I love sewing and I love a good bargain. I am always on the look out for great deals and the best most amazing fabrics I can find. Here are a few things I’ve picked up along the way:

1. Know your local stores

It is so vital that you know what’s around you. That’s the start to finding the best stuff and the best bargains in town. Sure it’s easy to recall the big name people: JoAnns, Hancocks, etc. but what about all those wonderful little gems you have to search out? My new favorite store in Memphis is Bumbletees. They are a studio and fabric shop. I love that buying there supports the economy in Germantown! Off the top of my head I can count 3 big stores in Memphis with 8 total locations in the area for fabric. I can also count 6 smaller locally owned businesses/franchises. But I am sure that there are still a few stores that I do not know exist…yet.

2. Know the sales and sale trends of the stores

Stores put things on sale in predictable patterns It’s up to you to figure out those patterns. Calico Corner has a remnants section. Frequently they put the remnants at 50% off. Hint: inner lining pieces are often here and sometimes they are large enough pieces for a whole window! I only buy from this section when it’s on sale. Hancocks and JoAnns both put sections of the store on sale in rounds. When the decor fabric is on sale then perhaps cotton is not. Pay attention! Buy the sale! JoAnns is my favorite coupon store. Though you may only use each coupon once, you can stack them and often use many at once. If you are a teacher you can join their teacher rewards program and get an extra 15% off every time you shop! Both JoAnns and Hancocks have mailing lists that email and snail mail you coupons- join them! (just make sure to give them an email that you use). Next weekend I am going to JoAnns to use the following coupons: 50% off any one regular-priced item, 50% off and one reguler priced fabric, 40% off any one regular priced item, 10% off my total purchase (independence day coupon), and finally my teacher rewards for an extra 15% off my total purchase. **flesh it out** I will be able to buy $15 a yard dupioni silk for about $5 a yard- awesome! There are two great places to buy pillow forms in Memphis Johnson’s and Discount Fabric. They have high quality and low prices on down and polyester inserts. Polyester pillow forms have come a long way. Don’t discount them before you try them out. There are many levels of quality here. Just because you found a bad one doesn’t mean that someone else’s isn’t awesome!

3. Be Patient

I only buy decor at Hancocks when it’s on sale. I know they often put their fabric on sale at 40% off but I also know that they will put it on sale for 60% off. They also put coupons online and in the paper. Use them!

4. Don’t be afraid to dig

One of my favorite finds came from the bottom of the clearance pile. Yes, at first glance this pile is ugly and is full of fabrics that make you question other peoples’ style choices. You must press on and dig through the urge to walk on by because lurking underneath cold be your gem!

I found the fabric for the white Euro pillows in the bottom of such a pile. It was from a customer that special ordered it and decided they didn’t want it. Subsequently, I got this $30 a yard fabric for 70% off the regular price- and I got 4 yards of it! That was a happy day.

5. Fabric and other supplies do not have to come from fabric stores

The long bolster in the image above would have cost me a fortune had I bought it from a store. Two things make it expensive: the non customary length of it (it is super long) and the fact that it’s not a traditional shape (it’s not a square). I did not purchase this from a fabric store. I found it at Target for $20 (regular price! It was in the teenager aisle and had a different cover on it. I saw through what they wanted me to use it for and saw what I wanted it to become! Get creative and always be thinking of the potential of something rather than what it is now. You will be able to get many deals that way.

6. Online is your friend

If you find yourself locked in by the selection- or lack there of- of your local stores then go online! One of my favorite shops is www.quilthome.com. They have an assortment of amazing designers and modern designs from which to choose. Some of my favorite designers include: Amy Butler, Michael Miller, Jennifer Paganelli, Joel Dewberry, Patty Young, Kate Spain, Heather Bailey, Anna Maria Horner (who lives in Nashville and has a great blog of her own!), and the list goes on and on.

to be continued…