I went to a LQS for a sale and found that all fat quarters that have been precut are $3. Now that computes to $12 a yard. Most fabric in this shop is $9.50. And many fat quarters were from older ie cheaper fabric. I am wondering is this typical or this shop taking advantage of customers?

Rita

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

That's what it is around here too. Batiks are $12.75/yd and about $3.25/FQ. Regular cottons are a little less, but not by much.

Depressing, isn't it?

Sounds tooo steep for me.... What are they thinking?!!!!

:thumbup: :thumbup: ;) ;)

I have found that on ebay also...you really have to watch and do some calculating...

You are paying for all the heavy, intensive, labor and equipment involved in cutting one quarter yard of fabric.

See those ladies sprawled in chairs at the back of the shop, sweating, drinking Gatorade, and panting - they just cut a fat quarter for you.

some shops insist that fq's should add up to more than the yardage price- because they are paying someone to cut them-(the convienience you pay for for not cutting them yourself)
i asked one time---well why doesn't it cost more if i have to cut a 1/4 yard for someone at the cutting table then?
boy the daggers that flashed! :)
and she took a breath and said- well fq's have to be folded a certain way too- it takes more time- - -
i learned to not ask many questions of the owner in this shop (i worked in for over a year:) )
i still wonder though---how you can go through and raise your prices 30% then post signs all over for a HUGE 20% OFF SALE!!!
some people are (business people) not quilters-and they are there to make money
but bottom line is- pre-cuts cost more than yardage because it costs someone to PRE-CUT and we pay for the convienience-it saves us time-not money

I have actually seen FQs for more than $3, which makes me balk big-time. But we also have to realize that these shops are struggling in this economy. As cotton prices have skyrocketed, we're buying less fabric. This is one way they can pull in a little extra. We do love our FQs, don't we?

I can live with out pre cuts. It look like I may have to do with less quality of fabric. At some point they will price themselves out of business. I understand they too are held to a high prices and they have to pass it down. They may want to sale every thing out first before buying more. Then maybe the price of will go down for all. :?

hehehe, I can just see this. LOL my LQS is also charging $3. per FQ so maybe I'll go ahead and buy that 1/2 yard at $4.50 or so. I just needed an excuse.

Don't forget that little fabric shops have a lot of overhead. It is not simply the cost of fabric, but also there is labor involved in cutting the fat quarters. I know people are unwilling to pay others for their time (so it seems), but unless you have been involved in the business end of quilting, there are a lot of unseen variables. It is not that small business are trying to cheat the public, so I hope people consider this when they complain about the price of fabric at LQS's. (Sorry if this sounds like a rant)

My LQS has FQ for $3.00 also. There are other shops around that have sales, but I figure, get the yard and cut your own FQ (4 all the same). If my math is correct you should be able to lower the cost of the FQ, however, you don't get the variety as with the FQ.

Not every small LQS has multiple employees. Some are single owner shops, who do everything themselves, unless they have a family member who helps out for free. I'm sorry if I'm taking this too personally, but as the sister of a new quilt shop owner, I'm a little frustrated by some people who only see things from one side. Every story has two sides.

besides overhead etc, they are selling off ends of bolts cut into fat quarters and fabric that Noah shipped in. The cost to the public is not the cost to the store either. They are selling impulse items that require no cutting time at the time of the sale.
Rita

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.

FQ's here are $3.25 now. Batik yardage is still under $11, prints between $9 and $10.

I don't blame the shops one little bit, and if they can get that much for a FQ, more power to them...especially if it means they can keep the price of yardage lower by even 25¢ or so. It's really no different than buying one can of Coke for 75¢ vs. a 12 pack for $3.99.

No I noticed that too.

yes, our LQS charges almost $3 for a fat quarter.. Terrible isn't it.

I hate to tell you but that is normal in Canada. if not a little on the low side. Cotton is about $15\meter.

No thanks! Ill buy 1/4 yd

It does sound expensive until you figure in the labor to cut it.
Personally, unless there was no yardage available to purchase, and I not only liked it really well but had a specific project I would reallly use it on, I would probably buy it.

I agree with you. Also, I will buy several fat quarters each time I go into my LQS, even if I am buying yardage of other fabrics, just because it's fun to add small amounts of many different colors and patterns to my fabric collection. It may be more money to do it that way but I don't really mind.

I am glad that I don't like fat quarters. I love fabric to much and a fat quarter just wouldn't fill me up. LOL!! I am also used to buying yardage from years of sewing clothes and home dec projects also.

My favorite LQS will cut a FQ of any fabric in the store and they only charge $2.50 for it, no matter what bolt it came off of! One of many reasons why I love it there!

But sometimes a 1/4 yard isn't wide enough!!!

To the other poster in Canada - Yup. They're about $4, $4.50 sometimes near me, and I live in a Mennonite area with a lot of quilters. And a lot of stores won't cut a fat quarter for you from yardage for fear they won't sell the other one - there's only one in my area that will do it without complaint. the "sale" ones are $3.

The shops I went to this past week varied on their FQ prices. The cheapest was 2.25 up to 3.25...... All of the new fabric was 11.99 to 12.99.

Sounds like a reminder to be kinder to me. I'll try!

:cry:

Sounds about right for my area also. Some, such as batiks, are a bit more.

That has been the price at most LQS lately since the price increases on cotton.

I don't know about how normal but had a friend that worked at Joann's told me I was better off buying half a yard or what I wanted at regular price or when it is on sale. Said fat quarters always ended up with you paying more for the convience of the small cuts.

Absolutely! Now, tell me where you can find one can of coke for 75¢ :)

My LQS has them for $3.25...way too much if you ask me but I do so love FQs.

I buy 3/8yds not as "fat" as a fq but not as skinny as a 1/4yd. I feel I get a tad bit more for my money that way.

c'mon up here to Calgary, $4.99 at some stores -- and that's in C$!!! (I stocked up the last time I was in a JoAnn's in Great Falls, MT)

At that price i will do without. I'm on a fixed income and can't afford those prices.

What I found in my local quilt shops is that on sale days there are flats of Fat Quarters. These flats have been brought in from some processer and they are not shop quality. I was very disappointed.

I paid it:(
Had 4 FQ cut to make a Birthday present, 4 FQ = $12.00
Not what I would pay to make anything for myself. The backing was a sale fabric so it evened out a bit.

My LQS charges $4.50 for a good quality FQ. They also have really cheap see through ones @ 6 for $10.00.