I also find that a minimum of a half yard works for me - purses, table runners, wall quilts and backings for small wall quilts. These days with a sizable stash, I buy 1 yard or above only with a specific project already planned, lol. I think I justify a half yard as O.K. to stash (i.e. not too expensive.) Also as a more contemporary style quilter, half yards work well for a full/queen size quilt using a fair number of fabrics.