tessagin

if a vendor has anything that quilting affects such as sore body parts then it's considered quilt related. Sore muscles=vibration!!

playswithcolor

I always stock up on blades at the Martelli booth and make sure I visit Superior Threads and Aurafil booths. Anything else is out of a preset impulse purchase budget.

RedGarnet222

Our quilt guild always has a re-sale booth that is items the members sell quite reasonable. There is everything from machines to patterns. I love a good bargain and buy from them. I enjoy the coupons on the back of the program that has discounts for the local shops too.

If I have a quilt in mind that I need to buy for, I will stick to the needed yardage for that. Sometimes a vender from another state has very different yardage than what you can find locally. But, I confess, I have impulse buys in my bags when I get home as well.

sewingstash

I usually look for unusually good deals on fabric, kits & stuff. Sometimes I see a neat pattern that I've never seen before that I get. Once I got singer antique featherweight supplies at the Houston quilt festival. Then there are times that I watched a demo and purchased the item. I always went home with treasures!

Girlfriend

I do this too, and don't forget to ask if you can take a picture of it, since you are buying the pattern.

Be sure to check out the Kai Scissors booth, they are awesome scissors and rotary cutters.

AZ Jane

I do a lot of hand sewing, because I like to but I found this little gizmo that goes into the hole of the spool of thread. It is a magnet (mine are green), it was about $2 and holds your needle so you don't stick it into the arm of my chair. I just love it!!

Mariposa

Wear comfy shoes, and bring small snacks in your purse. You may be there a while! I look for things I can't get locally, or needing for a project. I try to get things on sale too. Have fun!

Sewnoma

I'm always looking for the killer deals. I'm hunting for those clearance racks and bins for the most part, and also checking out special bundles and deals put together for the show. I usually won't buy fabric unless it's at a pretty good discount and is at least a 1-yard cut, unless it's something really unique or special.

Last year I bought an Olfa chenille kit - came with the cutter, a case for the cutter, the brush, and some basic patterns; I paid $18 for it. That was a good deal!

I hunt for Aurifil thread at a discount, if I can find a color I don't have for $8 or less it's mine.

I'm also looking for the handmade stuff - always drooling over hand dyed fabrics (though usually too rich for my blood), looking for handmade jewelry, etc. One of my most expensive single purchases at a big quilt show was a silver bracelet made with vintage glass buttons, made by a lady from Texas. Not technically quilt related I suppose but I like it a lot.

I like watching demos and I looove playing with the long arm machines, even though I'm nowhere near being ready to buy one. I like to dream though! I like watching the robot-driven long arms too - I don't want one of those but I like watching them work.

tron80

Lynne, enjoy your visit!!!

Boston1954

I have to get fabric that I will not see again in person. If it is a shop from several states away, I want to see what they have. I like buying online, but seeing it in person is so much better. I also would want to look at patterns that call to me.