Cost of LQS Fabric
 

Asking for wisdom here. I have a chance to visit 2 LQS next week. I've only ever been to 1 before, but was amazed at the price of fabric there. What is a "reasonable" price to pay per yard without coupons or sales? & Yes I understand that you get what you pay for, quality issues, etc, but please share your suggestions & experiences! Thank you!

In my area (Northern Virginia) about $10-$14

I love Moda fabrics - if I can get it for $10/$11 per yard, I feel I got a bargain.

Canada here. The low price here would be $12.99 per metre (39"). The norm for good fabric seems to be $16.99. I saw some this week for $19,99 and it wasn't special. I find better prices from Hancock in the states, even with charges. Good luck !

I like to buy from LQS's, price of the fabric and notions helps cover everything else you get there.
You get personal help in color/fabric selection, advice about your pattern if you need it, and more.
If we don't use them, we will lose them. I do not buy everything in Shops as it is not always possible to get there, but I try.

$10 - $15 in So. Cal.

i generally only go when there is a sale and then try not to pay more than $8. if my disposable income was not an issue, i'd pay the price if i liked the fabric.

I'm in Arizona, Tucson area, and the LQS here run around $10 to $13.

10-12 here in so called too depending on type and shop

In Northern Indiana the prices are $10-$14 on average, although I do try to buy when I can get a discount or there is a sale. It's the quality over the price...and a matter of supporting local business.

I'm on a very limited income so try to use my way-too-large stash. When I need fabric, my LQS has fabric at $10.00 to $13.00. They keep track of expenditures and when a certain amount is reached, you get a gift certificate. They have frequent sales also.

$10 - 15 here in Pensacola. But, there are sales tables and sales on certain items each month. Whenever I shop a new LQS when traveling, I usually stick with 1 yard of what I consider "Glorious color", precuts, or new panels. Only once have I seen an entire line that I wish I had purchased. Even then, I wrote the name of the line down and later purchased it online.

I live in northern Arizona and the cost of fabric from LQS is $12 to $14. Sometimes I can luck out and find what I need on the clearance table.

My LQS is Marshals dry goods. I find good quality fabric there any day for usually less than $8 a yard. It doesn't have to have a famous name on it to be good quality fabric.

Where are the bargains in fabric.

three of our LQS have closed. I only have on-line now and it is not fun.

I shop at Marshall's Dry Goods fabric distributors. I am spoiled to lower prices. I will buy my other quilting needs like notions, thread, and tools from local shops but not fabric unless it's on clearance. I buy pre cuts online from various online shops.

Most of the quilt shop fabric in this area is $11.99 and $12.99 per yard. The shop I use most has occasional sales. They always have a 40% off sale between Christmas and New Year's and a sale on selected items regularly. There are some fabric "outlets" that carry older, out of print, name brand quilting fabric for $5.00 and $6.00 per yard. If I need solids, I get Kona at JoAnn's with a coupon or at Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby is $6.29 for the Kona. I'm in Dallas.

bkay

LQS have overhead. They have to make a profit. Many have classes and they also go to market to bring fabric to the customers. So yes they are going to charge more than you may on line. There are a few places who don't charge for shipping but think about it. They will make their money somewhere and one way or the other the consumer is going to pay for it just like anyone else. With me it's how soon do I want or need it. Do I have something I can use in the meantime and how motivated am I to get into the sewing room. I buy a lot of eye candy and pay for it but don't always eat it. We all love our stash whether we use it or not!...I prefer to support my LQS. I am sad the one nearest and dearest to me is retiring. Going to my neighbors. She got some "candy" and some wine!!

Marshall's IS my local shop. Its them---or Walmart.

If I see less than $11, I take a good look and see if I want some. I mostly expect about $12 because I love batiks.

Long Island, New YOrk, about 12.99 to 14.99/yard

You've captured the crux of the LQS plight as with many retailers with online competitors for the same products and less overhead, so able to sell at lower prices. It is an unfortunate situation for everyone concerned really, but the reality is, a lot of us are working with a fixed income that is constantly faced with increasing costs in basic needs, like heat, electricity, groceries and health care, squeezing our discretionary funds that we use for our hobbies, at the very least. In Canada, our fabric pricing and notions, are subject to some hefty import taxes and now exchange rates, driving our local prices into the stratosphere. While in a perfect world, we'd all have adequate funds to ignore all of these factors and be able to keep the local retailers adequately funded to keep their doors open and be there for us to meet our needs, the reality is quite the opposite and when the opportunity is available to pick up less expensive items from fabric to groceries that's what I will continue to do be it online or a trip away to a bigger center with better pricing.

Head to the back of the store, where the nice clearance fabric lives. :o

I work at a LQS, where we have Moda (and all the other top brands, including flannels and Shannon Cuddle) 20% off the retail price ($6.98 to $20.49 per yd.) every day. And if there are 5 Saturdays, it's 30% off that day. The boss says we don't make money on selling fabric. We make it on sewing machine sales and repairs. With so many OSMG's (Old Sewing Machine Guys/Gals) retiring, we are getting repairs from farther and farther away. That, and our customer service, has kept us in business since 1958.

When I shop at a LQS, I head to the sale or clearance section first. I also get the newsletter from our LQS to be aware of the specials being offered on notions, fabric and classes. One such offer for newsletter customers is on your birthday month, you receive a one time discount of 25% off a fabric purchase. I have seen fabric not on sale anywhere from 10-12 dollars/yd.

In Massachusetts it's generally $10-$13 per yard, but one place I know is $14. Being able to bring in swatches and hold them up to the bolts instead of guessing at the colors online makes it worth it to me.

In any quilt shop I hit the clearance area first. If I can't find it I ask. Rarely do I find a store without one. If there's nothing there fine but it doesn't hurt to look. Most of my backings come from reduced price fabric at quilt stores. I also purchase regular priced at $10-$12/yard as needed but since I rarely buy all the fabric I need for a quilt at once most of my fabric has been purchased over time from the clearance area. I generally make quilts with many different fabrics in them so I can be flexible about the amount of fabric. If I run out of one then generally there is another I can substitute. I really like the quality of fabric at a quilt shop in addition to the service and supporting a small business owner.

Location matters, no idea where you are but there is a broad range of prices in quilt shop locals. Here in northern Michigan the averages I've found are $10-$13 a yard . Sales can be found and sometimes I find a shop still carrying fabric at $8.95 - $9.50.
Perhaps you could search on line for shops in your area and see what their prices are.

There is a store in my area that has an end of the bolt-end of the month sale every month. Anything less than 5 yards on any bolt can be purchased for 25% off. They also have a sale area. Twice a year they have a bigger clearance sale. Another store has 40% off on seasonal fabrics. I seldom pay full price. I try to buy locally because I want to support the local economy and friendly face contact. I 'play the loyalty card game' at the grocery store and use my 'savings' for my hobby-quilting.

I love the LQS. Yes prices are higher but I like to support them as they carry such nice fabrics and it helps to keep the small locally owned businesses going. You get a lot of other help in those shops too. Many have classes and some also do quilting. Most I've found are always willing to help the beginner who doesn't understand how to do certain things.

Another thing to ponder is when we have scraps and use them to make another quilt or other type sewing project. I have purchased extra for that reason and especially if it's on sale, I've already saved on gas and car maintenance.

When I went to the LQS and saw prices at $16, it was my last trip there. Now, I support local, so don't bash me. The store is lovely. It also sells machines and has long arm services. It sells those machines, too. So there are a lot of pluses to the store, but really? $16 a yard? We have Hobby Lobby, Joanne's and 3 WalMart stores. It's a no-brainer to shop where my budget fits.

Look for old quilters selling their stash...that is how I ended up selling fabric...and I find wonderful quality.

I've always felt that if they wish to price themselves out of existence, thats on them. All the other places have overhead too, and seem to cope. Even on-line stores have a place to keep fabric and employees to handle it, and heat/cooling and lights, and THEY have to package and mail as well. Do you suppose thats not overhead?

Unfortunately, fabric has gone thru the roof. Almost anywhere it will run $8.99 - $15.99 in a storefront. I only buy on sale/coupon/clearance/discontinued. I keep it to at the max $4.99 per yard. I watch the various sites for their super sales. I also buy after season for the following year. Last year, in the couple days before Christmas, I purchased over $280 worth of fabric for under $90 - TWICE. If I have a customer requesting something very unusual, I look online. I have found some perfect fabric on etsy several times and only need 1/2 or 1 yard. This is the only way I can sell items for a profit. It saddens me that I can't shop at LQSs, but I just can't afford them.

I sometimes do business with a shop in New Hampshire. She is online only so many batiks are less than $9.

Sadly, I think many LQS are pricing themselves out of business. We see more and more shops closing and quilters trying to use their stash and only purchase fabric to complete a project.

Fabric prices went up drastically a few years ago when the price of cotton went up, but didn't go down when cotton went down.

I miss adding to my stash.

Quilting became "popular" about that time. Anytime something becomes a popular thing to spend money on, prices go through the roof.
I still remember the price of horses before everybody wanted one