When I started quilting, I didn't have the money to buy large cuts of yardage. I might have gone to a quilt show or a new shop with $10.00 to spend. Because of that I have mostly fat quarters (they are so darned easy to grab, no waiting in line). I like scrappy quilts (controlled scrappy), for the most part, so FQ's work for me. The longer you quilt the better you will get at knowing which fabrics you will use where (borders, background, etc.)and that will help you know how much to buy. Sometimes, running short of a fabric forces you to get creative, and you end up with a much better quilt than you would have if you hadn't run short.