I am trying to hold off a bit. got cards for JoAnns and Walmart so it is hard. Today I was a t Walmart and they did the neatest thing in the fabric dept. They had a tear off instruction pad for a lovely quilt and right below it was all the fabric required to make it. Now I know some people don't care for Walmart fabric, but so far I have not had any problem. With the card I would only have to come up with a small additional amount of cash. Just may have to go back monday. smile......

I give up. I admit it. I have spent most of my day on sale sites buying up stuff that looks like I would like to use it. I did find a GO baby for $97.30 and an EQ& for $104.47 at the Homespun Hearth on sale today til midnight.

EQ7, sorry

76 and I just started actually quilting this year. Ihave old arthur in my left thumb area too, but use it anyway.

I think maybe it comes down to knowing yourself, and understanding what the fabric means to you, and then knowing why you buy it.

Some of us like to collect fabric. We buy a piece because it is beautiful and it makes us happy to see it or own it, and we probably never want to cut that piece up anyway.

Some of us are very project-minded and buy just what we need for the next quilt we're going to make.

Then, some of us buy like crazy when there is a great sale, never mind whether we really need that fabric, it's the bargain that matters.

And some of us simply are hoarders. Having more fabric somehow makes us feel safe. (Maybe if we have so many projects we will never be able to get them done before we die... then we will never have time to die...)

Personally, I have been all four of those people at one time or another.

Not just fabric, thread and batting have jumped in price. The problem is not the retailer. The price of bulk raw cotton has jumped, I'm told. I have a fairly large stash to 'shop' in I could probably go a year or 2 with no more purchases, but I doubt that I will. I love my 2 LQSs. The people there are great. I am disabled and don't get out as much as I would like. I went to my major on-line thread supplier, www.kmquilting.com and found that they have been dropped by Signature threads, so what they have on hand is all they have. It's on a great sale. DH told me to buy whatever I will use. Now I have 2 large drawers of thread cones. I am feeling a bit smug, but sorrowful at the same time.

Same here, I am all 4 of these types......:D

I am trying to make a quilt out of one of the new Moda lines, but it is so expensive. To make just the top for a quilt for my bed will be almost $200...but it is the perfect colors. Maybe next year...

I think we all have the buying bug when it comes to fabric,so if i really really need it I buyit, if not I don't

Well put! I think I'm all of those people at the same time. Just call me Sybil!

I have a very sufficent stash, but there are times when the stash is ..well .. un-inspiring! So I go and get a few pieces to bring the stash to life !
There is something about a fresh cut of fabric that breathes new life into a lack-luster project and quilter!

Oh my goodness....my LQS is having their 1.00 fat qtr sale...everything in the shop...I promised I would not buy any fabric this year except for their 1.00 sale that happens several times a year...I did not think they were going to do it today...what to do....I have a lot now but I am using up all of my baklics (however its spelled) on a quilt I started yesterday for my brother. I love the look....so know that I will want to make another one. they are normally 2.75 a fat qtr.

I was lucky - I've been building my stash for a long time and hardly spent anything on Christmas presents this year. But, I DO go and buy occasional specific things - like cupcake fabric for an apron for my dil. I need to use stuff up - economics make a fabric buying moratorium and absolute necessity. I WISH I could go and buy pretty new stuff, but...

I was reading the original post and I'm laughing to myself.... not at the price of the fabric because I'm in the same boat as everybody else... but I'm laughing because I also scrapbook and I do the same thing with this too! I have SOOOO much scrapbooking paper that it's ridiculous! If it's on sale... I BUY IT!!!! Seriously, it's an addiction! I've been better the last few months but I still have a ton of paper! As for my fabric stash... it's not near as big so right now I'm just buying for specific projects but I'm sure it won't be long until I have the same "problem"

I guess I have the same problems with my hands as well as Fibromyalgia. However I am older and will be 83 at the end of this month. Still plan to keep trucking along.:) Anne

I pay under 5.00 a yard for my fabrics and all from LQS - I buy when they have specials all the time...several times a year its everything in the shop and also there is a yearly event were a bunch of local quilt shops rent space at a local hotel and have huge sales...all around 5.00 a yard. I have bought a lot over the year thinking prices are going to go up but every month I see wonderful sales...so there are plently of affordable quality fabrics out there there..and many have websites so they are available everywhere...even international shipping though some have stopped shipping international due to lost shipments to many times.

I think you need to buy what's on sale if you like it.
 

With all the sales, it's hard to resist. My husband asked if I was becoming a fabric whore. HeeHee! He already knew I am a ribbon a whore, the latter having to do with my basket business.

That is a most generous thing to offer. You brought tears to my eyes as I remembered my grandmother who passed many years ago. She loved to sew and quilt and on a very limited income of only social security managed to give me 3 quilts one Christmas for our 3 sons. I still have 2 of those quilts and spent some time New Years Day replacing shredded blocks on one of them. She used to ask for my sewing scraps which I gladly gave, and judging from the quilts so did many others in her church group. Those quilts are now over 40 years old and though they are simple they were pieced entirely by hand, and quilted by hand. I dont know now whether she had a sewing machine available, but I sure regret not paying more attention. Those of us who have a need to create and share will always need to do so, your offer to others who may be in circumstances as my grandmother makes my heart glad.:) Blessings and Happy New Year to YOU!

I stated on this board last week that I needed not to purchase any more fabric and that I was going to work on all the quilt kits, panels and other fabric and projects that I had already. The very next day I went to our LQS with my daughter who received a gift card for Christmas. All she bought a pattern. I found some darling fabric that was almost gone and purchased a yard each. No pattern in mind but just knew I needed that fabric. Sheesh. I think it is a disease!

Oh, but buying on line is SOOO much fun. Your feet don't get tired and you can always put stuff in your cart and then think on it for a few days. I do that a lot but I really don't buy all that much in the end . I always go back and delete items or I delete everything. It's almost as fun actually buying.

Iwent back.......sigh.......it makes a great kit for me to do after I get done with the list before it....I just could not resist, the colors are so pretty. Oh well, that is why I ask for gift cards. LOL........Now to finish the totes waiting on my table. then to the purple quilt, then the red one.........and so on and so on. happy new year.......

I go on a quilt shop hop each spring with friends.... I go armed with fabrics that need extras to go with them for specific projects.
My stash gets used. When my scrap bin is full, it's time for another scrappy project.
I look for blenders and backings at Mill end textiles, especially when they have a coupon sale.
I need to remember the hint about not cutting crosswise cuts and start leaving lengthwise yardage for borders.

I realized that some of the fabric has gone up to about $15/yard, so I have been shopping the sales and don't feel quite so guilty. I also went to Joann's today and saw the prices and that lessened the guilt some more. I feel much better now for spending about $200 unplanned online.

I buy what I like, but it has to be on sale, on clearance, or marked down in some way.. .. I have a hard time justifying paying full price when eventually it will go on sale.. I go on Shop hops quite a few times a year and usually all their fabrics ( of you buy the $5 passport) will be 25% off.. So thats when I load up..

I have plenty of fabric to last me quite a few lifetimes So i can wait till the next shop hop comes around..

I admit that I sometimes go overboard on buying fabric. However, what's worse is the fact that if I really, really like the piece, I have a very hard time using it in a project. I will take it out of the closet time and time again, look at it and admire it's beauty and then put it back in the closet because I just can't bring myself to cut it up. Does anyone else do this? Jeepers, now that I see this statement in black and white, I feel so silly but I just can't help myself. I must be a really sick person...... LOL

Pat on the shoulder for me - first time ever to go on holiday, actually browse through fabrics and not purchase an inch! Does this really mean the idea of de-stashing has finally taken seed in my little brain? I have a nasty suspision there will not be a repeat performance and I will be facing a number of tantalising dilemmas before the year is out!

I never buy for stash. I will buy LQS fabric for specific quilts OR if I really love love a line I will buy for a future quilt or project. My leftovers are my stash. This year will be the year to use up the "stash" as much as I can. I don't care to have a lot of stash as I love to shop for new fabric. :-)