I start at 5 yds-but if it's close to the end of bolt I will take it all. The problems I encounter with fabric purchasing is there are to many fabrics that coordinate. And I usually buy them all : ) Well now that explains why I needed a 22ft box truck to move. But I have done very good this last 18 months -I have only bought 2 yds of pastel pink for binding and 3 yds of a print I could not live without -that I added to my 2 tons of other fabrics I couldn't live with out. But I;m back on the wagon (til the next CLWO fabric spots me)