luvspaper

I frugal shop and very rarely buy full price unless it is very specific and very important... rarely pay "full price"

sewbizgirl

I don't even remember the last time I bought at full retail... I alway am happy to wait until fabrics go on clearance. The time difference between when a fabric line is brand new and when it will go out of print is about the same as the time it will sit in my stash before I use it... so what's the rush?

I live 6.5 hours away from Marshall's Dry Goods but I make at least two trips a year to go shop there. It's so much fun to dig through their flat folds and come away with great, but discontinued, LQS quality fabric for $3, and $4-5 on the bolt. Not all their fabric is LQS quality, but enough of it is that I keep going back.

I do a lot of charity quiltmaking, so I am always on the hunt for reasonably priced but good fabrics to use. I also buy my battings at Marshall's, on huge rolls.

I don't see much good fabric at estate sales, but when I do I snap it up. Cool vintage cottons are like treasure to me!

quiltingcandy

I try not to buy fabric just for the sake of buying anymore. Too many times it either gets put away and never used or it is short of what I need. So now I buy fabric to supplement what I need in a quilt. Except when it comes to kids fabric - I now buy enough to make a pillow case, so if it doesn't go into a quilt it can become a pillow case. And if I find a really cute panel, I can at least make a baby quilt and donate it.

Doggramma

I am a compulsive fabric shopper, as in see something and buy it paying no attention to the price per yard. Unfortunately my non- frugal habits may become a problem with my husband retiring soon. I rarely buy from thrift stores or big box stores.

Kwiltr

Good topic...I've always wondered what most people do! Since I got back into quilting about 10 years ago, I've rarely paid full retail for my fabric. I tend to pick up fabric, on sale, online, as I don't have a local quilt shop, the closest being over an hour away and selling at Cdn prices . I've got a fair collection of fabric bought on spec, fat quarter bundles, a few JR's and some yardage when I've hit a super sale and now my purchases are limited to neutrals, backgrounds and the one piece I need to go with something already in my stash to come up with a quilt. Same with batting, pick it up on sale as with other notions. If I had to pay full price for my fabric etc., I'd be able to make one or two quilts per year. This way I have the added challenge of hunting up that perfect pattern for the stash I have and making most of my gifts with fabric I have on hand, plus donating quilts and quilting locally. Win Win in my books!

Anniedeb

I buy what speaks to me. I've been going to the fabric outlet lately and some beautiful fabrics have talked their way into my cart! There are two LQS within 10 miles, one is very modern focused, the other one has tons of batiks. I've only been to those a couple of times. Joann's gets a fair share of my money, and a few online purchases. I've never had any luck at garage sales.

Faintly Artistic

I usually buy with a project in mind and have a couple of online stores that are cheaper and have good sales. Recently, however, after finishing up a quilt I realized that my neutrals have gotten sparse, so ordered a bunch of clearance fabrics from CT to round them out. My new favorite place is the thrift store...vintage sheets, fabric, and any piece from the linens section that can be deconstructed and repurposed.

Daylesewblessed

I buy a lot at garage sales, and that is how I support my LQS. A few weeks ago I found a wonderful sale of high quality fabric still in original LQS bags or otherwise marked. The seller is a loyal LQS buyer, and since I cleared out some of her fabric, she now has the space for more and will be running to the LQS to restock her supply.

To me the fun challenge in quilting is making something nice out of things that I find on the secondary market. My stash is plenty big, and I am usually patient enough to wait until I find just the right fabrics to go with what I have at garage sale prices.

mamagrande

I have never bought at garage sales or thrift shops because I managed a LQS and I was working so had $$ to pay full price minus my discount. After working 10 yrs there I acquired quite a large stash of quality fabric. So now that I am retired and $$ is not as abundant as it was before I only buy when I don't have a particular color to finish a project that was started from my stash. When I have to match something I go to the LQS and have to pay full price for what I need. Paid $21.50 for 2 yds of a green Elizabeth Studio collection, and that was with my friends discount. Now I am waiting for that friend to get 2 yds of Moda Marbles to finish a quilt that I started 10 yrs ago, so will have to pay full price.

I now buy from Fabric.com and other internet sites, especially for wide backs to finish quilts that I have make from my stash. I don't go to LQS anymore..don't need to.

Genden

I start with a pattern that I want to make and buy fabric for that pattern. Sometimes the pattern calls for a specific fabric line and because I want that look, I buy the new line. If it doesn't call for a fabric line, I look for the fabric I want at the best price whether it is at the LQS or online. I don't have much stash as a result of the way I buy and I am happy with that. I usually give pieces of fabric I decide not to use, or fabric left over to my daughter-in-law. I know I am in the minority or even a rarity, but it works for me.