Quilting is Expensive!
08-04-2016, 12:34 PM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 2,222
Like many of you, I'm sure, I am amazed by the prices that I see on notions and thread and fabric. Yesterday, I was at a quilting site looking for fabric and I saw something that I liked. Then I saw the price on it--$59 a yard. I was stunned! Who would pay that price? I bought a stiletto for $10.00 a couple of weeks ago, but I used a coupon. It was nothing more than a stick with two pointed ends. I see a lot of overpriced items when I shop for notions. It's unreasonable.
What is the most you've ever spent for a yard of fabric? Back in the 70's, we used to hit the remnants counter and find amazing deals. I'd spend my babysitting money to make a shirt or a skirt or a dress; that's how affordable it was then. I can't be the only person that thinks some of these prices are ridiculous. It used to be that people sewed to save money. Now you have to mortgage your house to shop at a fabric store.
What is the most you've ever spent for a yard of fabric? Back in the 70's, we used to hit the remnants counter and find amazing deals. I'd spend my babysitting money to make a shirt or a skirt or a dress; that's how affordable it was then. I can't be the only person that thinks some of these prices are ridiculous. It used to be that people sewed to save money. Now you have to mortgage your house to shop at a fabric store.
08-04-2016, 12:34 PM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,602
Depends on what it is. I once paid $35 a yard for some absolutely drool-worthy Italian silk and made a dress shirt for my husband. I had a 40% off coupon and put back everything else that was in my cart. It had a beautiful drape and was totally worth it.
08-04-2016, 02:25 PM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Va.
Posts: 5,753
$59 a yard sounds more like the prices I've seen on upholstery and home dec fabric!
I mostly use fabric from my stash, when I do buy I tend to buy from sales at on-line fabric stores or eBay and try not to pay more than $5 per yard. I've been lucky in hitting up the remnants bins at my LQS and also JoAnns, but don't do that very often as I just don't have room to store as much fabric as I'd like to have LOL.
Rob
I mostly use fabric from my stash, when I do buy I tend to buy from sales at on-line fabric stores or eBay and try not to pay more than $5 per yard. I've been lucky in hitting up the remnants bins at my LQS and also JoAnns, but don't do that very often as I just don't have room to store as much fabric as I'd like to have LOL.
Rob
08-04-2016, 02:52 PM
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 17,810
Photography, woodworking, and painting is much more expensive then quilting according to my friends who do those. I think knitting, crocheting, or needlework is the least expensive. That's why when my kids were small crocheting and knitting were my creative outlet. I could buy yarn at the grocery store then! and have a nice sweaters, hat, scarf, and mittens for the kids too.
08-04-2016, 05:43 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 637
I second shopping at thrift stores. I never go anywhere else if I can help it.
I use sheets for backing and binding. Sometimes I can score good sheets for under a dollar.
I buy cotton shirts with neat prints or plaid ones just dirt cheap.
My favorite thing is to buy hideous comforters, remove the fabric and use the inside for batting. I've already saved a small fortune on batting. Plus I can use the fabric to make test garments when sewing apparel or if it's not too bad I can make curtains out of it or something.
I use sheets for backing and binding. Sometimes I can score good sheets for under a dollar.
I buy cotton shirts with neat prints or plaid ones just dirt cheap.
My favorite thing is to buy hideous comforters, remove the fabric and use the inside for batting. I've already saved a small fortune on batting. Plus I can use the fabric to make test garments when sewing apparel or if it's not too bad I can make curtains out of it or something.
08-04-2016, 05:55 PM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,600
I spent $12.99 a yard for some "I absolutely have to have that" fabric! Bought 3+ yards. Haven't touched it yet. Not sure I will....too expensive to mess up!! I usually buy on sale, or with a coupon. I also miss the days of making skirts and jackets and vests from $1 and $2 remnants!!
08-04-2016, 05:56 PM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Rural Oklahoma
Posts: 5,374
I made an awesome peplum jacket out of a curtain I bought at a garage sale (back when I was about 18 so a few years ago) and all my friends and family started calling me Scarlett. They were some of the ugliest curtains you can imagine, but they made an AWESOME dress jacket.
08-04-2016, 10:28 PM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: England Alton Towers
Posts: 6,673
In my local area in UK prices for fabric are high, $24 upwards. The shops do sell off ends of rolls or fabric which was not popular. I tend to shop in our local Abakan which sells off cuts at cheaper rates. I find notions are expensive as well with no cheap outlets. Knitting and crochet are also expensive. It is cheaper th buy a sweater than knit one.
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