Fabric Prices
08-01-2012, 02:04 PM
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,688
Year-to-date, my average is very close to $10 per yard, not bad considering more than 60% of what I buy is batiks. I shop at local shops and a few select (my selection) online shops, including Etsy. I do not buy "previously owned" fabrics or chain store fabrics. Customer service is, to me, at least as important as price. Last year's average was about the same.
I seldom shop for 'project', usually prefering to shop for 'stash' since that means I can buy when I want to and not when I need to. I also have no real need to buy the newest release out there so I can wait a year or so until the price is reduced.
I seldom shop for 'project', usually prefering to shop for 'stash' since that means I can buy when I want to and not when I need to. I also have no real need to buy the newest release out there so I can wait a year or so until the price is reduced.
08-01-2012, 02:24 PM
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,991
I'm in Canada and quilting fabric is usually $15-$17 a metre at most quilt shops. Our LQS has a bathtub full of clear outs at $7-$9 a metre. Some of the smaller Mennonite shops that are in houses or small out of the way places are in the $6-$12 a yard range but they too have gone up. Len's Mills used to have a tent sale or two in the summer but the prices are much higher now $5-$8 a metre. Any of the Walmarts in driving distance no longer carry fabric and the quality of fabric sold at Fabricland (similar to Joanne's) is thinner while the price is now in the $12-$15 range unless there is a sale on.
08-01-2012, 04:11 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 317
I've been in a quilting frenzy this summer, quilting baby quilts for family and trying to finish a queen-sized quilt for my own bed to replace a worn one. I have a few more future projects lined up and was thinking last night that I need to slow down a little, partly due to the fabric prices. I could enjoy the process more-- take more time with the piecing and quilting instead of being in such a hurry to finish.
08-01-2012, 06:31 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Edgewater, FL
Posts: 924
A group of us went around Orlando a month ago. Fat quarters were up to $3 in most of the stores and fabric was over $10/yard for the premium fabrics. Most of them did have sale areas which were between $6 and $9. We were all buying for special projects, but managed to get some good buys on the sale fabrics. Connecting Threads still seems to be the most reasonable around.
08-02-2012, 02:48 AM
#25
Swap Hosts
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 8,814
Average price per yard is $3-4. I always use coupons and often get fabric for much less than that. I used to shop at Walmart, but stopped because they don't have anything I like and the prices have gone up. I do the majority of my shopping at Joann. Infrequently I will pick up cottons at a wholesale business where I shop for lace for my business. I also shop at estate/tag sales and was fortunate to get many bins at sales held by a fabric designer who was destashing and two estate sales at the homes of deceased quilters who were true fabric hoarders.
08-02-2012, 02:50 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: leland nc
Posts: 443
Originally Posted by Quiltbugger
I have purchased lots of new fabric (to my husband's chagrin), but I am going to do a moratorium for awhile. I have purchased the fabrics during inventory closeouts and major sales and therefore, my average price for first quality fabric or name brand is about $4.00/yd. Remember that this is an average. I have noticed that the sale prices are rising and it is really cutting into my usual budget. It looks like brand new fabric is running $10 - $13/yd. I will try and use up what I have before I purchase any more (or wait for the next inventory reduction ) LOL
i have a feeling that we will be shopping from our own stashes until we come to terms with the higher prices.
08-02-2012, 03:04 AM
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Holmen, WI
Posts: 6,459
Originally Posted by jcrow
I pay the high prices. I shop at LQSs. I never go to thrift stores (we don't have any) or yard sales or Craig's list. I buy online also, but from Fat Quarter Shop and other places that aren't cheap. I guess I don't mind paying what they are asking. I think it's a fair price now a days. I pay $10.99-$11.99 per yard. I see Connecting Threads is having a sale on some of their fabric for $2.96 a yard, and I almost bought some, but couldn't bring myself to do it. I bought some fabric from them about 3 years ago and didn't care for it and gave it all away, so I'm staying with the stuff I know. I don't know if CT sells better fabric now or not, but what I bought before, you could see through it. It was soooo flimsy. I really don't mind paying for fabric. I'm not rich, by any means. I don't buy a lot of fabric, but when I do, I try to buy good quality. And I refuse to step foot in Walmart. I won't buy anything at all that Walmart sells. Even if TVs were on sale for $50, I wouldn't go in there. They have hurt our town so much...closed down so many stores downtown...vacant buildings everywhere now. All because of Walmart.
I wouldn't have WalMart fabric if they gave it to me. One of my quilting teachers gave a lecture about their fabric & it really slammed my eyes open (the inferior greige goods -- I think they're called -- used, the fading). Nope... not if they gave it to me.
I buy way more fabric than I "should" but I do try to get it on sale.
08-02-2012, 03:08 AM
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Holmen, WI
Posts: 6,459
Originally Posted by quilter1943
A group of us went around Orlando a month ago. Fat quarters were up to $3 in most of the stores and fabric was over $10/yard for the premium fabrics. Most of them did have sale areas which were between $6 and $9. We were all buying for special projects, but managed to get some good buys on the sale fabrics. Connecting Threads still seems to be the most reasonable around.
08-02-2012, 04:08 AM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Somewhere in Time
Posts: 2,697
My average went from $3 up to $4, as my favorite shopping hole's prices went from $2.50 - $3.50 up to $4.75 as they added more fabric brands and increased their selection choices substantially. I also purchased some fabric at the Paducah Quilt Show and purchased larger quantities of KONA and novelty fabrics to round out my stash.
My stash is in very good shape at this point and I am using lots of fabrics from it. Lately, I have been purchasing mostly replacement fabric to keep my stash at its current good working shape and variety.
I have noticed rather than spending over $175 on a fabric shopping road trips, that I am spending $75 or less. This does not mean that I don't see lots of fabric I would love to purchase, it means my stash is workable, as well as storable. I am happy that with what I have and can easily work within my stash's perimeters.
My stash is in very good shape at this point and I am using lots of fabrics from it. Lately, I have been purchasing mostly replacement fabric to keep my stash at its current good working shape and variety.
I have noticed rather than spending over $175 on a fabric shopping road trips, that I am spending $75 or less. This does not mean that I don't see lots of fabric I would love to purchase, it means my stash is workable, as well as storable. I am happy that with what I have and can easily work within my stash's perimeters.
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