big bag of 5" sq. of juvenile fabric for I Spy quilts!). I've been trying to dip into my stash more and more.

I've also noticed that both my quilting customers and what I'm seeing at shows are smaller quilts--lap and wall hangings. i think that will likely continue as more and more quilters purchase sit-down and mid-arm machines and also start using rulers like Westerlee on their domestic machines.

jmoore

$9/yd would be a great buy in our area...most of the LQS fabrics are $11 and batiks even more. I have a modest stash but I am trying to use it as often as possible. Here in Maine we have a couple of Marden's stores and I can usually find quality background or backing fabrics for a lot less than LQSs.