I also try to buy 1 yrd at a time. I used to buy FQs but found they never got used or I had a lot of scrap left from them. I also have to admit that I don't buy the "pre-selected" colors for charm packs, jelly rolls, etc. I began noticing that all the quilt shop's quilts looked the same, and it looked like they all used the same charm packs, jelly rolls, etc. I like to really mix it up so it stands out!