quilter101, the most wonderful quilts i have ever snuggled with were scrappies made with cut up clothes. such a wonderful selection of fabrics. thrift stores, garage sales. many times when i tell the garage sale proprietor that i am making a quilt and including their skirt in the fabrics they will throw in a bunch more stuff. especially on the last day of the sale. it's great!!!!! quilters are champion recyclers. :wink:

Tell your parents you need a raise!!!

And there is nothing at all wrong with going to thrift shops, yard sales, etc. I probably have enough fabric to least two lifetimes BUT there is always some fabric that I find that I just can't live without.... :roll: :roll:

Bluechicken, I TOTALLY feel your pain. I LOVE this board but am green with envy every time I read a post about how cheap someone got their fabric.

My Aunt is an all round sewer, she says that the price of Fabric in the UK reflects

A) the people who buy it - tends to be more 'mature' women who are usually retired and have a comfortable income of life savings + pension, kids have left home, mortgage is paid off, not a lot of financial outgoings. I.E They can afford it!!

B) Popularity: fabric shops and haberdasheries used to be commonplace, as it used to be cheaper to make your own clothes. Now clothes are made in Asia and cost next to nothing, no one needs to buy fabric any more.

I wish I lived about 30 years ago!

Bluechicken, Prettykitty and others--I feel so sad for you :cry:

I have at least a dozen quilt shops within an hour or so drive from my house-each having their own "style". I am able to shop their sales and check out their bargain rooms. I would LOVE to shop for you and help you out in any way I can. Just ask Quilter1962--she will tell you that I purchased fabric at a great price and shipped it to the UK for her. (My LQS was having a $1 fat quarter sale!!) PLEASE-PM me if you would like to take me up on my offer-it is sincere.

When I see good fabric on sale I buy it. I have reason to think the price of good cotton fabric will reach $15 and more a yard in a couple of years. And then production will come to a standstill, no demand for it at that price which means no selection to pick from. Remember when cotton fabric was all calico? Any hobby you have, I think it would be a good idea to stock up on basic supplies you need to enjoy it while they are available and affordable. Just my opinion. :?

BellaBoo, I think you are right in thinking prices will only go up! When is the last time you saw something decrease in price!
The biggest problem is that I ALWAYS see something gorgeous in the stores, and NEED (?) it! Then I Have to have the right fabrics to go with it! It is a compulsion. I could sew all day everyday for a year and not use up what I already have! :?
I DO like good feeling nice fabrics, and don't want to waste my time with starched muslin or cheesecloth for my quilts. Even for charity quilts I feel bad if I don't think they are going to hold up to much abuse.

When I buy expensive fabric, I usually buy it because of the design as opposed to just the quality. I would be so upset if I couldn't get the "good" stuff anymore. I wouldn't be able to afford much at $15 a yard. Yikes!

I already try to stretch my dollar by buying a small amount of the expensive ones and then mixing it with a sheet from Goodwill, or some less expensive mixers.

I guess we don't know how lucky we have it sometimes until we hear how much some of you have to pay for fabric....WOW :(
We are so big on yard sales / garage sales / rummage sales here do you do that in New Zealand or other countries?? I know some people made out like bandits at my sale last fall...got rid of all kinds of craft supplies that I am no longer interested in, since becoming so interested in quilting. Had to clear out my space for a material stash :D

I am SO lucky that my WalMart still carries fabric. I got several pieces at $2 a yard and 1 piece at $1.50!! All are 100% cotton and feels like the more expensive stuff....

oh lucky you! None of the Walmarts around me carry material anymore :(