when I first started building my stash if I liked it I got 3 yards, if I loved it 5 yards, I tend to get a focus fabric and then blenders and solids to go with it, So the focus fabric stands out and the blenders are the background. When I made quilts for my south west bedroom, I had 5 yards of my focus fabric, it went into 2 log cabin qults a wall quilt and one pillow, pillow cases, so every thing goes togeather. and I still have some of it, if I want to add more to the room.
I buy black, wow, muslin, and PFD fabric by the bolt.