I'm with you Lindy, my LQS is between $22-30 a metre as well.
They currently have a couple of rows of fabric out for $10/metre but most of it is fabric that I am not partial too.

They will be having a clearance sale (which I am told will be worth it) next Jan. so I am saving my pennies for that. In the meantime the exchange rate is very good so it is actually worth while buying online as even with postage it is still cheaper than my local. Only problem is the colour is often not quite what you expected being as you saw it online :lol:

Maybe1day

I haven't bought any fabric in about 6 months as I'm not working right now, so I have no play money. The last time I was in the LQS, I just about died when I saw the prices. Most were $9.50-$11 per yard, I'll shop from my extensive stash. I can afford that.

well as a former quilt shop owner I have to say it's not the shop that sets the prices it's the fabric company and you will get a better quality fabric from a quilt shop than a chain store. I always hated to see the prices go up when I ordered fabric and I tended to try to keep my prices the same even though they were raised on me because i knew I would hear complaints from my loyal customers, but that said just remember you will get what you pay for, The shop owner is only trying to make a living the same as everyone else

Man I must be cheap. I have no fabric over $5.00 a yard and most under $4.00. I wait for sales or yard sales where others have decided to get rid of their stash.Well-------- that's my story. Probably not important to make a life changing decision.

I recently found a picture of a quilt I want to make. I have lots of the colors I want, but the wide sashing is a special piece and takes 4 1/2 yds. It is available, but at 9.95 a yd. Sorry way out of my price range. I have been finding a lot of beautiful material at garage sales and estate sales, but I guess for this one I will have to find a more reasonable substitute. With a limited income, I really have to watch for sales. sigh.......

I find that the quality at the LQS is better which shows in the end product. A while back I made a table runner with all LQS fabric but I needed one more fabric to finish off so I used a discount store fabric and it stretched and lost it's shape. The table runner looked awful. I with the ladies that go on feel. Some fabrics are fine at the discount stores but you just have to be choosy. I also like the personal attention from the LQS. Last week I was buying fabric and the owner said she was going to just give me the rest of the bolt for free. There was over a yard of fabric!

You folks are something else! I love this board, and I learn so much from all of you every time I log on! It's like sitting down and having a heart-to-heart with each of you. Thank you all!

I just got the Australia's magazine and paid $10.95. I don't mind paying that much,but, it is always hard to find. The issues have numbers instead of the months and sometimes they are old issues by the time we get them. I love to get all the international magazines.
Back to the price of fabric, you only get what you pay for. I like sales also but it is hard for the LQS to have them on a regular basis. They do lose money on the fabric if it goes below 40%. They are hoping that you will grab a notion or two. The fabric manufactures set the price, then the s&h gets added, then the tax. Please support the LQS, without them we would not have quilt shows, quilds and shop hop's I never saw walmart ever getting interested in quilting activities. Shop online if you must, but again it does look differant from the ad and why it is cheap because there isn't overhead cost. but it's also not personable you don't get help choosing the fabric. feeling it and seeing it first hand.

In Australia it seems that the fabric is expensive, but what is the exchange rate? In Europe a few years ago I went to a shop and I was shocked at how much,and they had the same fabric as the U.S. It would have been the same as in the U.S. if I could have paid with american dollars.

I have quite a bit of blender fabrics, but it always seems none of them match what you want them for. ANYWAYS I hardly ever pay full price for fabric unless I just need a small amount for a quilt. I buy most of my fabrics at Joann's with their 40% off coupons or just on sale for 40% or 50% off. If I have the time I will buy the fabrics over a few weeks as the coupons come in. I don't really like the really cheap fabrics either, they don't feel good to the touch.