How about a little Friday morning deep thinking exercises? 🙂
There’s been almost panic in some quilting circles with the recent announcements if quilt shops going out of business, Quilter’s Newsletter shutting its doors and American Quilter’s Society closing down their book publishing operation. That hit me hardest of all the recent announcements because my three books will no longer be published but . . time marches on.
If you’re a quilter, do you remember your first quilt show? It was either in 1978 or 1979 that a co-worker and I decided to drive over to Houston, just a little more than a 2 hour drive for us, and spend the weekend in Houston. What a trip! We were both really interested in Chinese cooking, had woks and cookbooks so we found a couple of asian markets. We went to the quilt festival and the Renaissance Festival, which was pretty wild for two small town girls! Even wilder, it was getting close to Halloween and there were several parties, apparently with lots of alcohol being served, going on in our hotel so you never knew if you were going to meet a vampire or a Playboy bunny in the hotel elevator.
Living so close to Houston, I went to Quilt Festival almost every year. Then in 1997, we moved to Kentucky and I began going to the AQS show in Paducah. I attended that show almost every year and even went back at least once after moving to MO.
With quilting not being my primary interest these days, and with all the fabric I have to use, every machine and gadget I could possibly want, the quilt shows don’t hold much interest for me these days.
Same with magazines.
Quilter’s Newsletter
Back in the day (don’t I sound ancient?) before I was proficient with the internet and back when there wasn’t so much quilting on the internet, I loved getting magazines in the mail. I would sit and read them cover to cover, I would take them to work with me and read them during lunch.
Now, with so much on the internet, I have no magazine subscriptions of any kind.
Everything changes . . or maybe everything cycles. I look at my own hobbies. I began quilting in the late 70’s and totally stopped in about 1984 and didn’t pick it up again til the late 80’s. Not huge time spans but I quilted pretty much non-stop til about 2011. After moving to Texas, I lost most of my quilting desire. Maybe it was too many deadlines with the books and magazine patterns, maybe it was a bad guild experience . . I don’t look back and analyze because at this time, I’m loving knitting and not missing quilting.
My knitting interest has cycled too. I began knitting a lot back in the early 70’s and totally stopped — gave away all my yarn, needles and supplies, and then got hooked on knitting again in 2006 with those first socks I made.
While I am not pretending to know why quilt shops, book and magazine publishers are closing, for years I’ve said that quilting is getting too expensive for many of today’s quilters. Years and years ago, good quilt shop fabric could be found for $4.99/yard. Most fabric companies, as a “cost saving” decision, moved fabric manufacturing overseas and since then, we’ve watched fabric prices rise to $15.99 and more per yard. It isn’t the fault of the quilt shops. I’m not even saying it’s the fault of the fabric companies . . I’m just saying it’s a cost prohibitive hobby for many people. Without even including the cost of a sewing machine or cutters and rulers, factor in the cost of fabric for the top and backing, the batting and a longarm quilter and there aren’t a lot of folks who can afford to make full size quilts for hobbies.
When we were in Kentucky, I’d order boxes and boxes of fabric from Big Horn Quilts (also no longer in business). I almost exclusively ordered fabrics that were on sale – good, name brand tone on tone fabrics for $3 to $4/yard. Those days are gone – if I were a young craftsy person, on a tight budget, I doubt quilting would be a hobby I could afford.
While I don’t think quilting will ever go away or become extinct, the quilt shows still seem to have a full house, there are quilt shops, both online and brick stores, that are doing great .. I see things changing. I’m happy for my quilting memories. I’m happy for the friends I’ve made through quilting – both in real life and online. I’m happy that I got into quilting when I did.
Karen Goad says
there are still plenty of places to find good quality fabric on sale – one just has to look for it – I keep on quilting and rarely pay more than $5 a yard for my fabric and it is the top of the line stuff. No long arm quilter here – hand quilt or machine quilt straight lines with my Juki TL-2010 – no need for all the extra expensive stuff – too many think they have to have all the bells and whistles to quilt – you don’t!
I have no subscriptions to magazines anymore either, you can find all you need on line.
Joyce says
I think sewing in general has gotten very expensive over the years. When I was growing up my Mother made probably 95% of our clothes, because it was less expensive than “store-bought”. Now I can buy a nice t-shirt for $10, whereas the fabric would cost me about $15. With Hancock’s going out of business, I did buy quite a bit of fabric and several patterns, but unless you want something unique, it isn’t all that cost effective to sew your own clothes. (in general). I find it all rather sad!
JudyL says
Yes, Hancock’s is another one closing. My mom or I made almost all my clothes when I was younger and you’re right . . I helped Nicole shop for back to school clothes for Addie and we couldn’t have made any of them for what we paid for them.
Toni in TN says
We are so lucky to have a few brick and mortar shops nearby. They no longer do classes that make large bed size quilts instead concentrating on smaller more portable projects. Some wool classes have a waiting list! I have enough fabric to last the rest of my quilting life. Would just need to buy batting. Longarm quilters are getting scarce around here. I haven’t had a magazine subscription in years but do pick up a few issues on the news stands if something catches my eye. I dropped the guilds several years back and have never missed the drama queens that ruined it for others. Crafts ebb and flow but quilting will never completely go away. Too much a part of our heritage!
dezertsuz says
Interesting post, Judy. After 50 years, I still love magazines and quilt shows. =) I still quilt every day, and can’t imagine not quilting. I hear what you are saying about your own cycles of interest, and about the expense. My young quilter friends and I who shop hop are more likely to buy FQs now than yards. Budget is the monster.
I went from being a young person buying 1/4 yds to being able to buy by the yard and I’m back to usually buying 1/4 or 1/3 of a yard I like to mix in with other things I have. Most of the books I buy are history, not technique, these days, too. I still want to be doing it every single day, though! My cycles go through piecing, embroidering, appliquéing, and back to piecing. I’m even dipping a toe in modern quilting! Which somehow seems a whole lot like old time quilting to me. LOL I have to tell you there are a lot of women here in the Smokies who are still gleefully paying the $10.99 and up a yard for good fabrics, though. I can’t be one of them, but they are out there! Along with a few shops, such as Whittle’s, where the cost is still held way down.
JudyL says
There are some still paying the price but most quilt shops are complaining and too many are closing. I think the younger generation, which is what is needed to keep the industry thriving, just isn’t able to do it. I started in my late 20’s and not many of the 20 or 30 somethings are able (or willing) to pay the prices and invest the time it takes to learn to quilt and make the big quilts.
When I was teaching or speaking at guilds, I would look out into the faces and there weren’t many who were young folks out there.
Diann says
Still quilting; still obsessed with it BUT glad I have a stash. Only buy when I lack some color used up. I’m the opposite..donated all my knitting stuff and no interest any more. Not wild about cooking either.
Theresa says
Interesting post. Considering where quilting started, if I can’t get new fabrics, I’ll cut up old clothes like Great-Grandma. It all about creativity, and I am passionate about usable art in any medium.
meyersacc says
I recently moved from Topeka Kansas to Albuquerque. When we started the move there were three yarn stores in Albuquerque. Now there is one. It is downtown and parking is horrible do I don’t drop in as often as I would like to. Online is so much earlier. When I moved I think I brought along over 800 yards of fabric and have decided that I really like scrappy quilts do I’m pretty sure I will be ok for a long time. I have to want a fabric really bad to pay over $15.00 a yard. I am amazed also at the low number of quilt stores in this area. One I visited had cats running around the store and that was a huge turn off for me, I like looking at the newest of stuff and it’s really hard for the stores to keep up with the newest. Online mostly for me.
---"Love" says
While attending a nearby quilt show a few weeks back, I heard that three quilt stores within driving distance are closing; one stated that it is because quilters come to her store, look at the fabrics and notions to decide what they want, and then go home and order online, which really is rather sad for all concerned. I figure by the time you spend the gas money to go look, and then pay the shipping, you would have been as well off to buy it while at the quilt store! I must admit I do order online occasionally, but if the store has what I’m looking for, I get it there. Long live our friendly quilt stores!!
I love my quilt magazines and I subscribe to several. I keep every issue (I have a closet full, literally), and really enjoy them. I also have quite a iibrary of quilt books that I refer to often. In fact, I recently bought your “60 Pieced Quilt Borders” after you mentioned it may soon join the ‘missing’ list. I hate the thought of having to ever read everything online!
I’ve said all that to say this: Computers are wonderful things, but they do so much damage to lots of things, publishers and quilt stores being two that affect quilters most! Those two things no way compare to the damage done to family members who no longer communicate audibly with other family members. Think about that: I think you will agree, (But….I plan to keep my computer!)
—“Love”
Ann says
How true on everything. I have let most o my quilt magazines runout because all they are doing is pushing lines of fabrics. I think the quilts made entirely of one collection are a little dull, they lack the spark of scrap quilts made from many colors of blue or red or green, they lack the variations of a broad color palette. I will be working for years from my stash and now I only buy fabric if I need something to finish a quilt. Your post was well said.
Ann
Dotti says
We had two quilt shops close and then two opened. Both deal mostly in modern fabrics. I find that on a retired income budget the prices are getting a bit ridiculous. When you think that a backing alone takes over six yards for a queen size quilt the cost adds up quickly. The carpal tunnel thwarts hand quilting so long arm seems to be the answer. However, to invest in a machine would require me to be in business or take a part time job. So now the quilts are for special people on special occasions. Wall hangings that I am able to quilt myself is mostly what I do. I do like receiving my quilt magazines in the mail. Especially in the winter months. A subscription is a bargain compared to per issue price at the store. Just like every thing, crafts cycle. It is difficult to find young people who play bridge. Interest in golf is slowing down due to prices. As you said, things change, we change. Whoever thought people would pay to go to the gym or buy water! Yes things do change.
Marky says
Interesting article, Judy. The high cost of fabric is probably part of why scrap quilting is so popular now. My sister wants to try quilting but is intimidated by the costs to get started, both in tools and fabric. I’ve been quilting for over 30 years so my stash was acquired at lower prices and will keep me going for years to come. I plan to share my scraps and fabrics with my sister, just so she can get started, learn the techniques, and find out if she likes the art without the worry of the expense.
It has been a long time since I’ve seen something interesting in a quilt magazine so I haven’t been renewing my subscriptions; the Internet has become my source for inspiration. With EQ7 and basic pattern drafting knowledge, I can design my own quilts, and try a variety of colors/fabrics so I don’t need the magazines for patterns. (But I do realize I’m a rare bird who really enjoys the math and geometry in designing a quilt).
I have to agree with Ann: most quilt magazines are promoting a fabric collection and I find them dull, and without “sparkle”.
Ann says
This string of comments has been so interesting. What happened to the fabric industry is the quilt designers took over and we lost the feel of each decade. Remember when Mabeth Oxenrider was doing fabulous scrap quilts? Then she got into batiks which were wonderful but not the same. Those early quilt designers each wanted their own signature look. Debbie mumm, Lynette Jensen, sandy gervais, and s many others. I miss the international college of designers who determined the palette of fabrics for the season.. I think the last time they had control was when the jewel tones were so popular back in the late 80’s or early 90’s.
Ramblings from Randi says
I have a sizable stash that I accumulated from 1998 to 2011, when my late husband passed away. For awhile after he died, I lost my quilting mojo, only working on a stray project here and there. My quilting fire and desire is really reigniting lately, and tho I have a good stash, have still needed to buy some yardage for some special projects and have to say I’ve had a bit of sticker shock at what one yard of good fabric is costing these days. I’m so glad I hoarded fabric when I did!
Laura H says
I like looking at the magazines, but i am not really interested in the projects in them. I Wish i could have afforded to hoard fabric when it was cheaper but i was young and most of the time broke on a tight budget. Now the prices are so high, i buy fat quaters even that adds up really fast, but i have myself a small collection of 30’s fabrics. I try to grab batting when joanns has a good deal and buy everything except 30’s fabric at joann’s because i am a master at their coupons and sales. I buy in quilt stores and online when i can not find what i want locally.
Sharon Downey says
I’m happy I built my stash when I did. I still buy some fabrics but usually its from the 1/2 price shelf or because I found a great fabric and just happened to find another that really made it pop. I’m not sure I would have gone into quilting as a hobby if the prices for fabric, backing and batting were like they are now. And I love quilting.
Carolyn says
It’s called greed!
alison says
Oh how right you are Carolyn. We notice that here in New Zealand the exchange rate for the dollar goes up and down, but the fabric prices just go up. I was at my local quilt store yesterday for a minor purchase and noticed her fabric is now $34 per metre. Way out of my league, but there are a group of women with more disposable income than me who seem to take every class going there. Buying friendship perhaps?
Vicky says
Great post, Judy. I think the internet has a lot to do with the “passing” of small local quilt shops and quilting magazines. When us older quilters got into it, there was no internet. We went to our LQS and shopped for patterns, fabrics, and got our ideas from classes and samples hanging in the shops or from the magazines that came monthly. I actually got out the phone book to look for fabric stores in the area and then got out the map to figure out how to get to them, and I’ve only been quilting for 15 years. What we had available to us was limited by the styles of those shop owners or publishers. Today the world is at our fingertips. Just this morning I ordered a PDF pattern and I don’t have to wait for the mail delivery to get that. The younger generation of quilters started out with the internet and their quilting world is so much broader than ours was. Probably as our generation passes on to the big quilt bee in the sky, there won’t be so many traditional quilts being made. And that is not necessarily a bad thing!
cindy says
after my husband died, i spent about 4 years buying anything and everything that caught my eye — one to three yards mostly. Then at some point, I decided I really wanted to use what I had accumulated and now I generally go into quilt shops looking for specific things — lots of tone on tone or reads as solids to go with the mountain of prints I stashed. Most of what I make are baby quilts and most of those go to donation so I have plenty for years to come. I do occasionally buy just because I like it or for a specific big quilt for a family member or friend. I would love go shopping in Judy’s stash of solids and such to supplement what I have. As far as patterns go, I have more than I can possibly use in a lifetime and generally don’t follow a pattern anyway. I tend to start with a general idea and make it up as I go. While I love to look through the magazines and still have a couple of subscriptions (if they are still getting forwarded since my move) I find the patterns available to be more involved than I want to deal with. Many of those that use an entire fabric line just look like mush to me. Many also use a simple block or pattern and think they have created something new because they wrote the directions themselves but there really isn’t anything new or different — just changing the colors in a pattern doesn’t make it a new pattern. I quilt for myself and the pleasure it brings me and will continue to do so as long as I find joy in it. I have three granddaughters who share the house with me and am finding I feel a need to make clothing for them, not because of the cost, but because I want them to grow up learning to dress modestly and their mother and I can’t find a lot of clothing in the stores that meets that requirement. I dislike making clothes, but will do it in order to dress them appropriately.
x says
Very good subject Judy. I too have been quilting for a very long time and still wish I had more time to devote to it, even though I’m retired. I love to use up what I have or have been given these last few years, so I tend to make scrap quilts too. I love them. My stash covers all types of fabrics, eras and styles. There is always something fun about seejng how much I use from my stash, hence that’s why I joined your stashbustjng years ago. I collected lots of yardage when I worked part time too. Nowadays I try hard not to buy any unless it is absolutely necessary. Have been doing well on that score.