The least amount of fabric I buy at a time is 2 yards. Most of the time 3 yards or more. I have found if I only buy 1 yard, it is never enough for any of the patterns I want it for. I have become enthralled with mystery quilts and it is easier to pull together the fabrics if you don’t have to replace what you want with something else because you only have a yard (or less) of the fabric you want. (Hope that makes sense).