Fabric Buying Dilemma
 

Rising fabric prices are making me insane! I spend hours filling online shopping carts with sale fabric but then that little voice in my head starts pointing out that I have plenty of fabric I've never used and buying more would be wasteful. So, I let it go. Then I stop in at my lqs and am so horrified at $12 to $15 per yard fabric that I can't get back to my laptop fast enough! What's a quilter to do?! Most of my stash is half yard cuts of sale fabric that I love but I haven't done very well with actually using it. I can't imagine making a whole quilt with full price fabric! So, are y'all taking advantage of all the year end sales? Do you buy for stash, or buy for specific quilts? I feel like I need to go into fabric detox!

I am working really hard again this year on de-stashing. Sometimes I buy a little to finish a project but the prices are getting crazy. Seems like online there are always sales and so I figure I will just wait until I NEED it instead otherwise it will just pile up again. Finally getting my sewing space organized a little bit.

I also am trying to use up some of my fabrics. If I live to be 110 I cannot use it all. But I do give in now and then for a special.

I'm also considering buying more fabric. I received a Connecting Threads Gift Certificate and would like to use it for some thread and batik fabrics. I just received a CT Email advertising a year-end clearance sale, but the batiks and threads are still at regular prices, although they do have very reasonable pricing. I don't know if I should wait or go ahead a purchase now. Anyone else buying fabrics?

Yes, I picked up some year end and store closing stuff. But that is because I want to make some scrappy designs and just did not have a wide enough range of fabrics. I have been looking at the Benartex Flora and Fauna because I have two panels and am drooling over them. But the price of the co-ordinating fabric is still $9+ a yard, plus I haven't really sat down and figured out a pattern.

I am lucky that DH works in the US and doesn't mind being my Fabric Mule. I can often get stuff shipped to his hotel for free and that saves a bundle.

SInce I am new to quilting I don't have a large stash. That being said I would like one a little larger then what I have now, but I hate buying things that are on sale just b/c they are on sale with no clear picture as to what I would actually use it for. All I see is dollar signs floating over my small stash of fabrics I have bought and not yet used. I have a cart full of fabrics at CT with some batting, definitely getting the batting but now sure about the fabric.

I stopped buying for a bit as well, but it seemed that when I went to start a project, I never had what I needed. So.....I do purchase, mostly from Connecting Threads lately, however, Gagasmith and I did a road trip awhile back and I did purchase from LQS. I have a fairly nice stash, though I am always on the look-out, I can usually find some fabric that just seems to pop into my cart! I do have a nice selection (hoarde) of Oriental fabric, still waiting for that perfect pattern to appear!

OH you all would be proud of me! I was in Joann's on Christmas Eve, they had all of their fabric on sale for 70% off for a 2 hour sale.. I didn't buy a yard, not a single yard. When I got home, my husband actually asked me if I was sick! LOL

Actually if you take into account inflation, prices are just about where they should be. They've just barely doubled in the last 10 to 12 years.

I do buy full price fabric sometimes. If I am buying full price fabric it's something that won't be there even just a few months down the road. Usually the focus fabric and one or two distinct supporting fabrics from a line are the ones that go fast and if I really have to have it I'll pay full price for. I can fill the rest in with blenders later.

But I have a lot of fabric already so it seriously has to be a jaw-dropping, stop me in my tracks fabric, anymore before I'll go ahead and pay full price for the focal and supporting fabrics.

When you can pull enough fat quarters in only three colors for a queen size quilt and just "loosen up the drawer" you know you have plenty.

The LQS I love has their year-end sale this Sat. I will go and I have some specific fabrics in mind that I will purchase. I do not purchase fabric anymore just to 'add' to my stash. I only buy what I need for a specific project. And, I have never bought on-line.