If no project in mind, I buy the fabric I like and no less then three yards. I go to Hancock's of Paducah once a year at the quilt show but very seldom buy fabric there. If you go the first day, early, there are specialty rulers cheap in the back room. Every year so far I have found hard to find templates and rulers there. You walk in the back room they are always on your right mixed in with patterns and such in boxes on shelves. They get overlooked as most head for the fabric tables on the left.