Originally Posted by Rachelcb80
I've been quilting for a couple years now and honestly have not put together much of a fabric "collection". I just haven't figured out how to buy fabric that doesn't have an intended purpose already. Don't get me wrong, I see TONS of fabric I like all the time, I just can never figure out how much I'm supposed to buy. But I do worry about fabrics I love now being discontinued and not finding them again.
So how much do you ladies buy of fabric that you don't have a purpose for yet? The 3 yards mentioned earlier seems like a little too much.
Don't worry. It will come.
I didn't have much stash until I went on a trip to see relatives last year. It just happened to be close to Keepsake Quilting in New Hampshire and Hancocks of Paducah in Kentucky. I took notes regarding quilts I wanted to make at the time. I bought backing, some FQs, and odds and ends. So now I have stash.
Other than that time, I have tried to buy only what I need. I found a backing yesterday that I will use on a baby quilt. I bought the rest of the bolt, because it was only about another couple of yards.
Just read your question at the end of your post.
If I see a fabric that I could use for a project, I ask myself if it would have possibilities colorwise for another project yet to be determined. If it is a speciality fabric, like the ladybug fabric I just bought, I would say no, but if it is a general overall color and design that could go in a block, then I would consider getting 2 yards more.
I do get 3 yards of fabric if I get some companion fabric to go along with it. This allows me to later to have a broader choice of patterns. That will not be happening again soon, however.
You can always find someone to swap material with, if it comes to that.