I went to Joann's recently for some holiday fabric and saw that they started at $6.99 a yard going up to $12.99. I remember when you could get fabric for $2 or $3 a yard. Has anyone else run into this price increase? Yes, they do have coupons, but sometimes it still isn't worth it. What do you think?

Yes, but it does depend on the fabric. I don't usually buy holiday fabric, but find Joanne's fairly competitive otherwise. I'd imagine they mark up any holiday or specialty fabric simply because of demand. Grrr...

One store I've started shopping at averages $8.99 a yard. It's beautiful fabric of the highest quality for quilters, but at those prices I think twice about any purchase.

My favorite quilt store sells all the major brands for $7.99-$12/yard and they usually send me 35% off coupons.

Yikes--I usually shop at JoAnns for fat quarters on sale and thread.

I wanted to make the dog a bed from foam--it was $27.99/yard--even with the 40% off coupons from there, I still got one cheaper at Petsmart.

I hope this is not a sign of things to come.

Julie

I hope not either, quiltwoman, but I sure notice prices going up in other
areas, food, etc.
I mostly shop Joann's too and use coupons, quilt shops for sales.

Where do you get the coupons for Joanns? I'm going to the US in 3 weeks and will be able to get to a Joanns. I really want to get a bolt of batting and some other bits and bobs.
Thanks,
Imelda

I only shop Joanns online at the moment. I get their online coupons for that.
I have, however, received mailings from them when we were in the states that had coupons.

I get their mailer and in our Sunday paper usually there is a 40% off coupon.
Maybe you could check the paper in the town you are going to.

can you order online from Joanns?? and do they serve us Canadians!!??

I don't know.
I looked on their website and didn't see anything about them shipping to Canada, but they do have a toll free number and you could call them and ask.

I like going to get fabric at Joann's, but you're right-- it is getting more $$. But it's still cheaper than the quilt store-- I know it's better quality, but sometimes I really cannot rationalize spending $20 on 2 yards of fabric.

And most independent quilt shops dont have sales more than once or twice a year (and then only on smaller cuts (like FQs) or HUGE amounts).

*sigh* :cry:

most of the time you can pick up a flyer right at Joanns that had coupons in it. This is what I have done.

I have noticed prices increasing at JoAnn's too. Sometimes I'll find the same line of fabric for 8.99 at JoAnn's at Walmart for 4.99. I think they just tend to price high though to compensate for the 40% coupons.

I wish my local shop would give us 35% off coupons! She does have reasonable prices for a shop, $8-$8.5o a yard, but I'd spend a heap load more there if she had more sales! :) I have two young children at home so I really have to budget as best I can.

We have a Beverly's shop here and they have coupons in the paper alot, and also accept Joann's coupons, which I think is very good of them. Their material is pricey, quilt shop quality.

I signed up for the mailer that lets me know what and when the sales are. I try to shop when they have a sale. I find that the coupon doesn't do me any good-everything is always "on sale". Once in a while I get to use the coupon but not often. This week they had warm and natural batting 50% off. I stocked up.

You can sign up online to receive their regular flyer with coupons in the mail and also get it online with printable coupons.

if you shop online, you can find most of those $9+ per yard fabrics for much lower prices, even when you factor in the shipping. i've seen prices vary by as much as $4 per yard for the same exact fabric.

if you see something you like for $9 per yard, go hunting online. 99% of the time you will find it for much less somewhere. :wink:

With gas prices headed for $4 a gallon, and diesel already at $4 a gallon, you should not be shocked that the price of everything is going up! It is far from over! This is the time for y'all to be making scrap quilts and doing the Quilt Challenge for 2008!

I believe most of Joann's fabrics are PB Textiles. I know that a lot of their fat quarters are, and the quality is not that great on many of their fabrics, even the $6.99 a yard stuff.

When you shop at a big store like Joann's you are paying for freight (diesel gas, not unleaded,) salaries, insurance, utilities, advertising, and lots of other costs that you are not paying if you order online from a small shop. A lot of the shops on the FabShopHop seem to be out of private homes. Those owners have wholesale or retail licenses, so they get to buy bolts of fabric from the manufacturers at very low prices. Same prices Joanns gets, but without the overhead.

Like Patrice said, even with shipping, you are going to pay less doing business with a small business owner.

Thanks folks, hopefully I'll pick up a flyer in Joann's on the day.

We have a Fabricland store where I live. In September you can buy a membership for $20.00 and during the year they have sales open only to membership, like this week, for three days there is 50% off in most of the store. I bought some fabric and nice pinking shears today. I have save quite a bit this way. On the other side of the river there is a Joann's store. I watch for sales there and don't find it too expensive that way.

You really have to check out http://www.thousandsofbolts.com it's an excellent shop although not much sale pieces.... Watch the board someone is always posting good sites and usually great prices.

I shop at Joann's alot. I wait for sales. Im sure the fabric at quilt shops is better quality but lets face it.... Most of us don't make money off the quilts that we make. lol so, I don't spend a forturn of fabric. I find alot of fabric at yard sales, flea markets, etc. You'd be surprised how many people want to get rid of their sewing stuff.
Judy in Ohio

It is getting to the point that we only have JoAnns as a place to purchase fabric in our county. The Walmarts in our area are getting out of the fabric business. We have just one real quilt shop and it is getting very expensive. I know that the oil prices are raising prices and the falling of the dollar world wide is also impacting prices in general. My local Bernina dealer warned me that machine prices will be going up since the dollar is no longer stronger than the Euro and other currencies.

Our JoAnns has begun to carry a better grade of quilting fabrics. They are more expensive but still less than the quilt shops. Often the coupons are not good for much because everything is on sale. I always manage to find something to use mine. Thread, patterns, notions or if I am lucky fabric or batting. If nothing else I get the savings on a quilt or sewing magazine.

I have actually resorted to shopping in my stash for my latest projects.

Mpspeedy

I usually only buy fabric at Joanns if it's on sale or if I really really need it. lol. It can get really pricey sometimes.

I recently bought kids flannel at JoAnns for a rag quilt. After I washed it to fray the seams the JoAnns flannel pilled horrible. It really took away from the beauty of the quilt. I learned my lesson, I am staying away from their flannel even when it is one sale and with a coupon.

I agree with you on the problem with Joann's flannel. I paid their asking price for a huge amount (approx 50 yards) of flannel to make quilts for a bunch of kiddos in our family. I was making rag quilts and the flannel needed to be washed and dried before cutting. Well, let me tell you, I had the worst pile of pilled flannel I've ever seen. No matter what I did with it, it continued to look terrible. It even felt terrible. Now, on the other hand, I've gone to the local Walmart and spent $2.57 a yard for their flannel and had the best luck with it fluffing up and handling very nice. So my strong advice on Joann's flannel is to buy a small amount and play with it before buying a bunch.

Hi,

I haven't had to much trouble with JoAnn's flannel but I only buy the kind that says not suitable for children's sleepwear. The other kind has polyster in it and that is why it pills. I had a commission for a baby quilt for a friend of my daughter. I asked the employees at JoAnn's why the supposedly child safe flannel said only "fire resistant". It was not guarenteed safe. They only knew that it would take longer to burn. The stuff with poly in it would probably melt which might burn worse than the cotton as it would stick to the skin.

I have had the same problem with sheets that are part poly. My step-son wanted Pack Man sheets back when they were real popular. After I went to the trouble to get him a set he stopped using them after a couple of washings. They got nasty pills on them that actually irritated his skin.

We live and learn.

mpspeedy

Mpspeedy- thank you for that information, a very good tidbit to keep in mind :)