$8.99 is as high as I will go that is the going price at my LQS on most of the fabric, if I,m not in a hurry for the fabric I come home and find the same thing online for far less.

I have never paid double-digit prices for any quilting fabric. Even in the nicest quilt shops. And those shops usually have a shelf of sale fabrics, or skinny bolts, for about $3-5/yd if you know where to look. I don't shop much at all at JoAnn's - maybe that $14/yd is for embossed velvet, or something. I would think they'd have alot of competition from all the online sites that sell nice fabric for reasonable prices.

I cannot imagine paying that much at JoAnn's!

We've been in England for a while, and if you consider the exchange rate, I've been paying a *lot* more than $14/yard. Fabric is very expensive over here. I think there are a couple of other UK posters, and Islay is in France -- not sure of the costs over there....

There are no "joann's" type of shops either -- at least not that I've found. Quilt fabric is generally £8 - £10 , which is about $15-$20!! Yes, I've bought some, but I've also bought from ebay and charity shops. (I've also seen some fabrics in shops for £20 -- $40!!!)

DH will be thrilled when I start buying in the US again..."only" $8-$10/yard!

Kelly (Nebraska/England)

I can't spend more that $5 a yard. I have seen some very beautiful fabric at my LQS but it's all up the at 9-15 a yard.
They do have a sale room but it's on sale because it didn't sell, most is not pretty stuff.

Vicky

Well it may surprise you to hear this from me (as I am the real cheapo when it comes to fabric!) But for the "perfect" fabric, yes I would pay that much.

For example, I am making a christmas stocking for DH on which he wants Santa at the beach. I found this fabric on ebay with santa doing all these beach things. Considering postage, I paid over $12 for a yard. Just to cut ONE santa image out of it for applique.

So I can see someone paying that much for "the perfect" novelty fabric that represents something someone loves.

But I'd think they'd make more by selling more to the masses for less, rather than waiting for that "one person" who really wants it.

Beyond that -- there is so much beautiful fabric out there on sale so often, especially with the internet, that I try to pay around $3 a yard for quilt shop quality and hardly ever more than $5. Even at $5 it adds up in a HURRY.

I would pay $14 for a fabulous wide backing fabric. Otherwise, $8.99 for some batiks is the most expensive at my LQS, most regular fabric being around $7.50 a yard.

I have seen the $14 stuff at JoAnn's and I can get the same stuff at my LQS for $7.50.

Rebecca

Personally I've can't remember seeing $14.00/yd fabric, unless it would be the fancy velvets...and, I like a bargain as much as the next guy, but I'm afraid I would pay $14.00, or more, for something that I 'needed' for a project. I paid, I remember, $65.00 for the backing fabric for a broderie perse (sp) quilt (I have no idea what it was a yard)....and, was thrilled to do it. I had looked EVERYWHERE for a plain or tone on tone fabric that matched the background color of the chintz I wanted to use for the applique....I had looked everywhere I went, in several states, and had about given up...so, when I found it I didn't care HOW much it was......I bought it!

the most I ever paid was last Christmas season. I found this WONDERFUL deep red with gold swirls going thru it at Joann's. Of course it was on sale, so couldn't use a coupon. It appeared to be going fast. I went home, thought about it a day and went back and got the last yard...$10. In January I saw it again...it was $4.99 a yard..I couldn't believe it. So, I think I have learned my lesson, but that expensive stuff sure did dress up some embroidery I was doing!
Lisa

I haven't ever paid more than $9.99 at a LQS for quilting cotton, and even that price was only for a few batiks that I couldn't live without. I have a very hard time imagining myself paying more than that for ANY quilting cotton, especially at a store like JoAnn. *IF* I were going to spend that much on fabric, I'd only spend it at a place where I can support local, family-owned businesses.

We don't have a Jo Anns around here, ours closed about three years ago, so I don't have to worry about any $14.99 fabric.LOL

We have two local quilt shops, plus Hancock Fabrics. I never pay full price for any fabric. I buy mostly online and only get fabric that is on sale. I can always find a sale fabric online that will work in a project, unless it's a project I've already started and ran short on a fabric. The last time that happened, I found the fabric online and on sale!

Well, as i have said before, all i have to choose from and can afford is Walmart. I get the $2 and $3 a yard stuff. The most I have ever paid was I think 4 something for the yard i bought to make the bag i posted for natalie. Im not cheap,just "financially challenged",so i get what I can afford or do without.

I don't think that I ever paid more than $9.99 a yard at my LQS. Colleen

I just take back what I posted earlier - I HAVE spent around $14/yd - - for backing fabric. It's 108" wide, so really a bargain, and there's so many pretty ones now to choose from. Three yards of that gives you more than the equivalent of 6 yards of the regular width fabrics. I've usually bought 3 yards, and have enough for a backing and a nice generous strip left over for my scraps stash.

I too look for bargains..but I have paid lots more for fabric.($18 a yard for one such purchase) It isn't very often, but if I get an idea of what I want, and the whole project centers around THAT piece of fabric...well, nothing else will do. And sometimes paying a higher amount, to get what I want NOW, saves me in both time and money from spending days or weeks looking somewhere else for it cheaper. And, as is the case most of the time, if I don't grab it when I see it, it's always gone when I go back, or there isn't enough yardage left that I need.

I have learned that a project doesn't have to take lots of yardage. I've learned to use them sparingly.. as a focal point, or spread throughout a project. Sometimes a little goes a long way in conveying that expensive look throughout a project.

When I was a kid there were stores around FL called Fabric King. They mostly sold precut yardage, and the expensive stuff was about $3 a yard. My mom & I would spend hours in there sorting through all the fabric, and the buttons that were 1 cent each, and all kinds of laces and trims that were like 10 cents a yard. (No, this wasn't during the Depression - more like the late 70s!)

So, mom got me convinced that anything over $3 a yard was a big ripoff, and I still grumble about how much the calicos are at JoAnn's (usually $3-$4 a yard, but some much higher). And as much as I would like to support the LQS's in the area, I just can't see paying $8 or $9 a yard, even though I know it's much better quality fabric than JoAnn's has. I'm such a cheapo! :)

Boy, I miss Fabric King...

Donna

Donna,

I think that quilting has ruined fabric prices! Seriously. Back in the late 80's I decided I wanted to make some silk blouses. I found the name of a mail order company for silk, got their catalogue, and ordered YARDS and YARDS of high quality gorgeous silks for just a couple bucks a yard.

Flash forward to 2005 when I decide "hey, instead of buying an expensive comforter -- I'll just make a quilt."

I nearly had a coronary when I walked into a LQS and saw the prices. (Those who say $9 is the most at their LQS -- it was the BOTTOM at mine...)

I think quilting being such a hobby people now make fabrics JUST FOR quilters and they are pricey because of the designers, the multiple colors, the somewhat narrow market, the fact that it's for a hobby, etc.

I've never been to Fabric King, but I miss it too!

I did pay $10 for a yard of really great batik, but I reallllly wanted it. I usually pay a little more for fabrics to go into special gifts than I do for just-for-fun or lets-try-something-new quilts. I have paid $9 for 108" backing fabric, but I figure that actually is more like 4 yards of regular quilting fabric.

beverly

I try to stay between $5 and $7 a yard. I can't believe that JoAnn's is that high. Glad they're lower in my area. LOL ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Quilting Resource Center

You guys are lucky paying such low prices. Here in Canada $8.99 is a bargain most of the time. Most of the really nice quilt fabrics in LQS are about $16.98-$24.98. We have Fabric land which is cheaper but not as nice of fabrics.

Yep. The prices for any fabric at my LQS (Canada) are at least $16. And I pay it but I don't have as big of stash as you guys cause I buy what I will use for each project.
There is never a sale at the LQS for some reason>

I've paid over 14.00 a yard for fabric,but it wasn't quilting fabric,it was Sunbrella fabric that i got to make a new top cover for my porch swing.This year the seat cushions needed recovering,so i went to the thrift shop,bought a king size flat sheet for less than 4.00 and made covers for all 3 cushions.Can't beat that.Now i can take them off and wash them when i need to,and in the meantime i'll keep my eyes open for more pretty sheets.
Kathi

Ps the sheet i used looks like a quilt!!

Here are the seat covers i made.
Kathi

I'm in the same boat as Kelly. English and French prices are about the same. If I came to America, I'd bring an empty suitcase for fabric! It pays to buy from the States on line and pay the postage, which ought to be crazy but it's true.

I agree with Islay - it is cheaper (around half price) for me to buy online from the US and pay postage (mainly through thousands of bolts) than it is to buy from my LQS, which is usually around AU$25 a metre.

I've bought one yd of fabric at my cut off price of $8.25 yd.The LQS that is 80 miles rd trip has done away with their sale fabric,so I'll need to shop only at Joanns or on line.Doesn't bother me. All my early quilts were bed size using Walmart fabric.That was about 20yrs ago & they're all still in good shape.Pat

If it's a gotta have I don't care how much it is but I've never paid over $10 a yard for quilt fabric. Batiks have been about the top of the line at my LQS and they're under that price. But I do like to find sales, especially in the internet shops. There's some real bargains out there.

Kay

Well Islay and Kelly have just answered a question I had, my sister in England emailed me said she and her work mates would send me 200 pounds plus shipping to get one of the quilts I have made.
Thank you
Gillian

Kathy, the Fabric King stores sold unfinished sheets, too, for like 3 bucks each. Several times I bought one with a pretty print and could make a dress and a shorts outfit from one sheet! >sighI must confess that I tend to go nuts at quilt shows. I'll buy piles of fat 1/4s at $2.50 or $2.75 each, which works out to $10-$12 a yard! It's just something about being at a show...

Donna

(I did not read everyone else's responses, so I might be late or out of context.)

I, too, have seen the signs at Joann's. Up to $14 per yard. I never did see that price on a bolt in the calico section. I think the $14/yd price must be for the double-sided pre-quilted stuff.

The most I've paid for fabric is the $14 a yard for true indigos that I've ordered online or bought from a vendor at the Lancaster quilt show. It may be more expensive now. I love that stuff, but changed my mind about the pattern to use for a future bed quilt because it called for 10 yds. of fabric for the top - yikes!

Yep, it's up to $17.50 a yard at Reproduction Fabrics now. That's why I only buy a few fat quarters or half yards at one time.

Yup, Kelly is right, we pay up to $20 here. Even more if you want Liberty. I buy a lot on the internet but you have to watch the price as we are only allowed £18 value before we have to pay duty etc. At the moment this is about $35 but you have to be careful on the exchange rate.

Way to go, Kathi! Your slip covers look really nice. I am thinking of looking around in thrift shops, too, to find things with really nice buttons on them for when I sew my own clothes.

It hurts to read how expensive fabrics are in some places. Almost the whole time I was in Japan, I used to buy fabrics while visiting the States and ship them back, and they are still very expensive there, though I don't know by how much. DH kindly offered to buy me some fabric the next time he goes back, and I reminded him that it *wouldn't* be a saving!..."Oh, yeah!" But I was pleased that he cared enough about my hobby to offer.

Angel Wingz: Well, the JoAnn's in National City (which is just south of San Diego) still has plenty of cheaper stuff, and a lot of it looks like pretty good quality. I bought 20 yds. of unbleached muslin there @ $1.99/yd. just yesterday. It's only that they apparently think *something* they offer is worth $14+ to quilters! I will not be buying THAT.

I find it interesting that JoAnn's refers to their more expensive fabrics as "quilt shop quality." Guess they are admitting that their other calicoes aren't as good. That said, though, all of my early quilts were made with JoAnn's $2.99-$4.99 fabrics - either on sale or with coupons - and even the triple Irish chain DS#1 has on a bed the dog takes over when he's at work is still looking good after almost 10 years of use. My theory on JoAnn's more expensive quilting fabric is that they don't expect anyone to pay that price, but are still making a nice profit when it is purchased with a 40% off coupon!

I splurge at my LQS ($7.95-$8.95) when I take a class there, and I bought all of the fabric for DS#2's wedding quilt there. They were great about helping me with the colors and have been supportive throughout my making of it. (Pictures in another week or two!) I scout the internet too, thanks to all of the tips I've read here. I recently bought wide backing fabric from Eleanor Burns for $7 a yard. To really make it worth my while, I bought 5 yards of 3 different fabrics I was sure I could use. That brought my order up to $105 so I qualified for free shipping.