You should buy according to the type of quilts you like or want to create... I used to buy only 3+ yards, because everyone says" if you love it you'll be sorry if you run out before your project is done'.( I'm still using scraps from when I first began quilting..) Since I've discovered I perfer to make scrap quilts, I buy 3 yards if I can't live without it, 2 yards if I love it, 1 yard if I really like it, and fat quarters if I like it. I still buy mass quantities of muslin for backgrounds and backing...