My shopping for grocery and for quilting projects are similiar. For groceries, I make a list, according to what we like to eat, planning each meal. For quilting, I copy the picture of the quilt and fabric list. I may or not buy all the fabrics needed at one time, but I put everything together, pattern and fabrics folded together. When I have accumulated all the fabrics needed, I make the quilt. My cooking and quiltmaking are the same, I generally have several things cooking/sewing at the same time.