M&D S3 E65: QuiltCon 2021 Recap and are Quilt Fabric Prices Going Up??
HEAT TRANSFER QUILT LABEL
This photo is the quilt label I made with the printable heat transfer vinyl. I trimmed the fabric to the size I wanted the label, and then folded back the edges, mitered the corners and top stitched to finish the label. I then hand stitched it to the back of the quilt, which did not take long at all.
You do not need a Silhouette machine to use these printable heat transfer sheets. Just design the quilt label you want printed, mirror the image, then print on an ink jet printer. Iron it onto the fabric you are using for the quilt label, and voila! Quilt label done. I am an Amazon affiliate and will receive a small commission from any purchase made from the link below.
QUILTCON 2021 RECAP
Here is the link to the winning quilts at the QuiltCon quilt show. https://www.quiltcon.com/quiltcon2021-winners
The photos below are my projects from the workshops I took at QuiltCon. I do not think I would have been close to finishing workshop projects if I took them in person. I really love the virtual online classes, because I really get stuff done!
Boro Mending
Quilt Design
Wall Hanging
Boro Slow Stitch Class
Hand Quilting
The traditional way…very challenging
QUILT FABRIC PRICES ARE INCREASING
Yes, there is a huge chatter not only about the increasing prices of quilt fabrics, but on everything…gas, shipping, furniture, coffee. We are being hit with huge inflation this year, due to so many factors - post covid being one of those factors. Vendors are warning about it, but we don’t know what “price increase” means…is it 10% or 100%?? It is easy to get swept into the panic, but just like the pandemic and everything else that we cannot control, we will MAKE DO and carry on…right? …. well, we sure are not going to stop creating, crafting and quilting now, are we? LOL :). Here is a link to the blog post from the CEO of Jaftex Corporation on fabric price increases https://scottfortunoff.com/it-all-starts-with-greige-goods/
HOW DO WE MAKE DO AND KEEP MAKING QUILTS DURING THE DAYS OF BIG BAD INFLATION?
PULL FROM YOUR STASH: IF YOU HAVE ONE
I have already been pulling from my fabric stash on the past three quilt projects, and it feels good to use what I already have. Using what you have is a great way to cut down on future fabric spending.
SMART PURCHASING:
It took me years to hone this skill, and I think I have finally done it, and will keep honing the process of buying smart. I went through many phases of buying fabrics because they were on sale (not because I loved those fabrics…I didn’t ), then when everyone started following fabric designers, I followed suit and thought I had to buy the newest introduced fabric collections. Well, I could not afford to get every collection or everything in a single collection, so I would haphazardly buy a few fat quarters, a yard of this and that, with no rhyme or reason of what could be made from those odds and ends. Now, I only buy fabrics that I absolutely love, and when I see certain staples like Kona solids, Essex Linen, Moda Grunge fabrics go on sale… I stock up. That has made a difference in being able to pull fabrics from my stash without having to buy more, or only having to buy certain specific pieces I am missing - which means targeted shopping only for that missing fabric I need for the project.
SUPPORT LOCAL SHOPS WITHOUT GOING BROKE:
The existence of our craft does rely upon our suppliers. Local quilt shops are part of the supply chain. They are undoubtedly more expensive than big box stores, and the quality is usually better. I tend to purchase statement fabrics and unique to quilt shop fabrics from quilt shops. I do not buy all of my fabric from brick and mortar quilt stores, and that is OK. I get a bee in my bonnet when I hear people lecturing on only buy from quilt shops or you are a terrible person… no, we are not terrible. We are on a budget, and we can purchase supplies from wherever we darn well choose…and, online quilt fabric shops are indeed real fabric shops. Remember when online fabric shops were vilified? So, in essence, I support my local quilt shops the best that I can, and supplement from online and big box stores.
TRADE FABRICS WITH OTHER QUILTERS
I haven’t done this yet, but I hear about guilds doing fabric swaps, and instagram fabric swaps. I think that can be fun and useful especially if you are looking for a specific color or type of fabric.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As I savor my last month of being in my “forties”, I will try to look forward to all the good things that I should appreciate and enjoy as I age each year. I still welcome any good thoughts and encouragement from you as I near my 50th birthday this month.
Thank you for reading this blog post, if you made it this far :). I do appreciate you listening to my podcast and I hope to hear from you with any feedback you may have. Enjoy your weekend!
much love,
Stephanie
