I'm afraid I might have ruffled a feather or two with my post about high fabric prices. In no way did I mean to imply that high prices are the fault of shop owners. No m'am! I know that folks have to make a profit or go out of business. I believe that's why so many quilt shops are going out of business, the inability to make a profit.
Of course the high cotton prices can be blamed. But then cotton farmers have to make a profit too. And their production prices have increased. I don't know where the bucks stops. Maybe we could just blame President Obama; he gets the blame for everything else. I'm sure he wouldn't mind one more.
I wasn't intending to lay blame at all, on anyone. Not shop owners, not cotton farmers, not the president, not that mad chicken in the photo. I was just making an observation.
Believe me, I'd rather buy my fabric at a quilt shop than any place else. They carry the best quality and the best designers. But when one has a room full of fabric, one has to set priorities on what one will spend her money for.
And believe me, if money were no object, I'd buy all the fabric I could cram into my house. I love fabric, and the fabric I love best is Moda. And you can't find Moda at JoAnn's or WalMart, that's for sure.
So please forgive me if I in any way implied that quilt shop owners are to blame for high fabric prices. And believe me, if I need fabric for a quilt I'm planning to make, my first stop will be my local quilt shop. But just buying fabric for the sake of owning it, whether from quilt shops or JoAnn's, is something I'm trying to avoid for a while.
This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 08/17/2011, Bernadine C said ...
I hear you. and agree :) - I will only be purchasing fabric sparingly, not because I don't love it, but because I can no longer afford to spend on yardage. It is no one's fault. Prices are what they are. Bernie
On 08/17/2011, Sandy said ...
This is one reason I don't have a blog. I would always be offending somebody. Don't people realize that "people's opinions" are just that - "people's opinions". One should feel free to express one's opinion without having to worry about offending somebody. Don't worry about ruffled feathers. Having raised chickens in the past, the feathers always lay right back down. You don't have to publish this comment if you don't want to. Just wanted to give "my opinion". Have a great day Susan.
On 08/17/2011, Jan S. said ...
There didn't seem to be any harshness to your post. I made the comment about cotton prices dropping recently, and that we wouldn't see that reflected in quilt fabric costs. I didn't intend to blame that on the quilt shops either! The problem is much higher up than that!
On 08/17/2011, LindaSchiffer said ...
No ruffled feathers here, just sadness at the state of things. Prices for clothing made from cotton will/are going up, too.
No, I doubt very much that the wholesale price of cotton fabric will come down unless the prices for cotton plummet to nothing - manufacturers all up the chain (farmers, weavers, printers/dyers, designers, wholesalers, etc) have been taking losses for the past few years, trying to hold the line and contain costs. At some tipping point, it all has to change.
I don't know how this will change the quilt making world - I _hope_ for very selfish reasons that it doesn't kill the local shops. If people buy only on price, though, it will - local shops give more value for the dollars spent than online ones do ... and the consumer has to make a conscious choice to support local. (sigh)
It's always somethin', eh? :)
Linda
On 08/17/2011, Nancy (in USA) said ...
Well, I thought your last post was right on the mark Susan. I didn't think you laid blame anywhere, just commented on the nature of things. We are getting less for more in everything we purchase. But...let's not blame President Obama for this one, I don't think he is doing much quilting just now and probably isn't aware of our issues concerning fabric yet *wink*. Big Hugs...
On 08/17/2011, Barbara Anne said ...
No problem here either as you seemed to me just to be saying what was what with no blame or finger pointing at all. You're just bummed out about the prices as the rest of us are. It's regrettable, but it's just the way it is now.
I still try my local shops before resorting to on-line purchases, but my first effort is to find something in my stash that will work.
Hugs all around!
On 08/17/2011, ramey channell said ...
Love the chicken!
On 08/17/2011, Diane W said ...
I, too, kind of choke when trying to justify $10.00 a yd for fabric. I have bought from different stores but I'm sorry you can tell the difference in $5.00 yd fabric and $10.00 yd.(unless, of course you find a 10.00 on sell for 5.00) I think it is worth it, I just have to choose less quilts to make and finish every one of them, no more UFO's, no more big stashes, too much money. I now buy fabric for a project, not just because I think it is pretty. I buy online but would rather shop at my LQS, I don't want to lose them. Colors are not the same online. I passed on Central Park until I saw it at LQS and bought a few pieces. I've also started using more solids (they're a bit cheaper)
Hope you feel better soon. My sister suffers from the same thing so I know some of what you go through.
On 08/17/2011, judi0044 said ...
We too lost a lovely shop with wonderful fabrics I so enjoyed. With the economy when she had a plumbing leak in her rented space raining down from the second floor into the main shop area it was the final blow. Sad also because our sewing group met up on the second floor, she had class space, and featured quilts, etc. for sale.
On 08/17/2011, Brenda Kula said ...
I was just going through and packing my fabric the other day. Prices sure have changed.
Brenda
On 08/17/2011, Gael said ...
You didnt ruffle any feathers, telling the truth should not offend folks!
I didnt enjoy paying $9.99 per yard when that was "normal", now prices are up to 13.99$ on some bolts!
I'm in the capital of Calif. and yup, we've had many shops close, but for personal reasons, not prices.
Seems like at the 5 year mark shop owners here burn out, and I dont blame em. Running a shop is all consuming especially if there is only one owner...
There is also the "aging out" of the owners, just as the quilters are. Gah, that might offend some folks eh?
Truth is, if we have been quilting for 5 years or more, and are over 50, we probably have a HUGE stash. Doesnt mean we dont want to support our LQS, we just buy less nowadays..
The younger quilters want more mod, fresh fabs, and those are plentiful online.
Anyhoo, thats MY opinion...lol
Take care, rest up
Gael
On 08/17/2011, Jan said ...
You should be able to give an opinion on your blog without people being offended! I didn't read anything horrible in what you said...it's just the way things are. I am reminded of Jack Nicholson in the movie "A Few Good Men" where he says, "You can't handle the truth!" Prices of fabric are climbing and THAT'S a true statement!!
On 08/17/2011, Bien said ...
I think any rational person would understand that you were just expressing a valid opinion. We all have to watch our pennies now and let's face it, the buck stops at home. I too would love to buy all of Moda's fall line. However, I also have to pay for electricity, property taxes, food, medical expenses (need I go on). It's a jungle out there!
On 08/18/2011, Sandra Neel Hutchins said ...
I should have posted my quilt shop comments on this post. However, my comments are on your previous post with the photo of the bolts of fabric photo. Have a great day and keep that monster away!
On 08/18/2011, Debra said ...
If I were making show quilts, I would buy top of the line fabrics. But, since most of my quilts are either given away or used for such honorable duties as car quilts, camping quilts, snuggling quilts or dog quilts (in other words--USED Alot!), then I sew with what is available and move on to the next project.
While I am not saying everyone should go out and buy cheap quality fabrics, even those fabrics last an incredibly long time. My son is still using a quilt I made in the 80s from dimestore fabric. It was one of my first quilts and it's going strong!
And lastly, sometimes an expensive piece of fabric just freezes my creativity. I am terrified to cut it and "ruin" it so it sits for years until I have completely lost interest in it. So what's the use? I am much happier and free when buying mid-priced fabrics. I am now working through some early '90s fabrics. For all their glory in their day, they are getting cut up for scrap quilts just like the rest of my fabrics!
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