Best Places to Buy Fabric
If you’re anything like me, you’re still grieving the loss of a loyal crafting companion. Joann Fabrics was there for so many of my early projects. Back when you could always count on a 40% off coupon, I’d plan my shopping trips like a mission: return visits, strategic timing, and occasionally enlisting family members as coupon runners. But with Joann’s doors now closed for good, we thrifty quilters have had to get a little more creative. Luckily, there are still plenty of ways to source beautiful fabric. This shift has led me to new favorites I might never have discovered otherwise.
1. Your Local Quilt Shop (LQS)
Nothing beats running your fingers over bolts of quilting cotton. Visiting a LQS turns an errand into a mini-adventure:
Expert eyes on your project. Owners and staff know their stock and can suggest perfect pairings or advise on tricky techniques.
Classes & community. Sign up for workshops to grow skills and friendships.
Day-trip fun. My LQS is a 30-minute drive, so I make it an outing. Coffee and an audiobook make the trip a breeze!
Thimble & Bloom tip: Keep a small notebook (or your phone’s notes) with ongoing project ideas and yardage needs, so spontaneous shop visits stay purposeful.
Yardage from my local quilt shop — seeing colors in person always makes a difference.
2. Treasure Hunts at Thrift Stores
Bedsheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, even men’s cotton button-downs can all become quilt magic:
Sheets make wonderfully economical backings.
Pillowcases are an easy stash builder in manageable cuts, perfect for variety.
Shirts often feature prints you won’t find on bolts.
Maker’s mindset: Think beyond “perfect condition.” A tiny flaw can be trimmed away.
Thrifted tablecloths and cotton shirts — a few unexpected gems for quilting.
3. Online Shops
Shopping sight-unseen can feel unsettling, but there can be perks:
Sales & bundles. Discounted bundles and curated quilt kits take color-coordination stress off your shoulders.
Endless selection. Need a discontinued print? Someone on Etsy probably has it listed right now.
Small business support. Many indie shops ship quickly and include personal touches (hello, handwritten note!).
Stress-buster trick: Order a mini bundle first; if it’s everything you hoped for, go back for yardage.
A quilt kit I purchased online from Easy Piecy Quilts — everything coordinated and ready to go.
4. Big-Box Bargains
Walmart, Hobby Lobby, and Michaels might not have the charm of a specialty shop, but they’re:
Budget-friendly. Sometimes a $5 solid is all you need.
Immediate. Last-minute binding emergency? Grab-and-go beats waiting on shipping.
Accessible. For many rural quilters, they’re the only in-person option.
And remember: Recipients never ask where your fabric came from. They feel the love stitched inside.
These affordable solids ended up in gifts people loved!
Final Thread
Life after Joann hasn’t been as bleak as I feared; it’s simply nudged me into new creative corners. I’ll keep sharing fresh finds as they bloom.
Have a favorite source I missed? Feel free to share so we can all grow together!
