You have raised several issues, and our quilterfriends here have given great answers. I'd like to offer another view: When you commit to make a quilt or sewn item for another person (like your nephew), let that person buy the fabric up front. A 5 ' x 7 ' quilt? Needs a full/queen size batting. Let nephew purchase it, as well as the 5 yards of fabric for the backing. It will be a wake-up call for him. Oh, and a couple of spools of thread!