I just got back from my LQS and one employee told me that quilt fabric just rose another 30% last month. I could not tell it from the prices in the store. Most fabric prices there were between $8.99 and $10.00. I understand this shop owner does not raise the price of existing fabric in the shop, but when new fabric comes in, she has to mark it with the new raise in price.

Stock up when you can! Pretty soon we will know how it felt "back in the days" when our grand parents & great grand parents had to make due. I already hit the thrift stores for fabric & clothes to take apart to use for fabric. Im afraid we have become spoiled, and now with the way things are, we are going to be forced to either cut back, make due or work more over time.

Most of the shops out here are over $10 a yard and some are up to $11.99.

I do not like shops that mark old stuff up to the newer prices and claim that shipping costs are forcing them to do it. If something has been in their shop for 2 years, it should be less.

However, it is their business and my friends and I just do not buy from them like we used to.

Here in Bellingham we have a couple shops that still have fabrics under $9 a yard. I shop sales only. I like $6 or less.

Boy by the looks of it we will have to get creative on where to find the best buys. If we do not buy they will have to come down on prices.

The price of everything goes up, it's a simple fact of life. If you can't afford it, don't buy it. Easy to do for fabric, not so easy for electricity.

I'd be willing to bet that a 'fabric boycott' has a zero percent chance of ever driving prices down, though it may force manufacturers to close, people to lose their jobs, and the supply of available goods to shrink...thus driving the price up, not down, until the market dies. :(

Luckily, there is a store near me that still has most of its fabric priced at approx. $7.50, with sales in the $4.50 range. I also have enough stash to last me for many years, if necessary, thank goodness ;-)

I'm also wondering how the increases in cotton prices are going to translate to RTW.

I feel badly for the LQS as well. I'm sure the increase in prices will lower their sales.

I think we may all need to move to Arizona!

:-D

I can see prices going up at the fabric store I shop at and yet Connecting Threads lowered their prices. It doesn't make sense to me.

I really think it is the fact that we can purchase our fabrics on-line (with often better selections, better pricing, and occasionally free shipping) that is driving the cost of fabric up at our LQS. They have to charge more because they have so much overhead. I only shop when I need something quickly and cannot wait for it in the mail. Otherwise, I shop on-line. It is convenient and less expensive. The quilt stores really need to promote classes to boost sales.