Just a little ole marking pen and some bees wax for my thread when I'm hand appliqueing.
AND THIS PATTERN!!!! OH be still my heart!!!! COG & WHEEL LOVE!!!Yep, I've kind of been on a fabric strike. The average price farmers got for their cotton this past year was 84 cents a lb.......NOT the 1.50 the market was showing. You can check with the DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE to verify. Yes, some farmers did receive the higher prices, but MOST farmers had CONTRACTED their cotton before it was harvested.
COTTON HERE AT BROWN DIRT COTTAGE RECEIVED .75 CENTS A LB.
My local fabric store had already started MARKING UP their prices BEFORE we had even started harvest.
SOOOOO, I have been a little MIFFED at a LOT of those who used the news media and the price of the 1.50 a lb. the market guys were touting as an EXCUSE TO MARK UP THEIR PRICES ON OUR FABRICS!!!!!
OK......I'll get down from my soap box...........WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON??????
Ahh, so that's how this whole thing is workin'. I see. I see what those buggers are up to. I don't know what I'll be working on but I wont be buying any fabric. It's not like the stash is lacking, ha?
ReplyDeleteIt's always the farmer that works the hardest foe the lowest pay, so sad. Thanks for the soapbox news, I was just proud of you for not spending...!
ReplyDelete:-}pokey
That really stinks about the cotton prices! I've been shopping my stash this year. I'm trying to use up what I have and I can't afford new fabric either!
ReplyDeleteI can so relate... I grew up in South Dakota during the heart of the farming crisis. I can still remember when Phil Donohue had farmers on and the one stood up with a box of cornflakes and said the person printing the box made more than the farmer who grew the actual food. Thanks for the info. I may be more stingy with my buying.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how you are doing in the drought down there this year. I didn't know what month was harvest time. All we hear about is the price is going up on cotton and yet the farmers don't benefit. I come from a farming family so I know what it's like.
ReplyDeleteThat's not cool at all.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to see farmer's getting the least cut. They toil more than anyone... Thank you for the details, Belinda. The Cog and Wheel pattern is a gorgeous one! Denyse Schmidt patterns are so fresh and beautiful. Have a lovely weekend!
ReplyDeleteI have Cog and Wheel pattern all set aside with fabrics already selected. Yes, another one on my to-do list.
ReplyDeleteNice to have your perspective on the high price of cotton. I too have been only working from my stash in hopes that prices will eventually drop. Although, my main motivation is to use what I have before buying more.
Sheesh, doesn't surprise me one bit!
ReplyDeleteOur quilt stores started raising prices when the weather started getting hot and the floods started - before any news of cotton harvest prices came out - shame on them - taking advantage of this to make extra profit. Those fabrics cost them less last year - and yet they raised prices on them as if they had just bought them. Shame Shame.
ReplyDeleteBut it is the same with all other things too - you hear of a freeze in Florida and the NEXT DAY orange juice has jumped in price - even when they bought it last season - and bread - have you priced bread lately, made with last years wheat - unbelievable what the seller do - and they make the biggest profit - usually 50% to 100& profit (a friend works in retail and manages a grocery store) - bet the farmers do not make that percentage.
Ok - off my soap box too - and I'll go sew with the fabrics I have! (Which probably had a horrendous mark up at the time I bought them, for another fictitious reason)
My brother in law chose to not even grow cotton this year because of the expense and uncertainty! Our fabric shops have also marked up fabric to almost $12 a yard.
ReplyDeleteFabric prices are out of sight.
ReplyDeleteYou have the cotton issue; our neighbors/friends are dealing with the wheat issue. Same deal - only food instead of fabric. You didn't even mention the differences in the prices of equipment and fuel from a few years back until now. Enough to make one scream.
Not working on any sewing right now, but have been purchasing fabric and patterns (and shirts, thank you!) at thrift stores and yard sales. I'm trying to catalog my cookbook collection and scan photographs.
Thanks for the info on cotton and prices. It doesn't surprise me though. I know the farmers often get the short end of the stick, and sellers will use any excuse to raise the prices on their merchandise. I used to work at a fabric store and was shocked at the markup on fabric. And look at gasoline as an example of 'any excuse to raise the price'!
ReplyDeleteLove the Cog & Wheel pattern! I can't wait to see what you do with it.
I'm not working on much lately. About to do some bindings, and am just finishing a charity quilt. Not very inspired lately, somehow.
That is very interesting. The only fabric I have been buy is on sale. Just like the price of gas it all in the speculation. Starting sewing on my Aunt Grace quilt again.
ReplyDeleteHugs
donna
I haven't really priced fabric lately. The fat quarters I have bought here and there were still priced the same as always. I really do have a lot of small chunks to keep me busy doing scrappy for a long time!
ReplyDeleteMan, that SUCKS!!! Let's hear it for stash shopping! You've shown great dicipline...don't tell my husband! I think we are all going to shopping our stashes pretty soon. The new prices are really high...makes me glad to have a stash.
ReplyDeleteIn stitches,
Teresa :o)
Love that Cog/Wheel pattern. Can't wait to see what fabrics you choose for it. I hear you on the farming issue, I asked a kid in 4-H what he got for his beef, it was less that what I got back in 1978. Are you Kidding me!
ReplyDeleteOh My! I LOVE that Cog and Wheel pattern! I may have to get that one too! But then I need to find time to do it!
ReplyDeleteThat IS a great pattern! And impressive that you had such shopping restraint. :) Hope you don't mind if I follow your blog. Beautiful hand applique quilt!
ReplyDeleteLove love love your 12 blocks finish! I want to do one some day. I love hand applique and love hand hand quilting. Do you think I can love one more time this comment? How about....I love this clog and wheel pattern too. Do you have the info of how to order this design? I NEED to make this one. Steph
ReplyDeleteIts not a soap box you make a good point. if you look around at blogs of Quilt fabric designers. They were blogging the prices were up anlong with the quilt stores raising prices way before.
ReplyDeleteThat pattern looks great.