Does anyone here have the habit of purchasing FQs for your stash, or do u just purchase fabrics by the yards?

There are a few very pretty collections that I'm in love with now. However, purchasing every design by the yards is very costly and I'm thinking if I shd just purchase the FQs. This is a dilemma I face pretty often when purchasing fabrics.

When buying just the FQs, I face the problem of whether I should purchase extra yardages and how much to buy, especially when I do not have a project in mind.

Can someone help me pls?

If I like it and I have the money, I buy it! Because I know I won't find it if I go back!
I typically buy a yard, sometimes 2 or 3 if I really, really like it!
MOTTO: stash, stash, gotta build my stash!!

I buy FQ's often. I like using a lot of fabrics in my quilts so FQ work for me. I also do a lot of applique, I might do a flower with each petal a different shade of pink, so I need many colors in my stash to choose from. To buy yardage of all those colors would cost too much at once. I have been very surprised how far a FQ will go. There have certainly been times that I wished that I had bought more than a FQ, but unless you are buying for a specific pattern and don't really plan on having a stash, that is bound to happen. Or if you buy several yards of a fabric and only use half of it, will you really want to make another quilt with the same fabric? The longer you make quilts the better you will get at judging which fabrics to buy by the yard and which to just get a FQ. FQ's do usually cost a bit more than a 1/4 yd. cut, but sometimes it is worth it to not have to stand in line waiting to have fabric cut.

It depends, but usually I buy both, FQs and yardage.

I like both FQ's and Yardage, If I really like a fabric I will buy 3 yards.

When u quilt, do you prefer to mix and match fabrics or use everything from the same collection? I have a tendency to gear towards the latter.

I have bought more FQ in the past than I do now. Then I started buying 1/2 yds. I think I'll stick with 1 yd pieces for the most part.

If you plan to do some FQ quilt patterns or scrappy quilts, it's a great way to add variety to your stash.

If it's a beautiful large print that would be perfect for a border, I buy 2-3 yards.

Yep I buy both as well. :lol:

I'm a more yardage person myself. If you want the whole line :) then look for the fabric that speaks to you the most and purchase yardage of that one. That way you can use in the quilt itself and maybe borders. Then fill-in with others.

Link to Fabric Calculator
How Many Squares in a Fat Quarter? Roughly - 99 - 2 inch squares , 56 - 2 1/2 inch squares, 42 - 3 inch squares, 30 - 3 1/2 inch squares, 20 - 4 inch squares, 16 - 4 1/2 inch squares, 12 - 5 inch squares, 12 - 5 1/2 inch squares, 9 - 6 inch squares, 6 - 6 1/2 inch squares, 4 - 8 inch squares, 4 - 9 inch squares

I am a yardage person. I make bags and aprons as well so a FQ doesn't work for me.

it really needs to be a personal choice- what type of quilter are you???
if you tend to make big quilts, quilts that are strip pieced, quilts with large blocks/borders == fq's may not be the economical way to go--
if however you tend to make scrap quilts, appliqued quilts, samplers/quilts with small varying blocks == fq's will probably work.

I am a yardage person also - normally 2-3 yards per fabric sometimes more. I buy collections and various other fabrics that speak to me. I know many people love their fats but they just never made any sense to me moneywise.

I prefer yardage. If I don't use it all, the rest goes into my scrap bins for my first love which is scrappy quilts.

I have bought a few FQ when there are sales. I only buy them when they are 1.50 or less and Quilting fabric at the LQS's. I also will only buy if I can get two that look the same. I am now thinking that i should have used FQ's for my tumblers instead of using up all of my yardages. I like to use many fabrics on those quilts. Happy Quilting All...its off to work I go...

I buy both. I buy fat qtrs in collection sets. Tonals and fabrics I just love, a minimum of 2 yards.

i don't buy FQs its basically a scrap of fabric to me and i don't make scrap quilts.

my minimum purchase is 3 yards and my large purchase is 15-20 yards if i really love it or its a basic.

I buy FQ's if it's not available in yardage.

I prefer buying yardage, even if it's a 1/4 yard.

Personally I do not like FQ's...much prefer 1/2yd minimum. I tend to buy 1-2 yds of a fabric, maybe more if I really, really like it. I also prefer not to buy from the same family, mix and match is more my style in everything I do (even in everyday life). Plus I really enjoy stash building. I don't like to run out of fabric or feel pressured that if I make a mistake I'm sunk.

Thanks for all the sharing. I love to buy FQs that come bundled as a collection, but end up not knowing what to do with them. I think the reason is because it is difficult for me to "break" them up, cos they look so pretty and perfect in the same collection. Think I should put a stop to this "bad" habit. LOL

I too buy both. I tend to use the FQ's for mug rugs, coasters or doll quilts; the kind for neighbors daughter to play with and use yardage for quilts that I want a lil smoother or higher grade of fabric. love the colors I can use with FQ's and not have tooo much left on my stash shelf. sorry I just don't have that much room for a lg stash.

1/3 yard is approx the same price and you get more bang for your buck!

I use those bundles for Miss Rosie's patterns. Love them!