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Quote:

Originally Posted by SewingSew (Post 7619229)

Like many of you, I'm sure, I am amazed by the prices that I see on notions and thread and fabric. Yesterday, I was at a quilting site looking for fabric and I saw something that I liked. Then I saw the price on it--$59 a yard. I was stunned! Who would pay that price? I bought a stiletto for $10.00 a couple of weeks ago, but I used a coupon. It was nothing more than a stick with two pointed ends. I see a lot of overpriced items when I shop for notions. It's unreasonable.

What is the most you've ever spent for a yard of fabric? Back in the 70's, we used to hit the remnants counter and find amazing deals. I'd spend my babysitting money to make a shirt or a skirt or a dress; that's how affordable it was then. I can't be the only person that thinks some of these prices are ridiculous. It used to be that people sewed to save money. Now you have to mortgage your house to shop at a fabric store.

The fabric may have been a Japanese import or specialty fabric. Fabric prices have risen from back in the day, but there are quilters who will frequent thrift stores and repurpose fabric. I have some decent fabric but still have to occasionally pick up solids or white on white prints. I was able to purchase the white on white from fabric.com at a reasonable price for 108 inches wide, but I think the white on white I bought from Joann Fabrics was a nicer quality. Just not available in the 108 inches. I got a percent off sale price, and I believe it was under $4 a yard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SewingSew (Post 7619229)

-$59 a yard. I was stunned! Who would pay that price?

Depends on what it is. I once paid $35 a yard for some absolutely drool-worthy Italian silk and made a dress shirt for my husband. I had a 40% off coupon and put back everything else that was in my cart. It had a beautiful drape and was totally worth it.

$59 a yard sounds more like the prices I've seen on upholstery and home dec fabric!

I mostly use fabric from my stash, when I do buy I tend to buy from sales at on-line fabric stores or eBay and try not to pay more than $5 per yard. I've been lucky in hitting up the remnants bins at my LQS and also JoAnns, but don't do that very often as I just don't have room to store as much fabric as I'd like to have LOL.

Rob

Photography, woodworking, and painting is much more expensive then quilting according to my friends who do those. I think knitting, crocheting, or needlework is the least expensive. That's why when my kids were small crocheting and knitting were my creative outlet. I could buy yarn at the grocery store then! and have a nice sweaters, hat, scarf, and mittens for the kids too.

I second shopping at thrift stores. I never go anywhere else if I can help it.

I use sheets for backing and binding. Sometimes I can score good sheets for under a dollar.

I buy cotton shirts with neat prints or plaid ones just dirt cheap.

My favorite thing is to buy hideous comforters, remove the fabric and use the inside for batting. I've already saved a small fortune on batting. Plus I can use the fabric to make test garments when sewing apparel or if it's not too bad I can make curtains out of it or something.

I spent $12.99 a yard for some "I absolutely have to have that" fabric! Bought 3+ yards. Haven't touched it yet. Not sure I will....too expensive to mess up!! I usually buy on sale, or with a coupon. I also miss the days of making skirts and jackets and vests from $1 and $2 remnants!!

I made an awesome peplum jacket out of a curtain I bought at a garage sale (back when I was about 18 so a few years ago) and all my friends and family started calling me Scarlett. They were some of the ugliest curtains you can imagine, but they made an AWESOME dress jacket.

If you're in the Claremont area try Frank's Bargain Center. He doesn't have a website but does sell on Ebay.

In my local area in UK prices for fabric are high, $24 upwards. The shops do sell off ends of rolls or fabric which was not popular. I tend to shop in our local Abakan which sells off cuts at cheaper rates. I find notions are expensive as well with no cheap outlets. Knitting and crochet are also expensive. It is cheaper th buy a sweater than knit one.

Even the fabric at my beloved Mary Jo's has become very expensive, especially since her family took over!