Living in Vanuatu, where we had NO access to any fabric or notions, except cheap Chinese (which I learned with), I always loaded an extra suitcase to take back when I visited the US. I couldn't get most on-line shops to send there, and the duty and postage would have cost a fortune, anyway. Even paying excess baggage, the cost per yard wasn't that much-besides, I always bought on sale, or with coupons. Australia and New Zealand which are not far from Vanuatu were really expensive-like $25.00/mtr back then. I amassed a huge stash bringing back a suitcase full every year, and then hauled every scrap back to the US when we moved back here a couple years ago! Last year when in Australia, I went into a LQS, drooled on the fabrics, and just could not bring myself to pay that much money!! We are so lucky here in the US, despite complaining about $9.00-12.00/yard!

a note to all in foreign countries--the U.S. dollar is so low now, especially against the Aussy $, it would pay to get fabric on-line from US shops and have it sent!! Your currency will go much further buying here now. Even paying overseas postage and probably duty (if you have it), it would still be less expensive to buy with your favorable exchange rate. I am sure if you had to have it sent to a US address, people on this board will be willing to forward it on to you--I know I would.

Eak. Hancock's has a 40% coupon in their mailer right now through March 14 - get on their list if you are not already...

thats crazy! i am so glad with the power of the internet i can find those same fabrics at $7.95 (which is what my local quilt shop charges for 98% of their name brand- quilting cottons) on up- and if i look for sales i can get them even lower- if i were still there & saw those prices i would head for the door- and probably (off-handedly) mention it's time to turn on the computer & get what i need- it's like gas prices! going crazy- too bad some lqs' dont even try to stay competitive- then wonder why they are getting less & less customers.

I just bought a bunch of new batiks from Fabric Depot.com....great pricing and they ship really quickly...and the fabric is wonderful!

you must be shopping in canada!! ha ha ha!!!

Last week I was in Atlanta visiting my daughter and family, and went to two wonderful shops. One was the Atlanta Sewing Center. I cannot remember the name of the other, but it was in the Sandy Springs/Buckhead area. They both had the most wonderful fabrics I've ever seen. I bought about 15 yards at the ASC, and most of it was 40% off (resulting in about $6.00 a yard). One piece of yardage was regular price, but I got the end of bolt 15% discount. At the second shop I didn't buy any fabric, but they had awesome stuff, and it was all 60 inches wide for $13.00 a yard. A little steep, but the 60 inch width factored in it really wasn't too bad. I am continually astounded at the prices going up so high at JoAnnes, where their fabric generally is not the quality you find at quilt shops. Seems that while their fabric doesn't match up to the quality at LQS their prices sure do.

Yes. It makes me scared to lay my rotary cutter against my ruler....what if I make a mistake? It will be an expensive one. Honestly, for me it take some of the joy away from quilting.

I am really trying not to buy any fabric, but I finished a quilt kit I have had for years and needed a binding. I have not been to JoAnns in quiet some time and got sticker shock. I did find what I needed for my binding, and it was on sale.

I work in a quilt shop and our most expensive are batiks at $12.50. Even with my employee discount I am not buying.