I keep larger pieces of fabric whole. You never know when you might need that fabric for backing or some other use. I've gotten fabric on sale for a backing, only to have it tell me that it wanted top billing for a top, so change of plans. I might cut off 1 -2 yards when making a quilt, but generally I like to keep it whole. Recently I received some very large pieces of fabric, but I cut off only what I needed, I started with cutting off one yard at a time for my quiting projects and it works for me.