Quiltingboard Forums

Quiltingboard Forums (https://www.quiltingboard.com/)
-   Main (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/)
-   -   Just curious... (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/just-curious-t21248.html)

NY Nancy 06-12-2009 04:04 AM

For those of you who buy fat quarters to add to your stash, do you ever buy bundles of related FQs or do you prefer to pick-and-choose? Is your answer different, if you're shopping online rather than in person?

tlrnhi 06-12-2009 04:07 AM

With me, price has alot to do with it.
Sometimes if I see fats that I like, I'll buy them seperately.
I LOVE making fat quarter quilts, so if I have a pattern in mind when I see the bundles, I'll buy a bundle.

Bevanger 06-12-2009 04:09 AM

Ok I guess I'm the VERY odd one here as I never look at FQ when in a store :oops: Not sure why? I just like the big bolts to look at I guess. But have gotten them from my fabric angels and LOVED them :D

amma 06-12-2009 05:47 AM

I buy both ways...it depends on what strikes my eye and the price, too :wink:

mpspeedy 06-12-2009 06:35 AM

I usually end up buying yardage. I do purchase the 5 fat quarter packs of fabric that AC Moore and Micheals carry just to use my coupon. I use those fabrics to make Linus quilts.

desertdebbe 06-12-2009 07:16 AM

I generally buy them in a store individually. I'd love to buy the packs but
the price scares me off. Sometimes the fabric quality in the multipacks
doesn't look that good. I pick the colors I think I will need.
I hope this helps.

quiltluvr 06-12-2009 07:46 AM

I buy them individually. I think I've only purchased any type of bundles twice.

Of course, I always start with the clearance sections and grab bins first. :D

Rose Marie 06-12-2009 08:30 AM

I only buy fats when they are on sale. Just bought a 24 bundle for 27 dollars of the victory quilts fabrics at Quilt in a Day. That was a great buy.
Also got fats for 1.25 at my local shop the other day.
Lots of bargains out there.

BellaBoo 06-12-2009 08:42 AM

I bought 100 fat quarters for $99 from Keepsakes Quilting and I had a free shipping coupon. Each one was different, all quilt shop quality fabric. I kept the ones I wanted and then sold the others for $1 to my quilt guild members. There was not one fat quarter that someone didn't like. I I will certainly buy the 100 fat quarter bundle again from there.

Jim's Gem 06-12-2009 09:20 AM

I don't usually buy fat quarters unless it is for a gift for someone and I'm pretty sure that I won't use the fabric again (maybe cause I don't like it) I like to go with bigger pieces. I do enjoy making fat quarter quilts but if I get larger pieces I can make more of them. Too many times I have bought a fat quarter or a half yard in the past, then decided that I really love the fabric and can't find it any more. I do cut down some of my scraps into fat quarters.

zennia 06-12-2009 02:31 PM

I stick to buying by the yard. If I have a special project in mind,like my civil war quilt, I will buy the fq bundles.

MadQuilter 06-12-2009 02:34 PM

I've bought packs before and when I get them home, I can never find the perfect pattern for them. I think of them as garnishments for my stash - something pretty to look at but not "eat."

Shemjo 06-12-2009 02:35 PM

I buy yardage. Have not gotten into FQs because I get upset if I don't have enough of a fabric to do something if I change my mind. :?

patricej 06-12-2009 02:44 PM


Originally Posted by Bevanger
Ok I guess I'm the VERY odd one here as I never look at FQ when in a store :oops: Not sure why? I just like the big bolts to look at I guess. But have gotten them from my fabric angels and LOVED them :D

you aren't odd for that. at least i'll never say so because i almost always pass on the fats unless they're on sale for $1 or less.

i've tried them several times ... in bundles and as onesies. the colorful stacks are fun to look through, but once i try to use them, i'm disappointed 95% of the time. they are so rarely at least 18" x 22" i don't dare count on them when trying to figure out whether or not i have enough.

i'd probably feel differently if i wasn't so hopelessly unable to get scrappy with my quilts. :lol:

sunnyhope 06-12-2009 02:47 PM

where is the best place to buy pretty plain( plain or marbeled like) in yardage :wink:
or is anyone of you selling any,lol

Ninnie 06-12-2009 03:25 PM

99% of what i buy is fat quarters, sinc eI'm a old fashioned quilter. I love using lots of pieces in my quilts and view them as having values,, rather than just colors! :lol:

When I buy yardage I actually get sick on my stomach, thinking about how many fgs I could have had instead :wink:

littlehud 06-12-2009 06:32 PM


Originally Posted by Bevanger
Ok I guess I'm the VERY odd one here as I never look at FQ when in a store :oops: Not sure why? I just like the big bolts to look at I guess. But have gotten them from my fabric angels and LOVED them :D

I was the same way Bev. I think mine came from sewing clothing for so many years I just headed for the bolts of fabric. I am learning to really love fat quarters though. I buy fabrics I like and very seldom buy lines of fabric.

OHSue 06-12-2009 07:05 PM

I only buy FQ when they are on sale, but I do buy lots of half yards of fabric, so in my mind I buy two FQ at a time.
But my LQS gives free FQ with each purchase, even those half yard purchases I make, so I made it a point to only take blue FQ since I knew I would someday make a bed quilt for my bedroom in blue. It is a testament to how often I am in that place when I see how many FQ I have accumulated.

Pinkrose4664 06-12-2009 07:25 PM

I'm with Shem. I would like to use FQs, I have gotten them as gifts. I am always afraid that whatever quilt I plan, I won't have enough of a fabric, then what do you do if you can't get anymore?

Anna

gcathie 06-12-2009 09:44 PM

I've done both.....a lot does depend on the price too...

sewsue 06-12-2009 10:25 PM

I dont buy the packs but have often bought fat quaters one by one. It gives me more freedom to buy what I need and want. :D

SulaBug 06-12-2009 10:58 PM

I tend to buy either, by the yard or single FQ's.
It just depends on what I see that takes my eye.
:D :D :D

sewsue 06-12-2009 11:25 PM

Sulabug I also tend to buy fabrics that way. Just what takes my fancy. Just wish I had bought more of some fabrics!!!!!!

NY Nancy 06-13-2009 04:30 AM

OHSue,

You get a free FQ even if you only just bought a half-yard? That's pretty nice! Can you choose any FQ in the shop - even if it's a brand new fabric? Or is there a bin of freebies that you're limited to?

Jamie 06-13-2009 05:06 AM

Up until a few months back, before we ran into some problems with money, I would definatly buy bundles, but only If I had something in mind to do with them, and the colors and style was good...I tried never to buy more fabric then I would reasonable use, Just because I've never really felt comfortable spending money on myself...which is why I've given away most of my quilts lol. I use to go every 3 weeks to my fabric store, and get myself what I called a goodie bag...I would have a few random pieces, a bundle and a couple FQ's, and a few 1/2 yrd pieces of "favorite" styles or colors that I knew I just had to have. I find a lot of times, in my area atleast, you can save money buying a bundle..but sometimes it is a risk, because there is always some I don't care for...which I always tend to give away to those who could use them.

sewsewquilter 06-13-2009 06:02 AM

I don't buy that many FQs. I like yardage better. I will buy them if the price is right or if I need an accent color for a small project. They just don't seem like a good value for the money.

kapatt 06-13-2009 06:34 AM

When I buy fat quarters, I buy them individually. I don't like other people picking out my material for me. I'm making a quilt with different colored stars in it for my daughter. I had a lot of fun picking out the fat quarters for the individual stars.

After saying that, I have to admit that most of the time I buy my material by the yard. I always buy 1/4 or 1/2 yard more than I need so I've built up quite a bit of stash of my own brand of fat quarters. What I've bought at different times in the past, coordinate very well together when I mix them together for my present or future projects.


greenfairy 06-13-2009 06:56 AM

I know for me, whenever they go on sale I buy 'em up know matter what they look like. Sometimes I get home and think, "why did I buy these?" Then I remember, 'cause it was on sale! I have far too many fat quarters, but it's better than not having enough I guess.

OHSue 06-13-2009 06:57 AM

There are five shelves of the freebies, always pretty full. They use the second half of the bundle FQ or second FQ from a half yard cut when a customer has one cut, so the choice is the same fabrics that are in the store on bolts. I have never had trouble finding a FQ I like. If you see a bundle you like but don't like one of the colors, they will take it out and cut you another of your choice at no extra costs. The bundles are priced the same as the FQ.
I don't specifically go for just half yard to get a FQ, but no one seems to mind if the purchase is small. They also overcut all their fabrics, so no shorts on the folded FQ. I was once purchasing about a dozen 6 inch strips for a project, and my sales person even said, well lets make sure to get you more than the six inches so you can be sure to get your two strips out of each. They also have a generous coupon program, at least monthly, and daily in december, give you big discount week of your birthday, but when I missed that week, they were nice enough to give me the discount on my next purchase which was pretty large.
FYI, my shop is in Columbus, OH and it is called Quilt Beginnings. They also have excellent teachers and staff.

AkAngel 06-13-2009 09:19 PM

I have to many fqtr's to count.... But the only time I've bought them as a bundle was this year when I was buying Civil War Repro's and then I went totally overboard..... anyway I ended up with about 120 different ones before it was done, I'll never use them all up. Can we say scrappy quilts for life...lol
Muriel

Rose Marie 06-14-2009 06:46 AM

I always buy FQ on sale and always buy 2 of the same fabric, that way you have enough for a project. One is never enough.

Mousie 06-14-2009 01:23 PM


Originally Posted by MadQuilter
I've bought packs before and when I get them home, I can never find the perfect pattern for them. I think of them as garnishments for my stash - something pretty to look at but not "eat."

I think of them as garnishments too, and only buy on sale.
I love when I find them for .99, and then buy a gob, for sampler or applique quilts.

Debbie1 06-18-2009 10:49 AM

It depends. I usually buy them because I like them, but I have purchased bundles too!

VickyOH 06-18-2009 11:46 AM

I like to buy the FQ packs, for those like me who are color challenged it is such a help. I love all the FQ quilt patterns. I also like to look at the random FQ's as scrappy quilts are my very favorite and that is a good way to get lots of fabrics to mix. Vicky

butterflywing 06-18-2009 01:27 PM

i don't know if the sale is over, but joann's is having a sale on fq's. 99 cents.

Mousie 06-18-2009 02:54 PM


Originally Posted by butterflywing
i don't know if the sale is over, but joann's is having a sale on fq's. 99 cents.

right now, it's a good thing my joann's is not too close :wink:

sandpat 06-18-2009 04:29 PM

I've only bought 1 FQ bundle...that was just because I love Moda and I love this particular Christmas line...otherwise I buy FQ's individually when I see something that I like. I like to applique, so I use lots of smaller bits. Also...I just love to look at them and pet them. I also like to have some on hand to share with other folks...they are great for that!

GailG 06-19-2009 07:22 PM


Originally Posted by NY Nancy
For those of you who buy fat quarters to add to your stash, do you ever buy bundles of related FQs or do you prefer to pick-and-choose? Is your answer different, if you're shopping online rather than in person?

I rarely buy fats. The only time I really bought a lot of them was when I made the t-shirt quilt with all the blues.

motown pat 06-23-2009 01:50 PM

I never buy just onw fat quarter any more. If it's a fabric I really like I buy two or a half yard. I really hate running out.

CindyBee 06-23-2009 02:50 PM

Depends on my mood when I'm shopping! FQ's are great for scrappy quilts and I like to buy them on sale. I've been collecting batiks and Black and Whites. I just bought my first coordinated fat bundle (Aunt Grace) just because I couldn't resist! It's still tied up with the little bow ribbon and I just love looking at it, LOL. It may wind up as a decor item in my sewing room for while until the perfect pattern and opportunity presents itself. Ultimately, I think it will grace my four poster in the master bedroom. Other times, I am drawn to the yardage, thinking of backs and borders or when I have a planned quilt in mind.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:28 AM.