if i look at a fabric- love it and can think of a dozen projects that it would be wonderful for i buy as much of it as i can afford at the moment- if i love it but have no idea what so ever what i would ever do with it- i buy a fq...if it's something i like- think i would use---but not for alot of projects- i buy between 1 & 3 yards= if it would make a good border fabric i get 3- if just for piecing or applique i only get one.