Quiltingboard Forums - $3 for fat quarter ?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlieWhirlie

I don't know but I would never pay $3 for a fat quarter.

Aren't you lucky you don't live in the UK?!!!

I don't usually buy fat quarters unless I cannot find a particular print I really like in yardage. I have only once spent $2.99 for a couple fat quarter peices I could not live without. I was horrified at the price though.

I went to a fabric wholesale business yesterday and where they used to sell FQ for 50-75 cents wholesale they are 1.25 to 1.50 wholesale. Fabric is normally doubled, so $2.50-3.00 looks to be the new selling price. Most fabric by the yard at the wholesaler was between 5.50 and 6.50 a yard. Expect these to be doubled at the LQS too. I guess I am going to use a lot more of my stash. Then maybe the prices will at least level off for new fabric.

Fabric has gone up in price by at least $1.00 a yard; and the sad part is, all of it is made in China, even the "high end" brands. When I lived in NC, I used to buy at Mary Jo's all the time, and Mary Jo herself told me about the price increases. So when a shop owner buys a bolt, they have to reprice by the yard.

Fat quarters at $2.50 were too much to begin with imho; they are basically scraps and on many you have to cut off the selvage.

Remember when fabric was actually made in the USA?

I buy most of my fabric at LQS, but there is no way I will pay $3.00 for a fat!

How about 4 quilters going shopping and each pick out their favorite fabric.....

and then each buy a yard of same.....

after that, one happy quilter with a new sharp blade zips through
4 yards of fabric with just 4 slashes and each quilter now has
4 FQs......

walk away 4 happy quilters !!!!!!!!

(and at the price of running yardage)

I have been paying at least $3.00/ FQ for several years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptquilts

Also don't forget you are paying for the "fat" - if you bought a quarter yard of fabric at $9.50 divided by 4, you would be getting a 9" wide strip.

Not really.
Cut it in half: 2 pieces 18 x 44.
Now cut along the fold in the center of the fabric: 2 pieces 18x22.
Still 4 fat quarters.
Then trade with your friends.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quilt3311

You have to sell a lot of fq to make the rent on the shop. We do have to realize that there is huge expense in just having a business. Rent, utilities, advertising, cost of fabric and notions help etc. etc. Unless you have actually run a business you do not realize how much it costs the shop to even be in business. then of course you have taxes, insurance--oh I get hives just thinking about it.
All this plus their costs have increased a lot. And if they stock thread, its not just one spool its a box of probably 8 - 12. So if a customer buys one spool and the rest sit on the shelf--cost is still there, but its a long way to profit.
Now a really good shop will run classes and specials etc to bring people in. Offer machine quilting (of course that machine cost a bundle too)
I feel for the shop owners. I realize its sticker shock when prices go up, but if we want a shop to go to, we have to realize it does cost lots to just keep the doors open.
Hope I haven't stepped on any toes here, but I have a friend who does own a shop and we have had many conversations about customers who think she is ripping them off, but all she is doing is trying to keep the shop there for us. Lets face it, I would not work for the $$$ per hour that she does.

My local qs is just barely hanging in there. but we are rural so when people are squeezed for cash the first thing they have to cut out are the extras. I am hoping she can pull through and make it but unfortunately she is so worried about her customers, that she is pricing herself right out of business!