Do the math...just a small lap quilt, charity quilt or baby quilt would cost over $100 just for fabric. Add on batting, thread and any embellishments...yikes! Unless you are very wealthy or don't care how you spend your money that's just prohibitively expensive. Cotton prices may be going up but fabric manufacturers know how to dangle that carrot with their advertising and clever marketing and they know that there are those who will spend anything just to have the newest collection to add to their stash. Quiltmaking is a wonderful hobby and creative endeavor but we do not have to be victims to greedy price-gouging tactics. It's just like anything else in the economy...supply and demand...if we refuse to pay those prices they will eventually come down.

Fabric out of my stash will be getting used more now. I have enough fabric to last me for a couple of years *L* so might as well use it up. I will just plan any quilts I want to make around what I have on hand and call it good. I am leaning towards more scrappy ones...I have lots of odds and ends. My sister gave me 3 big bags of batting she got at a yard sale for $1 a bag..they are rolls of batting in the huge black leaf bags. Linda b.

I refuse to pay that much for fabric. I will be forced to use up my stash and when it is gone, I will stop quilting. But I will probably be dead before that happens and my friends will get my stash.

I will never pay those prices for fabric.Can't afford it,but wouldn't pay even if I could.
Working on a scrappy sofa throw from stash now.After that, will stick with stash & fabrics bought on sale/clearance prices.
Have made enough bed size quilts,so making lap quilts,table runners & sofa throws works for me.Less fabric used & no need of a LA quilter.
Remembering when my Grma made quilts needed to keep her family warm,using gray wool blankets for batting & feed sacks / sheets for the outer cover.They were tied, lasted forever & had nothing to do with a hobby.....such as most quilting is today.

oh, honey...I really have just too many clothes in my closet. My closet space would rejoice loudly if I cut up some of my clothes!! 8-) My clothes usually beg me to cut them up, as they all talk(usually at night ;) ) about how those of them that get cut up are more appreciated in the quilt they end up in than they are hanging around to be worn ;) ;) :lol: :lol:

Ebay may be cheaper way

We have had fun cutting clothes up for projects. I used the top portion of jeans and plaid shirts to make some aprons for our 13 year old sons art class. He came home and said the kids just squealed with delight over them- 'so cool. Look at all the pockets, this gives me an idea for my moblie, and so on' Be inspired, not fearful and your closet will thank you.
We were just watching the bio on Kay Thompson- Actor, singer etc as the famed author of Eloise. Her friends spoke of her flair and the way she utilized materials for other purposes to include wearing a dress inside out when she liked the look of that side of the fabric better. Get the scissors and go for it

There are 2 LQS within 10 miles of each other and I shopped at both today. One is a small shop but growing and shelves are more full now than I've ever seen them. And for the first that I've noticed, since I usually shop the bargain shelves,the prices are $10 on all fabrics. The bargain shelf is all $5.50. But there is a small section of solids that are $6. This is the first that they've stocked Moda.

The other shop is quite large. I didn't even take a look at the prices but went straight to the several rows of shelves of bargains. All of those bolts are marked in the $8 to $9 range, but sale price is 35% off and 40% if you finish the bolt. I finished 3 bolts. I love a bargain!

The price of cotton has jumped 128%.

Oh my....glad I have my big stash of fabrics!!!

Well spoken, JoAnnGC.
Thanks for your input.

After reading some of the comments/views of us quilters & probably in particular to this quilter in Australia - who posted the prices etc that we have in OZ (Australia)- then I think I should clarify further.....the best quilting material is imported from the US to OZ....& its the import duty, freight to stores, overheads by the small shops, like its the staff wages, heating/airconditioning, lighting, & all the other that one has whenst they are running a small business. Sure we could probably buy the el-cheapo - but whenst one does make a quilt - then they sure don't want it to shrink - dye bleed etc......yet if we could have cheaper prices of the material from the US - then I can bet you ten to one - that we would buy heaps more.

And thats why this one quilter who does go to the US twice a year to visit relatives & friends - buys up heaps of US quilting material whilst there & for others as well back in OZ. In fact my one check in luggage is always just full of material - that in fact customs, quaratine & security back in OZ always drool over the material I bring back.

So for those that they say they would never pay the prices that quilters in OZ do....well we Aussie's do go without a lot to compensate.....& try very hard to make do.

Just don't want people thinking that Aussie's throw their money away on materials etc okay.

Moggie lone quilter in Australia

This is an old tip valuable to everyone. Whether it is new or prewashed fabric or clothing, this dye fast recipe works great for pennies. I'm sure the measurements may vary from one source to another, but this works great. 1 cup Vinegar, 1cup Salt, mild or baby laundry soap to a full wash load tub of water. Recipe designed for up to 10 yards of fabric. May need to retreat if the fabric has a serious bleed. Have used this on everything from quilting fabric to dental scrub uniforms. Noticed that as timepassed my scrubs stayed brihter then those of my coworkers.

This is an old tip valuable to everyone. Whether it is new or prewashed fabric or clothing, this dye fast recipe works great for pennies. I'm sure the measurements may vary from one source to another, but this works great. 1 cup Vinegar, 1cup Salt, mild or baby laundry soap to a full wash load tub of water. Recipe designed for up to 10 yards of fabric. May need to retreat if the fabric has a serious bleed. Have used this on everything from quilting fabric to dental scrub uniforms. Noticed that as timepassed my scrubs stayed brihter then those of my coworkers.

This is an old tip valuable to everyone. Whether it is new or prewashed fabric or clothing, this dye fast recipe works great for pennies. I'm sure the measurements may vary from one source to another, but this works great. 1 cup Vinegar, 1cup Salt, mild or baby laundry soap to a full wash load tub of water. Recipe designed for up to 10 yards of fabric. May need to retreat if the fabric has a serious bleed. Have used this on everything from quilting fabric to dental scrub uniforms. Noticed that as timepassed my scrubs stayed brihter then those of my coworkers.

I'll give this a try. I bought a couple of bolts of batiks that are crocking (dry dye loss)...didn't know what else to do with it. AND I have about 10 yard bolts. Thanks

It's getting so you can't buy anything fun anymore. I want to go to the LQS but feel funny not buying anything when their prices are so high especially when you ask for their help choosing fabric they are so nice and helpful. I guess that's why I haven't started the wedding quilt but then I have so many projects to do maybe I'll just wait until after hurricane season just in case. We already have a system in the Atlantic probably just rain but it's early. Sue