live2teach

Oh, I know, I hate this..the price on everything is going up...it's ridiculous. I started to buy some fabric online the other day at www.craftconn.com b/c of their big sale and didn't get to but I haven't looked at fabric on other sites.

Joan

OUCH!, you have my sympathy Elizabeth! But, this recession thing will probably work to our favor if we are willing to sniff around some. Alot of these online sites must be suffering, too, and should be having massive sales to generate some capital. Look around, your site has lots of competition!

~Joan

GiGi

Try fabricattic.com for your fabrics.

ProfArtQuiltersUnite

Oooooo, :!: :?: Another excuse to raise the prices.

Katrine

I am in France and so jealous of the prices in the U.S., for fabrics, threads and books.
Availability and choice here is dire, fabric averages around 18 Euros/metre (currenty $27.90). I have to ask friends to bring batting from UK.
I buy mostly online from UK, some companies charge exorbitant postage, others very fair.
I have bought online from U.S., even with postage and exchange rate good deal, but the Customs here take up to 2 months to release.

Elizabeth A.

Button boxes! I wanted one for years (that way you always have one when you need it) and couldn't find anything (I was even will to buy one) until I started cutting up clothes! It's currently a rather small collection, but when my favorite shorts lost a button, I was able to find a replacement in my box.

I'll have to try some of those web sites, I don't know many people actively working/buying fabrics for quilts or else I would for sure be doing joint ordering.

Oh and here's another straw for my camel's back, I'm part of the aforementioned company's fabric of the month club, and they FORGOT to ship out my stuff for this month, my husband had to call and have a fit with them because I've got plans for the fabric already and have been very impatient in my waiting. Granted they are sending it now, but they wouldn't have if he hadn't called. Crazy, hu?

Oh Katrine! I'm sorry you have such trouble getting fabrics, I must sound like a complete boob complaining about a dollar increase. Though I have to say when you said they hold fabric for two months I had to giggle just a little, perhaps they think the fabric will have cooties? Then I thought, that anything that can live two months on fabric was going to live anyway like flea eggs, and that alone is rather gross. If you can't tell I don't know much about customs. Perhaps it would help to have a US friend that would send you fabrics?

Katrine

I forgot to say Elizabeth that the Customs also charge tax at 19.6% of the value of the goods, and they include the shipping fee, (from non EU countries) which has to be paid on delivery - probably reason for the delay while they work it all out! I think it applies to private parcels coming in also, as they have to have a declaration.
One good source for fabric is charity shops - particularly childrens' clothes in cotton prints - always in good condition because the kids grow out of them so quickly. Cotton shirting worth keeping. I know a couple of ladies who go to such shops with suitcases to carry all their booty home.
I have several button boxes holding different categories - I make small patchwork items for Christmas markets etc - and can find uses for most things. Equally saving ribbons (from gifts, flowers etc), always handy to have.

Katrine

Shirts - you know you're a fabrimaniac when hubby starts hiding his.