Upholstery, and other fabric Sources (Day 2 of 31)

This is Day 2 of the challenge....For all 31 days, go here

Fabric is a HUGE topic. In fact, I cannot do it all in one post, so I will have future discussions on this, check back. For now, I am going to share with you MY experience BASED ON PRICE...

I am a fabric junkie collector

I gave some of this away for a recent charity garage sale so my collection is a bit lighter. Never the less, If I get enough "followers", I will have a fabric give-away at the end of the 31 days!

What everyone always wants to know...where do you get the best deals? I have seen many of the blog posts/links/ads; some are good, but most just don't do it for me...how about you? I have also read about people finding yards and yards for almost nothing....again, not me....how about you?

Because I live close to NY, I have been to Mood and many of the other stores in that area. The selection is good, but again, fair prices, nothing to get too excited about. For example



mood $45/yd



mood $45/yd



mood $35/yd

Since price is so subjective, this is a good place to start. I don't find the above fabrics rediculis in prices, however, they are also not enough of a bargin for me to buy them....how about you?

I have purchased from Calico Corners, they have 20% off maybe about once a month, and about 2 times a year, they have a 25% off (sign up on their e-mails); however, I still find their prices a bit high. I find the best deal at Calico to be the rolls of discontinued fabrics usually at 50-70% off.

Jo-ann Fabrics is always having a sale...so don't pay full price there...ever! For example


$20/reg $40




$25/ reg $50



$25/ reg $50

Better, and I would certainly not reget a purchase at that price. However, we can still do better than that...

This online store here, I'm sure you have seen around. The big mistake most people make...myself included...they don't take the time, or spend the extra few dollars on a SAMPLE! It is impossible to shop by color on a computer screen. The ONLY way to shop for fabric online, is to get a sample. If the "sample" option is not available, take the time to call that 800#...and ask. The deals


$16/yd




$16/yd



$20/yd



getting even better

...I have also purchased samples here, but when it arrived, I did not like the color in person...I'm learning from my own mistakes.

So, for me, the best price/value is eBay! I love eBay, and have had mostly positive experiences. My most recent fabric purchase was  here, and this is what I bought

there is still more of this one

it averaged about $10/yd

I found this seller to be extremely nice. They will send a swatch for a small fee....if you ask. I negotiated shipping (send a message in "ask seller question"), and got a tiny bit of a "package price" for both pieces. Here is the perfect example I was telling you. In person, these are vibrant and beautiful....what do yo see on your monitor? Kinda dull on mine. Equally important, they are heavy in weight...and that will be a whole other fabric topic....be careful when choosing the weight of a fabric for furniture.

Your "win" will never be my "loss", so go out and score a FANTASTIC deal on a piece of fabric...make me proud....and come back and tell me all about it!