craftybear

wow, fabric is expensive, hope you can order it online,

MrsColumbo

I dont even bother ... by the time we pay the conversion (if there is any) and the tax, plus duty (depending on how THEY choose to send it), it doesn't save that much ... if I could go across to WA state and buy it, I probably would.

Toby

raptureready

A couple of years ago I ran into a quilter in Urbana, Il. that was purchasing a HUGE amount of fabric from one of our LQS's. She said that she was here visiting a friend. She was from Australia. She said that her friend was allowing her to leave all her clothes here so that she could fill her big suitcases with fabric to take home. She also told me that the following year she was going to come back with empty suitcases to refill with fabric. She said, "Since my clothes will already be here. . . . ." So, my suggestion to all you Canadian quilters is to make friends with someone on this side of the border, keep some clothes here and come on over once in a while with an empty car to fill.

mrsdralshhadeh

I am saddened by this as well,, I live in Puerto Rico,, and there are virtually NO fabric shops ehre. Unless you going to make curtains,,lol... So,,I have to start shopping online,,m ymommy (who live sin W.Pa) send me care packages every now and again,,, but I feel the pain with you Canada,,,, :cry:

Mamagus

I live in Newfoundland and usually the fancier LQS will bring in "Lines" of fabric and charge accordingly, but if you're looking to buy nice fabric that matches but isn't necessarily all from the same designer, you can get really nice fabric for 10-12 a metre. I have two stores near me that try and keep their fabrics below 8.00 a metre and they are doing good with their aim so far!
I too have visited B.C. and find that they have the highest prices I have seen anywhere. Satin Moon in Victoria charged me 22.95 for pretty flannel 6 years ago and I was silly enough to buy it for a rag quilt I was making for my daughter. I also used 4.00 flannel from Walmart and the quilt today after 5 years at university and countless washings? Can't tell the difference between the expensive and the "cheap"!

And of course this factors into the store's bottom line. If you buy 12 metres of fabric in Canada you are actually getting 13 yards. Might not sound like much to us but for a store that is HUGE.

Oh yes, one more thought... most of the stores I shop at here in Newfoundland sell fat quarter METRES! That extra little bit on a fat quarter is great!

And you MAINLAND Canadian quilters who can drive across the brder? Lucky you! This is an island. CHEAPEST way off is ferry. Car retirn trip and one person driving the car? Almost 400.00 and three days to come and go! I'll just keep paying the exchange and the duty!

MamaBear61

It is true. I was looking for fabric last night online and the blender fabrics here run any where from $12-$13 up to $20 for some batiks etc. So even when I take into consideration exchange, shipping, duty etc. I can usually find it cheaper in the US. Although I wish I could shop Canadian our pricing structure makes it hard.

Ripped on Scotch

Some times ordering online doesn't help. Right now it's not so bad because the dollar is fairly close in value but you have to pay international shipping fees and then duty if it is over a certain amount. I live on a border city & there is a business in the US that is strickly for Canadians to ship to so you don' thave to pay the international shipping costs. it's a little crazy sometimes.

kylenstevesmom

I live outside Toronto. The average price at my LQS is about $16/m. I am lucky enough to have Len's Mill close by, and the average price there is $6-$8/yd.

In SK the prices were higher, even with lots of Wal-Marts carrying fabric. There is 1 LQS in Saskatoon, and I didn't find it til the day before I left!

I live about an hour or so from Niagara Falls,NY so I run to Joann's when I can, or wait until I'm there camping.

I don't order online because I just can't stand paying the shipping, it's not worth it to me.

I do have friends in Niagara Falls,NY and we've sent things there, but sometimes I just want to get away and run down myself!

My best friend lives in Houston and I'm hoping to get down the the quilt show in November, and I've already started saving for fabric!!!

I guess we just do what we can with what we've got, and take advantage of the "deals" when we can get them!

Theresa

quilter1

I live in Toronto and often travel to Buffalo to shop. Lucky me, I am only 1 1/2 hours away. I find the online shops too pricey to order from with the added shipping charges. There are a couple of shops nearby that have good fabric at low prices too, then there is Lens Mill, the best shop anywhere in Canada for fabric.

May in Jersey

Met a group of Canadian quilters while at the Lancaster PA show and they were stocking up on fabric, thread and other quilting supplies. Fabric in the Lancaster area is even cheaper than at our US quilt shops.
Each year my friends and I spend a few days in that area for the show and lots of shopping at Zooks, Sauders, Country Store, Syliva's and several others along the way. May in Jersey

PS. Anyone taking a trip to the area should remember most shops are closed on Sunday.