Elizabeth A.

If you're looking to make a quilt you can always visit www.quilterscache.com, they have lots of free patterns, then when you find one you like you decide how many blocks it will take to make the size you want, and then find one of those free "fabric calculators" (seems a good portion of the online stores have them or you can just google fabric calculator) and that will tell you how much fabric you need to buy for the size quilt you want.

Other options for patterns are the fabric manufactures (you mentioned Moda so here's their website's free patterns http://www.unitednotions.com/un_main.nsf/free_patterns) they always seem to have beautiful quilts, and they will tell how much fabric to buy to make the quilt, and of course you can always change the pattern to suit your colors and or fabrics, no one said you HAD to use theirs, those kind normally give a finished size and if it's not the size you'd like try to keep in mind that you want to "leave off the border" or "add two more" ect.

When I'm stash building I buy 1/2 a yard off the bolts that gives me two fat quarters, one to keep and one to share. Though so far all the fabric I bought that way was "shared" so perhaps a yard would have been better... Truly to buy a half a yard is to pay have the price listed on that bolt, so it's not so expensive, and you get to take it home and cut it into two cute little fat quarters (or leave them whole if you don't want to share)

When you find a fabric you LOVE, and you will know, buy as much as you can, you never know if you'll see it again or what you might use it to make. For instance for a quilt back you need something like this:
TWIN - 63" x 87" = 5 1/4 yards
And that would use up a lovely "favorite" fabric in no time. :cry: :cry:

Elizabeth A.

Oh I nearly forgot to mention, I buy both because I liked it and because I'm looking for something for a quilt. ;)

My dream gift is to go to a fabric store and pull down every bolt I love and get a half a yard of it. :D :D :D I told DH and he said something about when he wins the lottery, so I told him when he wins the lottery he has to buy me a fabric store! :lol: Wouldn't that be a nice sized stash.

Rose Marie

I watch the sales on line and buy enough $3 a yrd fabric to do a couple of backings.
I collect fats when on sale at my local shop for 25 for $25. This is only once a yr after christmas but what a bargain.
Of course its Joanns 99 cent fats that I have the most of.
I buy batiks and marbles whenever I find them on sale. Cant go wrong with them.

gramadona

When my kids were little I made most of their clothes and saved every scrap! And now that I'm retired I am making quilts using up all those wonderful scraps... full of memories. My grandkids love to hear stories about the fabrics in their quilts... "that is from your mommy's dress from kindergarten. And this is a piece of grandpa's navy uniform." etc.
Needless to say, I have loads of fabric, but I can't stay away from the fabric shops! And usually buy a yard of whatever I like unless I am working on a specific project.
My sewing room is packed with shelves of fabric sorted by color... I need to sew a lot faster and use it up... so I can go buy more!!

Tigerbaby1981

Grandmadona, I would love you sewing room full of fabric :)

Well I found a really nice collection of Spring meadow by Moda its a fat quater bundle but they have maybe 10 of the yardage.. Now I dont know if i should just by the yardage or buy the bundle and a lil bit of the yardage for binding and backing (since its going to be baby/toddler quilts)

gramadona

Tigerbaby,
The Spring Meadow bundle will make an adorable baby quilt. Go for it!!
And be sure to post pictures, too.
Dona