What is a fair price of fabric?
 

Being a newbie and somewhat of a tight wad, lol, I tend to :shock: when I see some prices of fabric. I understand the higher the quality, the higher the price but what is a good price? I went to my LQS today, first time, and was just looking around since I had my DD with me. One fabric was $13.25/yd! It was nice fabric but still. I didn't catch the designer name...I was too shocked over the price to think to look. I have only shopped at JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby currently and even their prices shock me sometimes.

So what is a bargain on nice quality fabric? Help me get over my shock. lol

Thanks!

did you notice the width of the fabric? my lqs carries wide goods (108"-118") which range from $13.95 up to $18.95 a yard---which is reasonable-since you only need 3- 3 1/2 yds to back a quilt- could be the (shocking) price was on a wide fabric.
in the lqs's around here fabrics range from $7.95 on up to about $12.95- depending on the fabric-
you could join the (fabshophop) and visit over a hundred on line shops and find a vast range of prices-and selections. it pays to shop around- i spend about 1/2 of my quilting $$ at my lqs and the other 1/2 on line shopping....out of the on-line percentage- 85-90% is spent at fabric.com the other 10-15% is spent at random shops.

Buy on the internet. Fabric.com has free shipping if you spend $35.00. Thousand Of Bolts actually weighs the fabric so if you only want a small amount you don't have to pay for one of those pre-priced envelopes. Have fun!

You have asked the impossible question. The shortage of base cotton goods in the past two or three years has changed how we view, value and buy fabric.
It was once believed that only LQS fabric was the best. However, one could and still do find good fabric at the chain stores and recently not so good, but high price, at the LQS.
So, I can't answer your question as I interpret it.
If you will search back through the posts about this subject you will find that the best answer is to learn to test the fabric and then buy what is affordable to you. The best test, without actualy buying, is to feel. If stiff and thin then it is not so good at any price.
The board is also full of good suggestions for mail order.
I have a loal store that is named "The $1.99 Fabric Store" It has both good quality and lesser quality.
If you will indicate where you are located, I am sure there will be those who can give you suggestions of good places to buy. One mail order company that has good sales is Connecting Threads.
If you should live in or near or visit Maine, there is a store there (several in the state) named Marden's. They buy prior seasons fabric from the manufacturer and price at about 3.99-5.99 per yd.
So you understand my difficulty in answering your question. Its a cruel, cruel fabric world out there and it doesn't appear to have good news in sight. Did your LQS have a mark down space. My local LQS does and it is $5 per yd.
The Old Country Store in Pennsyvania has current fabric at about $8.50 per yd.
There are many reports that WallMart is bring fabric back to many of their stores and some good bargains are to be found of better quality fabric. I have always found Hobby Lobby to have good stuff. I am cautious at JoAnn's now. However, I have bought at JA's to get an assortment of color value which I needed at a good price.

I have looked at Fabric.com and found some I like but I am hesitate to buy online since I can't "feel" the material. I guess since so many of ya'll like the fabric, it is good quality.

I really would like to stock up on my fabric since I am having surgery in 2 weeks and won't be able to do much but sit...I hope at the machine for at least a little while. I have 2 quilts I want to do...one for a friend is having a baby and my mom has asked for me to make her one.

I didn't get to look long at the LQS since my daughter was with me but they had very nice fabric and were super sweet so I hope to go back next weekend to shop without my daughter. Our Wal-Mart does have a fabric section and I have found some good fabric there for a good price...my curtain material for one, sturdy type material for $8/yd.

JoAnn's here has some different fabric that I like but are about $2 higher than Hobby Lobby who has some great fabric too.

I understand it is hard to determine what is fair, but I guess the $13 scared me. I didn't check the width but know they carry 108" wide fabric.

I think a reasonable price is that which you can afford. I won't pay over $5 per yard because I believe the whole cotton shortage excuse for high priced fabric to be a complete fabrication. It simply makes me mad to see cotton fabric in the over $7 a yard price ranges and I don't appreciate anyone taking advantage of me. It's easy to find fabric online in the 2.50-$5.00/yd. price range so that's where I do my shopping. I'm also far more interested in color and quality than I am in designer names and brand names so I have no problem finding fabrics that will work in my projects, online at great prices!

I buy mostly sale fabric in stores or online. Hancock's of Paducah is having a sale now. So are a lot of other online stores. I only buy a very limited amount of non-sale fabric.

Connecting Threads online also has good quality fabric with free shipping on orders over $50. I've ordered quite a bit and love their fabric and the collections. I ususally order fat quarters. And they have fantastic sales.

A 'fair' price is whatever you are willing to pay at the time, for the quality of goods you want at the time, without feeling taken advantage of. Simple as that. You are the only one who can define what is fair to you, and it will probably change rather often depending on circumstances.