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For quilters,a good fabric stash is truly like money in the bank!
When I find fabric on sale, and it's a good name brand tone on tone, I buy it.
Lucky for me, I don't visit quilt shops as much as I once did but at one time I did a lot of quilting for a shop and in exchange, I received a good discount. During this time was when my stash expanded greatly. How long do I think fabric on my shelves will last? There's fabric in my stash that's at least 20 years old and it's fine! I don't hesitate to use it.
As CJ mentioned in a comment in a previous post, cotton prices are going up. A simple Google search for cotton prices will cause most of us cotton-lovin' quilters to gasp.
In November, 2008 cotton prices hit a 7-1/2 year low. Did the price of 100% cotton fabric go down? Not that I saw. By the way, the price for cotton then was 36.7¢ per pound. In February, 2010, cotton prices were up to 83.3¢ per pound. Trading today was near 90¢ per pound.
Taking into account that quilt shops pay one price for fabric and sell it at a profit and I'm surely not knocking shop owners because I don't know a single shop owner who doesn't struggle to keep prices as low as possible while trying to make enough to keep the lights on. I don't know what quilt shop fabrics were in November, 2008 -- maybe $7.50 per yard?? Considering that raw cotton was 36.7¢ per pound and fabric was maybe $7.50/yard, anyone want to guess what the cost of fabric is going to be with cotton prices nearing 2-1/2 times what it was then? I don't want to even think about it!
Prices will rise, prices will fall. Next year, weather conditions may be perfect and cotton prices may hit a multi-year low . . we don't know. I do not have enough fabric to last me a lifetime, nor do I want that much fabric. I do have enough to keep me going for a few years. With fabric currently edging towards or a bit over $10/yard, I can tell you that I wouldn't be doing nearly as much quilting if I were paying those prices for every quilt I make. I'm really not a doom and gloom type person. Fabric may be $7.50/yard again before it's $12/yard . . I don't know.
The one thing I know for sure is: I'm very, very thankful for my stash! No matter the size of your stash, be proud of it. Now that I think about it, a good stash is better than money in the bank. Good luck convincing your husband of my conclusion! Knowing the current price of raw cotton, I may be a little more careful with cutting and I may save more of those pieces I've been tossing. Will you now be looking at your stash differently?
Judy Laquidara
http://www.patchworktimes.com
