Hard to find items across the pond?
 

Hello all of you over in the European continent... I have a request.

Would you mind enlightening me what quilting things you desire that are not easily found across the pond as they are here in the USA?

I agree Anastasia. I have bartered across thge pond and what I have found out is that that have very few quilting magazines available over there and I have sent a few to ones who sent me Beatrix Potter fabic (Peter Rabbit) when I was in need. I have sent one magazines in Coventry area and one I send selvages and I would like to do more, but I never know what they are looking for or what they NEED! It's better in Aussieland ( we spend a few months there in Adelaide and Williamstown back in '02 and I loved it there...learned to do silk ribbon embroidery.

I will be watching this post to see what's needed where.....

Thanks and Hugs, Drue

I would like to know, too. Many of us in the USA - even in the boonies - are able to acquire a lot of thing via the internet, even if we can't get to a brick and mortar store.

I think we take a lot for granted!

I live in Germany, were military so I have two options on and off base. We do have 1 quilt store on a base an hour away, in March it's moving closer to us....my DH is soooo excited! lol There are some on the economy. Problem isn't so much selection as price. The dollar is down here so to give an idea on the economy 1 yard= 36in. 1 meter=39 inches 1$=.86-.70 (depending on the exchange rate) so lets go shopping.....
Stof is a fabric company not sold in the states and it's fantastic so say you fall in love with one like I did and have to have it.
Fabric on average is priced 12-18 euro a meter. So $15-22 a meter in dollars. Being military we can use a vat form but they cost $7 a piece so not worth it if your not saving $7 or more. All prices here include a 19% tax rate a vat form takes that 19% off the price.
So say you want 5 yards priced at 16 euro a meter, so 80 euro -15 euro with a vat =65 euro in dollars around $91
Even the shop on post is priced like a LQS and it's not a discount type store like say Joanns. I shop there when I can to support them plus they carry old Moda lines which I love and I actually get to touch fabric!
Shopping online is cheaper, I buy charm packs to sample fabric, batting at joanns when on sale but all Joanns packages take 6 weeks.
If coming to Europe to live I would buy batting in bulk to last you through a years worth of projects to start, buy an extra cutting mat because I have never seen a sale on cutting mats anywhere here, extra favorite ruler and thread is hard to find in a variety because 90% of thread here is poly.
We love it here and you adjust and look for deals. Our guild this past weekend went on a trip 40 mins from my village and a quilt shop there opened exclusively for us and sold us all cotton fabric including flannel for 5 euro a meter.....was fantastic!!!
We have an APO as well so we pay US shipping rates not international.

a few years ago I went on a quilting trip to Lancaster PA and was amazed by the choice in flannel fabric - we (not that I can find) have much choice in this fabric which I absolutely love the feel of - great for our winter quilts!!!

Thank you QuiltingCrazie, that was an amazingly informative post. It seems a general consensus I've found is FABRIC.. hehe. But you've given me some ideas.

Over in US your choice is so much wider. I tend to do Internet shopping from the other side of the pond. The problem is the postage and customs. I have had parcels refused at airports and had to pay very large extra tax as well. Parcels ripped and no idea when they will arrive and consequently borrowed from neighbours to pay when arrived. The one area at present not happy with is eBay. Some of the US companies are selling featherweight on UK EBAY shipping cost doubles item eg £50 upwards. Why not a depot in this country which holds these items.

I love new gadgets and follow you here and other shops in US TO BUY
FABRIC. I love specific designs .
Somebody mentioned magazines. I have no problem as we have excellent shops locally which. Stock American. Australia New Zealand , Ireland as well asUK. THEY will also order for you. I also purchase from the Internet copies o patchwork quilting mags from over the world.
This is getting too long and wordy. I also have friends who visit US and post items to me. One friend has a brother over there who will shop for us on gadgets.
Bye for now

Stof is a fabric company not sold in the states and it's fantastic so say you fall in love with one like I did and have to have it.

We are now starting to sell Stof in the LQS where I work...Caroline's Cottage Cottons in Rome City, IN.

It's better in Aussieland ( we spend a few months there in Adelaide and Williamstown back in '02 and I loved it there...learned to do silk ribbon embroidery.
Hey Drue, Willianstown is not far from where I live. If you ever come back to visit let me know, would love to meet up.
I think here in Aussieland we are very well off for quilting supplies and fabric though it is fairly expensive $18 - $25 a metre.I spent this afternoon at the Australian Machine Quilting Festival where many Machines including long arms were on display and available for people to try. There were many other stalls showing every ruler and quilting gadget available I think. Also Ricky Tims, Renae Haddadin and several other American quilters were here to teach classes. So yes we are very spoiled for supplies for our craft.

I lived in Italy for three years and that is where I learned to quilt. The lady who taught me was Croatian who moved there from Cyprus. She had a decent stash but I wanted to buy my own. Being Canadian and used to LQS I was looking for one in Italy. I found one, an hour away and it was more of an expensive boutique for us quilting foreigners. Everything was very expensive. So my friend and I hit small shops that sell fabrics to locals and when we found cotton or a blen we bought it. We also went to big outdoor markets where you can haggle for the price. We made due with fabric just fine but all other things were problematic - rotary cutters, mats, and freezer paper. Freezer paper for appliqué was worth it's weight in gold.

As a general rule I would say that everything quilt-related over here (England) is more expensive than in the States.

You also seem to have a lot more brick-and-mortar LQSs than we do.

As someone mentioned, if we do have sales here it is rare for notions to be marked down - so if you are looking for presents for someone in Europe that would be a good starting point!!

Here in Poland, heat n bond, rotary cutters and blades, magazines and books about quilting, cotton batting (never seen it here--we have poly in many different weights).

One thing I'm learning the longer I'm here is that there is a lot more available--like thread on large spools--if you know where to look. The problem is getting someone to help you know where to look! Our choices of cottons is severely limited.

Years ago when I was selling fabric and notions to UK on ebay, I always used a wholesale price on customs forms even if I paid more myself, so the quilter in UK didn't have to pay as much in taxes. That did help them a little.

Maybe we need to develope pen pals for gift exchanges, send a birthday squisshie?

No kidding.... hehe I actually asked because of some of the swaps Im in and I'm sending gifts to someone who was not specific about what they'd like. So just trying to find something that they would like that would make it worth my shipping costs :)

Unfortunately, life has altered my plans for retirement and we are on a very limited income now. I have had to stop sending secret pal international due to shipping prices. It would normally cost $11 to ship a package here in the states but cost 2 1/2 times that amount to send international. I am not real good at distance, but miles from Alabama to England are around 4,000 miles. Miles from Alabama to Alaska are around 3,000. Why is it 2 1/2 times more to ship to England?

Hi,Most things become available in time that are on sale in the U.S.A. Because of forums like this quilters here see them and put preasure on shops here to obtain items.The thing I would love to see are the garage sales !! You all seem to find wonderful bargains at them. It is also true that some of the best magazines seem to come from your side too.However now after many years of buying anything 'new' that comes along I am more careful, most cutting can be done with a simple straight ruler etc. and a 12'' square.I do love the friendliness and help from these forums though -- not so many here. Love Letty.

There's a guy travelling across the U.S. with a ton (okay, a lot) of bacon, using it to barter for lodging, etc. on his trip. I'd love to try the same thing in Europe with quilting notions and fabric.

I have just received a purple thang in the secret swap. have never seen one in England and it is so useful. Thread is always a good thing to send as we pay a lot for cotton thread over here. I have just bought a lot from Connecting Threads (got someone to send them to me). Frixon pens, wonder clips these things although available are very expensive compared to your costs. As to postage, some of my secret pal packages are still sent priority which is very expensive and not necessary as standard post still arrives ok.

If you decide to do this you can certainly barter with me for board and lodgings!

I recently saw Stof fabric in an Iowa quilt shop. It was very pretty and alittle more expensive than other fabric. It was tempting but I controlled myself!!!...this time!

EU is really expensive compared to US. I remember a friend was visiting me here on Long Island and I gave her an extra suitcase because she went nuts buying things for her kids. Specialty items such as quilting things that are expensive here are rediculously expensive across the pond. Also, and this may have changed, availability ad certain items was an issue as well. Even in Canada, things seem to be much pricier then here. I visit Canada once a year and I rarely buy anything because the sticker shock brings me back to reality.

Sorry to be pedantic but the word stof is German for fabric. There may be a manufacturer in Germany that has created a brand named Stof, but when I lived there stof was German fabric mostly used for curtains and dirndls. Their fabric is heavier than ours, and often has lovely small motifs as well as gorgeous lace embroidery on the stof. And even when I was there back in the late 80's it was very expensive and the dollar was in good shape then.

I am from Denmark (Scandinavia) but living in The Netherlands and I can only agree that everything is so much more expensive here in Europe compared to US. In Denmark the sales tax is 25% (on everything from milk to fabric) and in the Netherland 21% on fabric (from October 1.)
These high taxes have turned quilting into a very expensive hobby. As other people has indicated it can be difficult to find special things here. Internet is an option, but then comes the shipping and maybe the custom "fee" on top.

Actually I have only one thing that I have been unable to find - the curved presser foot. I can find it on the internet but the sellers does not ship it to Europe.
For the rest I can find it here, it is just more expensive.

I started quilting a couple of years ago and I am crazy about it. I love the preparation, choosing pattern and fabric, less to sew it and I do not like to finsih a quilt :-).

I have found the ideal solution. I am member of a charity quilt group. We get a lot of very beautyfull fabrics donated. I have just finish a quilt mainly made from Hoffmann fabrics. I can make the top (the creative part I love) and other in the group will finish the quilt. We have women in the grup who love to do the quilting and others who love to do the binding. Most of our quilts are send to poor hospitals in the east (former USSR), and some quilts are sold for gatting money for buying batting, threads etc.

Next week I go to New York, and for sure I will visit some fabric shops. Hope my suitcase will be big enough

Its a lot more than 3000 from Alabama to Alaska but the you are right about the postage. We use the flat rate a lot as we can pack it and the price is the same. The problem is getting merchants or sellers to do the same. UPS and Fedex are extremely expensive for us in Alaska as it is in England also where I grew up. (Ipswich). I rarely buy from the quilt stores when I go back to England because of the cost. That being said, flat rate boxes can be used for overseas and in the large one you can get about 25 yards of fabric as long as as it does not exceed 20 lbs in weight, the cost is between $50-60. I work at a quilt store and during the summer that is what we use to ship for customers from overseas who buy their fabric from us. We usually pack the boxes and then they will do the post office part so that they are responsible for the customs part of it.

Here in Norway we have to pay 6 times more plus postage than the cost of a yard of fabric in the USA. The dollar to kroner exchange is 5.7. Hence we pay around $15 a meter for the most reasonable fabric. The cost of everything is so high that quilting is not for everyone. And "if" we do order on the Internet and the total cost including postage is over 200 kroner we have to pay customs plus 23% tax. Soooooooo we are happy when anyone will mail us things- We can't ask a shop to mail us as a gift because it is against the law for them to do so, but it is possible for a person to do this. So, I guess what I am saying is that to have a friend who would agree to receive something and mail it on to us would be a big help, so we could take advantage of the free shipping in the USA and only have to pay shipping from one place. Am I making sense?

Thanks everyone, this is all very helpful. That is why I have occasionally agreed to ship international. I don't do it every month cause i am also on a limited income but I try to do it sometimes. if we all said no because of the shipping cost, it would be sad, and to see how much people have to pay to get things there, it makes me even more sad that people are not willing to spend a little in postage, for them to save a lot. I understand limited income. But to send once in awhile may not break the bank. I am going to take into consideration not sending priority this time though. I just want to make sure it gets there by deadlines. But if I get started quickly on the made items, I can send it out early and it shouldn't be a problem. I just don't want it to take weeks. Besides, the things I want to send probably aren't going to fit in a priority box so it's going to be piecemeal postage pricing anyways, I'll just ask them for a balanced fast vs. price shipping method.

I have had an international partner a couple of times in the boards monthly swaps, and deducted from some of the posts that fabric prices were the big thing so I knew I would be sending fabric for the most part of the swap. Some things I learned/or knew; Priority mail is only a priority in the US postal service. Even for APO / FPO it is only priority to the base here that sends it on, once the base gets it the item is handled their way, but if it is heavy flat rate is a deal for those packages. And the few times I heard back regarding the packages they seemed to get there in about 10 days.
So when I send intern'l I just send first class parcel post or regular parcel post. I had a package to England delivered in 10 days, and a package to Canada that took a month-but it also was just after some strike there and there was a backlog on postal deliveries.

So if anyone on the board here takes part in the monthly Secret Pal swap posting info on the board is good or be sure to note in the sp form what items you would be interested in. I usually say yes on the swap, and it usually is several times between when I get an international. I think Lori does try to spread the opportunity around.

hi Anastasia...good question and great answers. Wish I were more knowledgeable and could have helped out here. HUGS (overlook spelling please)

Hi Cat,

Come with a case full of wadding and fabric and you can stay at my place for as long as you like!!!! Suffolk is beautiful...... Really!!! LOL LOL LOL

Hugs

Hi Guys,

Just a quick rundown for you from my perspective....

Cheapest fabric over here equates to approx $20.00 per meter
We receive notions way later than you do and at approximately double the price.
Wadding is so much more over here and we don't have any stores like Joanns that do 40% or 50% off coupons
Thread is very expensive King Tut is £7.00 (minimum) a small reel.

You are all just so lucky over there! To have a posing angel who could post items to us (all expenses paid of course) would be a great thing for us quilters..... especially if they are good at folding fabric as I am told you can get 6 - 8 yards in a flat rate envelope!!!

Oh I have to say that I do have subscriptions to three of McCalls publications but they do it at a reasonable rate.

Hugs to all

Oh..... Elmers School Glue and Glue Sticks cannot be purchased over here...!!


Hugs

Caroline

Hi Caroline,

have you looked at www.fabricguild.co.uk I have been in person and also ordered by phone and online and they have some great deals. They also sell wadding at a reasonable price and although not quite as good quality as warm and natural it is half the price.

I am presuming that Elmer's school glue is just pva (washable) and we get that I am going to be brave and try to glue baste a quilt sandwich with washable pritt pva (fingers crossed)

Eileen

Nice.. then I feel good that the last international secret pal I had, I sent them a bottle of elmers washable glue :) Ever since I read about it's wonderful uses on this board I went and bought a bunch of bottles, one for me, and a bunch to give in swaps.

Uhm.. I also read a wonderful tip on here for using foodsavers to flatten the heck out of fabric.. and I've been doing that to save postage and space, so I would be a good candidate for being a shipping buddy.

I went to the bahamas, was shocked to find NO fabric stores. I thought everyone sewed.

Wow, i wonder how far id get with my scraps...i do need sand or a small rock the size of a nickle or quarter from:
stonehenge,the parthenon, great wall of china and the pyramids/sphinx.

I was just th.king...i used to work in a casket co.
We had fa rics and batting, wading, maybe uou can purchase from them at a cheaper price.

[QUOTE=twinkie;55559 I am not real good at distance, but miles from Alabama to England are around 4,000 miles. Miles from Alabama to Alaska are around 3,000. Why is it 2 1/2 times more to ship to England?[/QUOTE]

Because Alaska IS USA !
Currency, taxes and custom regultion are not the same in England and the US... :hunf:

[QUOTE=Annlil;5556617]I am from Denmark (Scandinavia) but living in The Netherlands and I can only agree that everything is so much more expensive here in Europe compared to US. In Denmark the sales tax is 25% (on everything from milk to fabric) and in the Netherland 21% on fabric (from October 1.)

Actually I have only one thing that I have been unable to find - the curved presser foot. I can find it on the internet but the sellers does not ship it to Europe.

I spent 3 mos. in Denmark earlier this year... amazing how things can be expensive !
Depending on the brand of your sewing machine - I´d recommend checking Bernina dealer in Rotterdam.
If not, check German online shops (www.Cosman.nl) they usually ship to the Netherlands.