... then how much do you buy?

The question is one of straightness of cut and grain.

Supposing you've asked for a quarter-yard and the quilt shop gives you a 10" cut... and they're using a gridded cutting board and cutting straight across.

But, as we all know, fabric is often warped a bit when wrapped on the bolt, and it's not until after it is taken off the bolt and has a chance to "relax" that it springs back into shape.

So the question is... how much extra should the quilt shop be giving on each cut? Is the quilt shop responsible for the crookedness of the grain of the fabric? Or should the customer be willing to purchase a little extra, to account for this common problem? Is the answer somewhere in the middle?

How do you figure out what's right... when the real problem is with the wrapping of the fabric on the bolt, something which neither the customer nor the quilt shop has any control over?

(We won't even touch on the issue of fabric that's not printed straight on grain... that's a whole other topic!)

I think 9" is a 1/4th cut, so you got an extra inch. I always buy at least 1/2 yard, just to make sure. Also a Fat Quarter is 1/4 yard.

I never buy just "exactly" what I need for this very reason. I buy a minimum of 1/2 yard. That way I have enought to allow for printing errors, rolling distortion from the manufacturer. Very seldom will a shop allow for more than 1" inch or a thumb when cutting. If you are getting from a chain store, they usually cut EXACT or charge you for the extra inches.. as they do have charts they use by the inch, so their inventory is not off.

Any excess left over can be used for scrap quilts, bags, pincushions, etc. If I am buy for an unknown project, I buy at least 2, I do sometimes buy 1 yard but only if the fabric is very expensive and I can buy a co ordinate fabric to blend with it.

Always buy more! It won't be there when you go back! And I ALWAYS make mistakes cutting when I don't have much fabric and am trying to MAKE IT WORK! I usually buy 3 yards if I don't have a plan. :lol:

Me, too! :D


That's my kind of quilter! :)



To answer your question, I usually round up to the next 1/4 yard increment from whatever the directions say I need.

I always get home and decide to do something else and when you go back to get more it is always gone

We never want to admit that - BUT - if I am tight on fabric, that will be the time that the ruler slips, the iron leaks, I have to rip out a seam and rip the fabric or a variety of other disasters.

Here is my rule of thumb If I need 1/4 yd

1. If I like it, I buy 2-3 yds (you never know when you can use it :-) )
2. If I don't, I buy at least 1/2 yds.

A 1/4 yd extra is my minimum safety net.

I, too, round up to the nearest quarter-yard. I'm willing to admit to cutting errors....well not really cutting errors per se, as much as brain fades. My last project called for cuts at 4 1/2" intervals. I did the first at 4 1/2" then the next few at 3 1/2". Don't know why....and was certainly glad that I'd allowed myself the extra cushion.

you have to account for waste, mistakes, and shrinkage when you wash it too.

the minimum i ever buy is 0.5 yards unless i'm making a scrap quilt then i just buy extra FQs.

I always buy extra. I know me and I can make mistakes so I like to have a buffer. If I really like the fabric I buy alot extra because I know I'll use it again.