quiltingwolf
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MD USA
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Date: 11/12/12 11:39 AM I just went fantasy shopping online for fabrics and unless they are on sale fabric has become ridiculously expensive or at least to me. I've said I will never pay $10 a yard for fabric. And I won't. Unless it's something so unique that I can't live without and that's not often. So what do you do to offset the cost of quilting? I:
shop the sales as often as possible for ex Joanns on the 17th has a 20 % off your entire order and quilting fabric is 40% off. Will be getting up early that day.
Shop from my stash. Problem with that is that most of my stash I got years ago and usually only got a yard and for most quilt tops you need one then a yard of one color. Although for wall hangings that's usually enough. Now when I buy fabric I will get at least 2 yards.
I don't shop at quilt stores cos frankly they rarely have sales and now most fabric is $12 a yard. I hate not supporting locally owned business but I can't afford to.
I don't know anyone in person that sews so no chance of hand me downs. I like all cotton Warm and Natural for batting but it's gotten really expensive, but might start looking at apparel fleece when it's on sale cos it's wide, warm and lightweight. I would think it's very usable. I just got some warm and natural on sale for like $10 a yard. Fleece can be had for a lot less.
I spent quite a bite of time on the Connecting Threads website. I love their site. And considering where they are and where I'm at the shipping is rather reasonable. I love the thread sets and might have to take them off the fantasy list and buy them.
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quiltingwolf
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MD USA
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In reply to quiltingwolf <<
Date: 11/12/12 12:22 PM Correction next Saturday 60% of the notions wall. 20% off total appears to be only for people who get the mailers as it's not on the Joanns site. Only sales up through the 17th. But there are others that continue through next Wednesday. Should be getting black Friday flyer anyday now. ------
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Babe B
 
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MA USA
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In reply to quiltingwolf <<
Date: 11/12/12 2:22 PM Used to live in MD, and there are quilt shops that have a regular "attic" or sale area, and one shop in Annapolis has a huge 40% off fabrics twice a year. Other shops use customer appreciation discount coupons, punch cards, and/or other sales on a regular basis. You can check out their websites for sales and sign up for email newsletters for sales announcements.
G Street Fabrics also has regular sales and coupons for various fabrics including cottons for quilts. I still receive their newsletter by email. 'Hope this helps. |
quiltingwolf
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MD USA
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Date: 11/12/12 2:33 PM I'm no where near that side of town. There are only two quilt shops near me. Neither really have that many sales. And the on who also happens to be my sewing machine dealer, the distance would eat up in gas any money I save. I have been to the G-street in Rockville. It was ok but leaned more towards apparel fabric. Nothing special to go that far for. I am near the Towson area if you remember were that was.
-- Edited on 11/12/12 2:36 PM -- ------
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Cat n Bull
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NC USA
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Date: 11/12/12 2:48 PM Do you have any salvage shops near you? They usually have great prices.
Fabric.com puts their batting on sale periodically, sign up for their emails so you won't miss it! I always buy some when they have it on sale.
I have found some really great deals on ebay also.
I think fleece would make great batting, in fact I have used it instead of batting, as a back! The only problem with using fleece is if you are making a quilt bigger than 60", then you have to piece it and it can be a pain to piece.
I don't look at price per yard too much when I buy fabric, I usually just get what I really like. It's my only personal indulgence (besides red wine  )
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Cathryn |
PortlandMaine
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ME USA
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Date: 11/12/12 2:57 PM I usually buy fabric used - sheets, shirts, couch covers.. etc from resales shops. Im fine with that - but, recently I was given bunches of bags of fabrics from my grandmother and aunt. there were some quilting fabrics in those hand me downs that were really easy to work with. (imagine that?) 
I have bought some fabrics at shops -- Ill buy a fat quarter or something from the sale section -- here there is a little section where the fabrics are going out and are 4.00 a yd. -- at that shop they do a card where you get credits for cash sales and eventually get a coupon for free stuff. I get needles and when I have bought batting - I have bought it from them. I usually use old blankets as battings - and have used fleece too - I have a box of holiday stuff i got for like 1.00 a yd after christmas last year -- its cute patterns so Im having a hard time stuffing it inside a quilt -- but --
And the cute patterns on fabric is what is going to end up driving me to start buying some more fabric new. I really like the novelty fabrics .. and the designer fabrics are so interesting -- those fabrics will never make it to clothing or home dec for me to buy used at resale shops.
We also have a "fell off the truck" sort of store here with a huge fabric section -- i got some kaffe facett and amy butler there a few weeks ago -- their price was standard 4.99 ish a yard.
I like this thread b/c it really can get expensive to quilt fast! ------
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quiltingwolf
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MD USA
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Date: 11/12/12 3:05 PM I had the gleeful experience of living between the two Joanns that were closing to make the one big one around the corner from my house. The sold the contents to liquidators you couldn't believe some of the deals I got. I there every other day as stuff would keep getting marked down. I got Vogue patterns cos they were marked down to a $1 I've never sewed a Vogue pattern in my life, still haven't lol. But the fabric deals were unbelievable. ------
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PortlandMaine
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ME USA
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Date: 11/12/12 3:14 PM I got some great deals on 1.00 isocord thread when the bernina dealer was going out.
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Drag queen quilter! |
quiltingwolf
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MD USA
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In reply to PortlandMaine <<
Date: 11/12/12 3:29 PM Before I got an embroidery machine the company I worked for shared the space with the owner's daughter and son who were professional screen printers and embroiders. So she would give me all the thread ends with was usually quite a bit. I used it for decorative stitching then. I used to go over during a break and just watch the machines going thinking how cool it was, this was just about the time the machines were breaking out for home. Eight years later I had one of my own. I later did some bookkeeping for one of their employees that open their own shop. Instead of cash I should have thought to ask for thread as she could order wholesale. She told me if I ever wanted to order anything let her know and she's order for me. ------
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Babe B
Intermediate
MA USA
Member since 10/4/04
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In reply to quiltingwolf <<
Date: 11/12/12 6:10 PM Sorry that my offerings didn't help, Quiltingwolf. Yes, I do know where Towson is. We've lived in MA just a year. So far I'm really enjoying all the nearby quilt shops in MA and into NH. Had a quilting buddy in MD and we did our own shop hop on occasion, making a day of shopping, lunch, and more shopping. Sometimes I purchased very little but was inspired by shop samples and the new fabric lines that I saw. So it was a worthwhile endeavor for me. |
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