Sewing on a Budget - Part One: Shopping at Joann's

This is a post I've been thinking about doing for awhile. (I also have been working on it for awhile!)
So I hope you find the 'Sewing on a Budget' series helpful. Feel free to leave comments on things you do to make your crafting dollar go the furthest. I'd love to have a post with reader tips! 

(FYI: I am not saying I am a pro at budgeting or these are the only ways to do so, I am just passing off some things that have worked for me.)

So here we go....

Keeping your hobby in line with your budget, yikes! It's hard not to go crazy with all the fun fabrics, supplies, and ideas out there. However, I think with creativity and planning you can have a fun and practical hobby that you enjoy that and is easy on the wallet. Christmas is also right around the corner and handmade gifts are wonderful but can be expensive if you wait to the last minute. However, if you start to plan now, watch sales, and of course make time to sew or craft, you will enjoy making those handmade gifts much more.

So my first tip for sewing on a budget is....

Shopping at Joann's

Yes.  I know Joann fabrics aren't always the most current and some stores have horrible inventory. Trust me I've seen my share of Joann's; the good and the bad. Even still, I still love shopping there for these reasons:

Coupons & Sales

• There is always a sale! And if there isn't, use a coupon. I never pay full price for anything. Okay...I may have bought a zipper or two w/out a coupon. ;)
• I always take a coupon with me. If you don't get Joann emails or mailers go to www.joann.com and sign up. 
• My favorite sales:
• Patriotic Sales. Joann's has a sale around every patriotic holiday and they always have the basics on sale.
• Coupon Commotion. Happens about 3 times a year. It is great because you can use multiple coupons at once. They usually happen in the winter, summer, and fall. 
• Black Friday. I stock up on a few items at this sale because the prices never are lower. (These have been the prices for the last three years.)
1. Interfacing, $3.99/10 yard bolt
2. 72" wide Felt, $1.99/yd
3. Cotton Flannel, $1.49/yd
• In my opinion, I feel like from September - January are some of the best sales at Joann's. (Probably because everyone is doing extra crafting/sewing for the Holidays.)

Basic Sewing Supplies & Materials
I stock up on the following items when they are on sale if I need them. I never buy all these items at once, remember this post is about staying on budget. This is how I started to build my sewing supply stash a few years back. I would pick up a few items when they went on sale. Before I knew it, I had a nice supply of basic supplies and fabrics so I didn't have to go to the store for each and every project.

• thread - About every 4 - 6 weeks it is on sale for 40% - 50% off. I like to always have a big spool of black, cream, and white on hand. Then I get smaller spools of other colors.
• basic cotton prints {polka dots, stripes, vines, etc} aka 'Keepsake Calicos' - These are almost always on sale for 30% - 40% off. I stock up on my basics when they are on sale so I can get all the fabrics I want at a discount. Of course, if I only need one print and no sale, I use my coupon. 
• fat quarters - I only buy these when they are on sale for .99 cents each. Otherwise, they are $1.50 each which equals $6.00/yd fabric! Yikes! More than I want to pay for Joann fabric, let alone fat quarter fabric from Joann's because the quality isn't $6.00/yd fabric. (In my opinion.)
• remnants - I go through the remnants every time I go because they are always 50% off. I've made adorable little girl dresses from remnants because you usually only need a yard or less of fabric.
• cutting tools - Seem like they are always on sale for 40% - 50% off. You can read more about my favorite cutting tools here.
• felt yardage or 72" wide felt - Unless I only need the smallest amount of felt, I buy it by the yard. It is far cheaper. Example:
• One felt sheet is .25 cents and really not a lot of felt.  
• 1/4 yard of felt at regular price using a coupon costs .75 cents and is a lot of felt!
• From about September - January felt is super cheap, around $2.99 - $3.99 a yard.
• interfacing - About every 4 - 6 weeks it is on sale for 50% off. 
• notions wall - Again, about every 4 - 6 weeks the notions wall is either 50% off or BOGO free. 

So those are some of the tips I have for shopping at Joann's. Do you have any?

Check out all the posts in this series.