Years ago when I learned to quilt my instructor, ruthie miller, told us how to buy fabric. I hope I quote her correctly. "If you see a fabric you like, buy a yard. If you see a fabric that's calling your name everywhere you go in the shop, buy 3 yards. If you see a fabric that makes you want to rip off your clothes and wrap up in it, buy at least 5 yards."
A word to the wise about impulse buying a single fabric, however. I have a ton of fabric, most of which has nothing to go with it because every year the industry changes the shade of teal, or fucia, or purple, etc. I did a lot of 'spontaneous' buying in my early days. My husband says I'll never live long enough to use it all up!
However, I have now fallen in love with making handbags and those onetime 'useless' one yard cuts are going to make some gorgeous 'designer original' bags that cannot be duplicated because THEY DON'T MAKE THAT FABRIC ANYMORE!
HA-HA-HA! I WIN AFTER-ALL.
Now that my income has been dratically cut due to my hubby's stroke at the age of 55, I only buy fabric with a project in mind ... most of the time; although I still tend to collect blacks and whites and I love fat quarters and scrap quilts.
And, my fabric 'library' gives me lots of pleasure when I take it out and look at it, even if I don't use it. (Just like hubby's DVDs!)
Peggy in Sunny Florida