What do you buy at Quilt Shows?
 

I'm headed to Hershey tomorrow with my guild on a bus trip to the quilt show. I'm thinking about what I want to buy, what I'm looking for and what I need. I asked my friend this question and she said nothing in particular and that was dangerous! Hahaha! I know one thing whatever money I take with me won't be coming home with me!


Do you go to shows with a list or a plan or do you buy whatever catches your fancy?

I plan on picking up some thread from superior, some pantographs and look at some rulers. I carry a tote bag with the rule that once it is full I am done shopping.......btw, you can stuff alot of things into a tote bag :p

A lot of the booths there have special pricing, so it would save money and allow me to buy more.....sigh, this is very dangerous

A bit of both ....

I went to Paducah one year and specifically wanted a large cutting mat, the "clear" type. Got a good deal on one made by Beba.

I also went with a shopping trip to Hancock's of Paducah high on my list as I heard the sales were to die for (and they were!).

I went to DesMoines another year specifically to see the Egyptian quilters and their quilts, and hopefully purchase one. I bought TWO!!

All the other shows I went to (as well as the two above), I also made purchases of things that just caught my fancy. With the exception of purchasing the fabric in Paducah at Hancocks and other shops outside of the "show", I don't buy cotton quilting fabric at the vendors in the show. I've not seen prices that are any cheaper than I can get at my LQS.

It depends. Sometimes I have a certain fabric theme that I look for such as when I made an all polk a dot quilt. Sometimes I just wait to see what moves me! At one show this year I ended up buying some special pendants to be made into a necklace and I don't even make jewelry:) I have band myself from buying anymore specialty rulers, I've learned they are not for me. Have fun, don't stress!

What a great question!!! I'm headed from Mexico (where quilting notions are not to be found) to the Atlanta, Ga show in Mid Sept. It'll be my first one. Since I'm relatively new to quilting, I'm debating Amazon buys or wait until I see what to get at the show. I'd like opinions about which place to buy the Brother PQ1500S - Amazon or wait for the quilt show? How about notions?

I always take 2 list, my I need list, and my want list. My need list has things like needles, bobbins, and thread for my long arm. Thing's that I will have to order because they are not carried locally. I put the price for these items on the list too, including shipping. A few times I have just come home and ordered it anyway. because the show price and the order price including shipping were the same. It depends on which vendor I deal with at the show. My want list is for those thing's I have seen and really would like to try but just can't bring myself to pay the price for, and think I may find less costly at the show. RIGHT what was I thinking? LOL While at the show if I see something I think I want I make a note of cost,what it is, and what booth it is in. After making the rounds, I sit down have something to eat and a cold drink, than ask myself, do I really want it and would I use it. This cuts down on impulse buying. Not as much buyers remorse on the trip home. LOL

Mostly gadgets and patterns I can't find locally, sometimes fabric but thats rare unless I have a project in mind. I also tend to buy kits I can't find locally.

I would take my iPad and compare prices online after I left the booth, of course. If it was a bargain I'd go back, if not no problem.

I do buy unusual type fabrics at quilt shows things I don't see everywhere. I have a list of needs, but if something sends me over the moon I forget about the needs list. LoLol

I like to talk to people too, I had a nice discussion with John Flynns daughter about the virtues of 301A sewing machines at the last show I attended. She was piecing on a 301 exactly like mine. She was a very sweet person.

Friend of mine takes her iPad with her. We went to one here in February! She compared the prices at the show with what she would find on her iPad. She has her iPad in one hand and credit card in the other. She even makes a list on the iPad on Evernote. She works that thing like nobody's business.