A blurb in the newspaper from a LQS said thread will be going up $1 a spool in January, so stock up now. I'm going in tomorrow to buy myself a gift certificate - they offer 15% off when used, so I'll check on the thread.

Good plan!

Great idea :!:

Good thing I recently stocked up from Connecting Threads and ThreadArt.

the problem with stocking up (stock piling at least)is that the tread eventually dry rots and breaks up when used. That takes years so don't panic, but don't buy enough for the rest of your life!

It sounds like everything will be going up. That will be alot of shopping and stocking. Thanks for the heads up on thread.
Quilting is already an expensive hobby. What are they trying to do to us. :evil:

Quilting is a very expensive hobby. I don't buy spools of thread, there is just not enough on them for what you pay for them. (walmart spools $1.94) I have been using cones. The cones are abot $10 each, but there is actually enough on them to last for awhile :)

I only buy small spools for special projects when I know I won't need much thread for the project. I use cone thread for everything else....it is the best buy for the money.

See, I'd be asking if that applies to all spools in the store, or just the NEW spools. Because those old spools didn't suddenly cost them more. :roll:

Yeah, I know they're trying to increase revenue, but stuff like that just drives me crazy.

If cotton fabric is increasing, I am not surprised to hear that cotton thread is too :(

It's not about increasing revenue. It's about being able to replace inventory. It doesn't matter what the purchase price of the item was 6 months ago. It does matter what the purchase price is today.

Um, you replace inventory from the profits from prior sales. If you haven't been selling the product at current prices - so you are constantly churning your inventory (it's officially called inventory turnover) - the owner's problem is NOT the price of thread going up next year. It's much bigger. Increasing the cost is NOT going to sell the product faster to get her $$ to buy new product. If she hasn't sold it yet, then she hasn't recouped her investment from when she first bought it 6 months ago. She's still out that cash.

And let's face it, many, not all, shop owners are clueless as business owners. They might be fantastic quilters, but have no concept of cash flow, inventory management, marketing, etc. They think all their quilting friends will come shop there and that's enough to sustain the business. And then are stunned when they can't make rent or buy new inventory.
Pretty basic.

Just wait until you see what cotton BATTING does!

I don't have the money to run out and stock up on everything that is going up in price. Look at the price of gas. It is now $3.00 a gallon here in MD. And seems like it goes up every week. Food prices have gone up quickly and are going up again after this crazy weather we are having. That being said, I do have a little stockpile of thread--I bought 9 spools last month from Connecting threads. It was up .50 a spool from last year. I have a few bolts of fabric stashed away. I am not planning to spend much next year on fabric or anything that is involved in quilting unless I need it to finish a quilt. I will be stashbusting.

Hopefully I'll use it before that happens. But does it also rot after being used in a quilt?

I use ThreadArt as well. Great products, way less cost than other threadsets from mainline brands.

Explosive blessings, abundance and inspiration to you all!
- The Creative Seamstress

Good question. I'll be waiting on that answer.

When I have cotton thread that wants to break easily when I try to sew with it, I stick it in a plastic bag and place it in the deep freezer overnight (and, yes, my husband gives me funny looks). When it defrosts it becomes very pliable again. Hey, stock up girls and guys - just leave room in the freezer for it LOL.

HI Shelley. Geeee I can hardly wait. I bet it will be outragious. :shock:

Kim - I stocked up for all my customers before the prices went up - you should see the rolls in my studio. My customers won't see an increase for at least a year! I'm hoping the cotton market recovers before then.

Poly thread will last longer then dirt. Good cotton thread will last for many decades. I have cotton thread on spools from my great grandmother and it's still as strong as ever. If you are worried about long term storage put the thread in a vacuum seal bag

Guess I better buy a few spools!

Oh no, seems like everything we quilters buy is going up in price.

I new you were the best. That just proves it. :thumbup:

Put your cotton thread in the freezer to bring it back to life. Old time remedy.

Will the price increases ever stop?! GRRRRR

I know exactly how you feel! I LOVE quilt stores and yesterday my sister and I went to Oklahoma Quiltworks where I bought her a new quilt book for Christmas. Then we drove to Prairie Quilts in Hennessy, Oklahoma where I bought her a gift certificate for the store. I was sooooo tempted to buy a ton of fabric but I managed to stick to 1/2 yard of red batik for a quilt I have planned and 1 yard of fabric for an apron for my son for Christmas. I have so many patterns and quilt kits that I've purchased the last couple of years that my goal this year is to finish the 3 quilts I've started and ONLY sew from my stash and hopefully the quilt kits I have already! I did break down and also purchase 6 spools of thread from Hancocks this week because they had 400 yd spools of white or black for only $1.39 a spool. (And...off the subject...my goal is to improve my machine quilting on my home sewing machine so I can finish the quilts I'm piecing.)

I think I'm going to order me some big spools!!!!

I bought a spool of dual duty yesterday. It only had 250 yds and cost $2.65 +.16 tax for a total of $2.81. I am going to empty all my old spools before shopping again. I saw some fabrics (batiks) that were 15.99 a yd. Guess my quilts will be scrappy.

Home Sew and Newark Dressmakers supply web sites have good deals on large spools of thread. I think I am well stocked after getting an order earlier this year. For bobbin thread and fancier stuff I go to the Superior web site. It does pay to buy in bulk. Still I am still surprised at how fast I can run one of those big cones out...

Joann's will be having a sale beginning December 30 and ALL THREAD IS 1/2 OFF thru January 2, 2011.

MTS you hit the nail on the head with your comments regarding quilt shop owners and their lack of business know-how!!! It is exactly the reason so many lqs are failing.

I just ordered thread from Connecting Threads, also. I received an email from them announcing that, due to the increase in cotton prices, they will be increasing the price on their fabrics. I guess we all should try to stock up on some fabric and that isn't easy for those of us on limited incomes.

What is the best thread to buy? Cotton, polyester, Guterman's, Coats & Clarks? I began learning to quilt (self-taught, w/help from you all) this year and am still learning a lot about fabrics and threads. How many of you use the large cones of thread? I just ordered a thread stand from Connecting Threads and am considering trying the large cones.

I use the large cones most of the time. But still do use the Star and coats and Clark spools too.

Thread drying up doesn't need to be a problem. If you put your older thread in a baggy and place it in your frezzer, when you take it out it will be restored to its original strength.

You can bet that anything with cotton in it, i.e. thread, will go up next year. Thats a sad fact, but one we will all have to deal with.

Lanny

Is the question: What's the best thread to buy?
Or: What's the best thread to buy at Joann's? :wink:

I find the best values in thread selection at Joann's are:

Coats & Clarks Cotton 1200yd #50 spools. They retail for $5/spool but are almost always on sale (40% or 50% off) or couponable (my word). They are a bit linty but you can't beat the price. I use this for piecing all the time. It's also great QAYG work - not the quilting, but the joining of the blocks.

Signature threads - my Joann's had a nice display of different variegated threads. I think there some poly, triglobal (?) or something like that, and cotton. The retail prices ranged from $5-$8, but I bought a bunch of the cotton spools when there was a BOGO. The cotton spool is 500 yds #40. I stocked up on Primary/Brights.

I don't do any embroidery so I can't speak about the rayons.

Connecting Threads cotton threads are a GREAT value, and I don't think you'll beat their prices on cones - especially if you've already invested in a thread stand.

Off the subject. Try the batiks at connecting threads. If i counted correctly there are over 30 different ones. I think they are $6.99 a yard. I am wanting to try them. If I get ambition enough next year I want to try them in a quilt for my son and his wife. I am hoping they will put them on sale next summer so I can get them at a discount.

I should have also added that with the coupon, you can get an additional 10% off your total purchases at Joann's. I think it is worth a trip and a look. Good time to stock up on thread. I know that Walmart can be less expensive but they have limited their color and size selection.