it really depends on the fabric- what i love about it- if i can envision a dozen different quilts with that fabric- i might buy 3-5 yards - if it would make great borders- again i will buy about 3 yards....if i love it but really don't *see* a lot of uses i might buy 1/2- 1 yard...if i love it but really don't know that i will ever come up with something to use it in i pick up a fat quarter....it's all in the potentials you see when you look at the fabric