I agree with ghostrider. Lots of times it depends on the circumstances, the quilt and the timing.

I buy from Fabric. com and I am about to order from Connecting Threads. I have a quilt I am presently working on, so not shopping right now. I do buy from Joann's and Hancock, when DH and I travel to visit with our children and grandbabies. I just make quilts, for family. I too look for bargains. There is some really expensive fabric, and some reasonable. I find fabric.com and Connecting Threads to be reasonable. I get my backings from AAA quilter supplies. I pay around $9.95-$12.95 for a yd of 118". What's left over, I use for something else

I was working helping a friend who is closing her shop and she said suggested retail is $10.50 a yard for fabric.

I think "fair" is partially determined by how YOU perceive the value. We're all willing -or not - to pay a particular price for a particular piece of fabric. Just like with a car, or a piano or whatever. Prices are going to range from a dollar or two to over ten dollars a yard. If you like it and it's worth it to you, it's fair. If not, just don't buy it.

Check on line, connecting threads, hancock, there is a LOT of fabric for much better prices, Yes LQS need to stay in business but many of us cannot afford that much. I make great quilts and buy end of bolts (usually 1/2 price) or fabric on sale.

Our LQS charges average between $10 - $16 a meter, I always shop around JoAnn's, people on here de-stashing, I watch the sales online at Connecting Threads, Keepsake, Fabrics, etc I tend to buy a lot of my fabric in the US because it is significantly cheaper down there. I don't know where you live but there is Franks Bargain Center in NH that carries a lot of the designer labels and he charges between $3 a yard up to $7 a yard he has an eBay site as well. I think for good quality fabric a good price would be about $7 a yard.

Thanks! I have decided I love Moda fabric...lol. Every pattern I say Ooooh to is usually Moda. I have several patterns on my wishlist so far...Hometown by Sweetwater and Puttin' On the Ritz are my first two buys once payday gets here.

I can't answer your question, but I rarely buy fabric from the Hancock's and Hobby Lobby in my city anymore. I almost (notice I said almost) buy exclusively from www.connectingthreads.com now. They have (in my humble opinion) the best quality quilting fabrics and collections, with the best threads to match, and free shipping if you buy a certain amount (and I always do.) They are always having sales, they have fat quarters, strips, charms, etc. and they have "collections" that coordinate. I have never been unhappy with any purchase from them. They always send plenty of fabric. If I order 2 yards I get just a little over and almost never have much, if any, trimming to do. They guarantee all purchases, even after the fabric has been cut. No, I don't work for them...lol. I am just really happy with their products and their service. I never have to wait long, usually within a week or less. Their prices are great, too.

I buy fabric from Connecting Threads...I also buy their cotton thread.

You cannot compare JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby as having what is coined "good quality" fabric with LQS who carry name brands.

As far as LQS goes at ours in a neighboring town I haven't seen any "good quality" fabric for over $11.98 a yard. She tries to keep it low compared to other retailers and LQS within a 50 mile radius and probably why she is doing so well. And what is higher priced is the wider fabric.

Usually really good quality fabric can be bought on SALE at about $3.95 to $5.95 a yard but it is as I said good quality.

I base good quality on the thickness of the fabric. If I hold it to the light and I can see light than it is not good quality. Also the feel of the fabric will give you an idea of good quality.

I use to think of fabric as to expensive but I also learned quickly that if you want something to look nice you must spend more for a better quality of fabric. You can find good quality fabric for quilting for about $5.95 a yard if you do your research.

I do quite a bit of buying online with a handful of sellers that have a small LQS in there area and even shipping it here it is still cheaper than paying over $6 a yard. And I do spend quite a bit at the local LQS and pay anywhere from $2.98 a yard to as high as $7.98 a yard. I can't recall buying any I like there for over $7.98 a yard. I usually maintain up to $5.98 a yard though in that LQS.

In searching locally for good quality fabric I have had some luck in thrift stores and yes even one of the Walmarts in a neighboring town by buying the whole bolt at $1.50 a yard but that is not not always.

i buy remnants of good quality cottons from local shops as they tend to be more expensive...for instance, batiks. but i also use hancock fabrics and joann fabrics and hobby lobby only when i get a coupon of 40-50% off..this is usually a pretty good deal too! then, i also order skinny bolts from eleanor burns/quilt in a day online store and i use the sales online from connecting threads-free shipping. experience in buying fabrics and notions helps but most helpful is to plan what you need in detail then shop around-stores and online before spending a dime.

I have found the patterns that I love and I am trying to price each store, though some don't carry all that I am looking for. But it seems for a layer cake, 2 charm packs, 3 yards of fabric, the price is about $85 either way I go. Is that bad? It is Moda all around.

Sorry Rose but I have to disagree with you about cotton prices. From several different sources I get the same story, China and India are beginning to have a middle class who want cotton items and that drives the prices up and also weather conditions can cause a problem with how much cotton is grown in a year.

I buy from my lqs to support my community and because the lqs owner supports the economy of my community. Buying on line supports the economy and community of someplace I don't live and/or work. I feel $9-11 is fair for good quality fabric, which in my opinion, isn't found in Joann's, Wal-Mart or Hobby Lobby. Also, I find that those "Mart" stores are not a whole lot cheaper that my lqs.

My only quilt shop charges between 12-14.00 US for their fabrics...always the newest on the market. So the price you noted was pretty much the going rate in this area. Now, Walmart and Joann's have some at 5-9.00 a yard...but it's hit and miss, and usually not the newest on the market...sometimes, it's last years designs.

Your local quilt shops also provide a lot more service (mine does) than the big box stores.

Where do you find coupons?

You don't say where you're from so determining prices is hard to tell. Assuming that you live in the USA, that's a pretty normal price. Is it a good price? No, but it is what it is.

There are several ways to get fabric cheaper. If you live anywhere near Batesville, Arkansas or can plan a vacation in that area, go to Marshall's Dry Goods (they also sell online).
Scrounge thrift stores and garage sales---I've gotten some fabulous buys there. Large or XL Men's 100% cotton shirts can yield a pretty fair amount of fabric. Put the word out that you're quilting. It may take awhile but sooner or later someone will be cleaning house or cleaning out an estate and give you a call when they come across tons of fabric that they don't know what to do with. Watch auction ads, sometimes they have fabric.

Thanks! I live in Middle Tennessee, close to Nashville.

You all make good points about supporting local businesses etc. It all depends upon what I need and how far I can stretch the social security check! That time of the month has a whole different meaning these days! I love Connecting Threads, Fabric.com and Beverly's (instant 30% off for online shopping!). I do love my lqs. I have the best in the country but sometimes they get just tooo$$$ for us old fixed income people. WalMart is good. I am cautious about JoAnne's due to quality issues. Fortunately, I am good neighbors with Fabric Depot too. OMG that place is heaven at least once a month!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fabric.com! I've ordered from them for years and only had one mistake (which they allowed me to keep as they sent me the corect material), one piece that wasn't what I thought it was and they told me to keep it, too, and only one fabric that wasn't up to "my standards" which they let me return AND paid the returned postage. They are awesome. Another hint . . . if you don't have a 15% discount, check on line for the current code. Sometimes, someone will post it and you can get an additional 15% off once you get your order to $35 to qualify for free shipping. I can't let myself go on their website too often as I spend too much:-((

The patterns I am wanting, Fabric.com does not have. :( I found all of them at Missouri Quilting Company though. Grand total is $85, give or take some.

A local quilt shop just went out of business - they started out at 30% off - then 40% off and then 50% off. I bought some fabric at every discount. The last time that I went (50% off) I heard the owner tell a relative that he was now at COST. So, if the fabric is $10 a yard - that means that it cost them $5 a yard. A $5 a yard profit seems excessive to me.

Fabric Discounts
 

Go to retailmenot.com and enter in whatever site you want to find a discount for. The codes will come up along wth your chance of success using them. Fabric.com is there. Have fun!

I personally did not like the fabric at Hobby Lobby but whatever suits your fancy is what you go with. Make sure the fabrics you buy does not have an odor and is of good quality if you buy from a fabric store.

Connecting Threads sells fabric for between $4 and $6 per yard and it is first quality cotton. They design their own fabric lines (with kits and precuts for each line) so all the middle-man add-ins are nonexistent. They have stupendous customer service - I have been an online/mail order customer of their for over 13 years.

50% markup is about average
 

$5/yard profit is not excessive. Remember - there are other expenses involved in running a quilt store than just the cost of the fabric. Many retail places double the wholesale cost to get the selling price.

I have purchased some fabric from connectingthreads.com recently and love it. Very good quality and inexpensive...between $4.96-$6.96 a yard. I also shop at my local joanns & hobby lobby. If i can't find what I want I head to my lqs.

I agree. Connecting threads fabrics & threads r very good quality at very good prices.

You can find some good fabric online at any number of online sites at reasonable prices. I like fabric depot, fabric.com, Connecting Threads and even Hancock Fabrics. I've gotten good fabric at reasonable prices. If you shop Connecting Threads don't ignore their clearance, i've gotten some nice fabric through there.

That's not the actual profit though. From that $5 bucks a yard subtract building rent, heating and cooling, phone, multiple taxes, insurance, advertising, internet access, web site hosting, employee wages if you have any, etc, etc. After you subtract all your expenses then you find out what your actual profit or loss is.

One of my friends had a quilt store. Her first year income was about $70,000.00. She lost $1200.00. And she did not take a dime in wages nor did she have outside employees.

I am looking forward to next Monday when I hope to shop at my LQS since DD will be out of town. I am not sure if I will buy anything yet since I am to have surgery on the 18th and won't know how long I will be unable to sit and sew. But I am hoping just a week, no more than two. I am excited to start my first actual quilt...have 2 drawn out and colors picked. I have fabric picked out too but want to see what my store has to offer before I purchase online.

Since you are just beginning, you might make some costly mistakes if you spend too much on any fabric. However, after you gain some confidence consider how much time and effort you will be putting into a quilt and buy the best you can afford. I consider $10.00 a yard a fair price, but always look for sales. Experience will teach you.

The $5 mark up covers the rent and maintenance of the shop, taxes for property and business, insurance, power, heat and wages and labor and industries costs for the labor. Possibly somewhere in the grand scheme of the LQS
business a profit is made. At the cost of UPS and Fed Ex which are the most common shippers in our area there is a large charge for shipping. All in all, I think that the vast majority of small business owners are trying to be fair and still be able to have profitability for themselves. You pay for the personal service you find in a LQS. I don't see a large chain store ordering in a bolt of fabric because one person wants 2 yards to finish their quilt.It happens more than you think in a LQS.

I buy the web specials from Hancock of Paduca.I never buy from Jo Anns the quality is just not there.and the fading is so evident after just a few washings.The web specials come in 3 different price ranges but the quality is tops I stay in the 7 dollar range for batiks and 4 dollar range for other fabrics .They have never disappointed me.