Jackie Spencer

If it's a fabric that would be a good back ground fabric I get at least 4, or if its just something I can't live without I get 3 to 5 also.

susie-susie-susie

I buy whatever I can afford at the time. That means, if I have already spent a fortune on fabric, I wait until a new month to buy it. If it's something that I really love, it's hard to walk away. However, I've not seen a fabric that I don't love. Some are easier to walk away from, but I love them all. I recently took 2 classes and used my stash to make them. I "had" to buy some fat quarters to get some variety (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). They are both twin sized quilts, and I don't know how to show a picture. They also aren't done. One is all batiks. Every so often I get the urge to get fabric--sick I know. I think it's an addiction.
Sue

lfstamper

We are of like mind! Sad but true to be such a collector.

Wine Woman

YC to answer your question, I would have looked at the pattern to see what is amount of yardage they used for the size that was on display. Then I look at the yardage price, then I think what size I want to make. And you did state that you wanted to make a lap size. Was that the size on display? If so this will help you gage and I buy a little more since no pattern was in mind. If it's fabric I really like I buy 1/2 to 1 yard more. Price is my determining factor. Then I think of time, if I'm not going to use it for awhile, (I'm buying the fabric because I have to have it) I'll buy more so when I do go to make my quilt I have enough because I'm likely not going to be able to find it again. Its a gamble sometimes you just go with it what feels good!!

If it's price driven -Madquilter stated the yardage very well. I agree 100% on her reasoning. That's how I buy fabric. There are very few times I will buy under 2 yards. 2 yards are my starting point almost the majority of the time.

QuiltingCrazie

I'm struggling with this exact problem right now. I bought fabric in 2005 just to buy it. Life took over and I'm back to quilting full force right now and I'm running out of fabric or I'm limited on what I can make because I didn't buy enough and I can't find the fabric anymore. I used to buy 1/2 yards of all the prints I loved! huge mistake, I just made a quilt out of fabric I hung onto for years had 9 prints and 1/2 a yard to a yard of each and bam I ran out for the border now I was smart enough to buy 5 yards for the back and no I can't use it for the border because I used it for the inner border. That one is twin sized. I also bought another collection at the same time 1 yard of four different prints and again I ran out when I got to the outside border and that one I was able to get a wall hanging/large table topper out of. So learn from my mistakes and get min. of 2 yards each print you have in mind because when you do get around to using it you may run out. I always buy enough now to get a twin out the fabric I don't make a lot of huge quilts but I at least want a lap size. Also take into consideration waste some patterns waste alot of fabric I've gotten into trouble with that as well! Hope this helps!

Cherylsea

When I started quilting again about 20 years ago, I would buy 6 yards. I "planned" to make a ton of queen sized quilts. I still have some of these pieces and rarely make a queen sized quilt! They are a good stash for backings. Now I usually buy 3-4 yards of something that I really like....

YC Quilter

Thank you all for your suggestions. I love MadQuilters method too, but I'll probably go for 2-3 yds each of about 5 fabrics, maybe less for some of the accent fabrics. It is a new line by Helen Weinman for Marcus fabrics...beachy shells, lighthouses etc. I will try to find a pattern also before I buy, at least to give me some idea of yardage.