Usually only buy mark downs that run 40% off and 50% off if you buy what ever is on the bolt. There a lot of beautiful fabrics, top quality fabric lines, and I am addicted. These I find at my LQS which I frequent much too often. Oh, well could have worse addictions

I'm w/cjomomma. Just yesterday I picked up fabric at ww for 2.97yd that was for their sept pattern and also fabric for 4.44 that i needed for my daughter's quilt that i'm working on. only on a couple of occassions did i really have to go to my LQS.

I knew someone from Australia would chime in.
I was in Tasmania this summer and had to go to a LQS. I almost fell down when I saw the price of fabric was $29.00 a meter.
Even so I had to buy a few FQ of Aborigional print to make a small wall hanging.

I'm so glad you wrote this. Like you, I don't pay LQS prices. There are so many beautiful fabrics available at other places. Like so many others, I look for sales and stock up when possible.

Your work is beautiful and the fabrics lovely as well. Be proud of what you create and share with so many.

I am not good at picking out colors so I usually go to a quilt shop where I know I can get help. I can't get that at Joanne's , Hancock or Walmart. My favorite shop NEVER has sales but they have a great selection of fabrics. I make mostly baby quilts so I don't spend that much at a time. So , yes I pay over $9.00 a yard.

For good quality fabric at my LQS I will pay $9.00 a yard.
But usually go to the sales they have 2x a year for most of my fabric. And go to Hancocks when they have a summer sale to pick up Kona solids, usually a better price than $9.00 a yard.

Yes.....Over the years I have come to appreciate the differences in fabric quality. I do a lot of online shopping as I now know "brands and quality". I seldom by from the cutrate retailers. If I am going to put hours of work and good thread and batting into a quilt, it will be with good quality fabric. I do support the LQS's as well. If I am going to make a little washed or not heavily used item, I will use cheaper and lesser qualitiy stuff. Guess in some ways, I've become a "fabric snob"....LOL!

If it's something I absolutely have to have I will pay that. I have to have a plan to use it in something, but just to have it no. I usually get mine online and it's much less expensive.

Canada prices--WOW! A quilt is a very expensive project there, isn't it?

I have at times, but I try to buy on sale or use a coupon. Also, there's a Craft Warehouse near me that sells "flats" (fabric off the bolt) for about half price. Nice designer fabrics. I love that place. My pocketbook screams when I go in there, though.

Nope $5 is my limit. I love sales, they are also my downfall. I can easily resist $10 a yard fabric but offer me a good deal and I'm all over it. Really feel sorry for those of you outside the US, I couldn't possibly have the stash I do if I had to pay your prices.

I feel I can get good quality for $5 dollars on web sites such as Whittles and Fabric.com. Sure they are from a past season and they are not complete lines but I enjoy putting fabrics together on my own so I feel I don't really lose anything.

Yeah, I never pay that. The last time I bought LQS fab. at full price it was a batik that I needed for a mystery quilt on-line a couple of years ago. My DH pulled out a $10 expecting to get change back for 2 yds. LOL He turned pale when she rang up $20+. After that I decided not to go back. There is another LQS that buys lower greige but not as low as Joann's or WM. I shop on-line but have made a resolution NOT to buy new fabric until I use up some of this stash this year. So far I've only slipped up less than $100. It's amazing how much stash I have. I try to pay $3 or $4/yd. I don't care if it is this years style if I like it. HIH

NOT ME! I won't pay that much. I am sure I can find it alot less expensive elsewhere!

Sales prices here start at around UK£6 per meter. A jelly-roll costs about UK£24. Add to the postage and packaging. Quilting is an expensive hobby.

:shock: I have never paid that much a yard but since I am using my stash or else buying on sale at 3.99 or 4.99 that makes a difference

Have to confess - I did once - on vacation - bought two yards. Used one immediately when I got home still have the other one. It was truly a "can't live without it" fabric (at the time)! :) :)

My warmest and favorite coat I bought at a thrift store. And it is the kind that really doesn't go out of style.

I use to get my at Walmarts when they had it. I get most of my at yard sales or church sales. Got some great buys.
I can't afford $9 for it either.
granny k

Yes, I have paid that much. I try to look for sales now, or go places that offer lower prices on fabrics that are end of season or end of run. Now, fabrics are over $10.00 in my local quilt shops. I really have to love it to get it now. I just can't afford $10/yard.

What is the exchange rate these days? And it is possibly higher in Canada because of tarriffs.

I buy fabric on sale at LQS for my own use. For charity quilts, I buy online at Fabric.com at $3, $4, $5. Quality is good, free shipping on orders over $35, and a break on sales tax (ours is almost 10%). We used to buy at Walmart for kid's quilts, but they don't carry fabric anymore.

I think you pay for what you get! I don't pay $9 but will get good grade fabric. I made a quilt for my DD wedding from Joann fabric and it all balled up and I spent soo muhc time making that quilt and the seams came apart. I was not happy so for speical things I will buy better. I go to Shipshewana, Ind and there Moda fabric is about $7.95 so can handle that!

me too :lol: :lol: :lol:

I have because I am so picky about the fabrics and the colors I put together. I also believe in supporting my local quilt store!!

I mostly buy at a discount or on sale.

Even if you have no intention of paying the going price for fabric, you should treat yourself to a trip to a fabric store. They have soooo many great fabrics, patterns, samples, books and great notions that you will NEVER find at WM!!!It really gets you motivated!

When I fist started to quilt, I bought Joanns's fabric...not a whole lot, just a little. Then as I became more aquainted with how things worked etc....

The shop I took a couple lessons at always had a midnight night sale once a month, where for 10 minutes you could grab all the fabric you wanted or anything else for 40% off. We would make a list of things to grab lo..

Later on When I discovered The LSQ near me and they had three 40% sales a year.

A few weeks ago a friend came by and dumped some fabrics she didn't want anymore. I picked through it and have a table full....my cup runneth over...good things comes to she who waits lol....

Then I ran a quilt shop for about a year and when I sold the shop for her, she told me to take two yards of every fabric I wanted...oh lord.

And then one of my girlfriends was moving and she told me I could purchase at 3.00 per yd. any of her fabrics and she had tons. I bought 1000 yads and the good part was..no money would be exchanged...she would send me her quilts to quilt and it would be deducted and that was a good deal for me. .

Another time I bought some from an ex quilter for a 1.00 a yd and all this is quilters cotton, designer fabric.

Needless to say, I don't buy fabric anymore lol...I have enough to last me my lifetime and I can go in a shop and not buy. I don't have to have it. I use what I have.

I have been making a good dent lately in the stash and I am so happy about that.

For heavens sake NO. If I had to pay that much for fabric I would not be doing what I am doing. I always wait for a sale and bargins.

I have been using JoAnn fabric for a long time. I have never had that problem.

I shop sales & clearances,in shops or on line.

[quote=ganny]Gosh! Was beginning to think I am really cheap. Never have paid over $7+ per yard and then try to get that on sale.

I am boycotting those prices as much as possible. It is a real 'Catch 22" situation. If we don't support our LQS they might go out of business but I just cannot justify those prices. I do have a substantial stash to pull from so any fabrics I buy are mostly luxury expenses, not really needed.

That said, I do buy on sales. I figure anything I love i might pay more for, its a free choice. But, otherwise I will shop for the cheapest price. I do buy only quiltshop quality, though.

My maximum upper limit is about $6 a yard (and if I buy online, I figure about a dollar a yard shipping on top of their prices. I will buy more if it is $3-4 a yard.

I recently paid about that much on a special order fabric for a customer. Now I will use what I need to on her order and charge her for the finished item (pre agreeded price) and I will use the rest. It is a large graphic/print that needs to be centered on the item. It is a repeate print and the fabric store told me how much I needed for the project. Normally I would not have ever paid that much but it is what she chose and by golly, I will find a way to use it. I am probably the most frugal person I know.

You must be a professional quilter?

Agree. The cost of living varies along with the economy and prices that are beyond the local market will drop or businesses will close. Unfortunately the rise of globalization is making it hard for local businesses to compete against that larger market.

My thought? You get what you pay for. When I pay less than the going rate for fabric ($15 - $22/m) the quality is less.

I think we can get some really good bargains and still pay less than full price.

My problem is that I am like a "kid in a candy store" when I see new fabric I want it all!! My solution? Stay out of the 'candy store' and know that when I do go in, I will probably find something to buy, so go with a budget and do not go over.

Easier said than done, but its working so far. I am selling some of my fabrics, too. (look a the topic log for Corky seller) That frees up some $$ and room.

Far from it...it was not a quilt she asked for but something else that needed to be sewn . It was for the chemo support group.
The fabric they chose was wildlife - almost like a panel. Even though it is yardage, I am going to try to use the central theme for the things they want. I should have plenty of fabric to make a tote bag for the patient...a gift from me to her...no charge.

Good deal!!

That reminds me, I shop on-line, Fabric.com, and have a friend who lives near Mary Jos in Gastonia, NC. MJ has had other shops in the Charlotte area dis her, but she smiles and says it's America and I can set my prices to suit me and the sewing world. If you go there, take a list. Her on-line store is not so economic.

I love Fabric.com, especially the free shipping ($35 minimum)

So you are saying that the owner is Mary Jo?

I would love to visit in person!!

I guess I'm cheap, I do not like to pay that much for fabric.
I try to get it on sale, I think 6$ is a lot but I have paid that for some disney fabric.