I'm in the always buy more column. Mistakes happen--often.

I round up and purchase more. It sure makes those cutting mistakes easier. Because of this, I usually have something odd left over and I gave myself permission to give the extra away at the free table at Guild. I made the quilt I intended. No need to try to make placemats or some other small item to finish up the fabric line. I have changed my tactics. Now instead of purchasing a precut and 2 yards, I now purchase a precut and two one yard coordinates for either border or adding more blocks.

I don't buy fabric for a pattern. I buy fabric I love and then use it in something. It always works out for me. If I did though, I would buy more than needed just in case I make a mistake.

Unfortunately I usually don’t look at the requirements and get started guesstimating with my own fabrics. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. I seem to never learn.

If buying for a pattern I usually will buy at least 1/4 yd more than shown. Like others I make mistakes and like having a little extra.

I think it depends on the pattern style and you. If you are short and the pattern is a dress or pants, you will probably need less. If taller, then you will need more for length. Some patterns need to be cut in a certain way and therefore require a certain length/width and will leave waste and there is little you can do about it if you want to keep the drape. But, if you do much apparel sewing, I would always recommend to take the instructions out of the package and take a look at their layout before deciding how much fabric to purchase. A little tip - I often take my scraps/extra and make a small bag (or line a bag) to match the outfit. Especially with dresses for my daughters. It gives a nice little finishing touch and they always need a place for their phone and keys.

I must be one of the odd balls...I usually purchase just what the pattern says I need. Not that I do many quilts by a pattern but my experience has been that I’ve always ended up with extra fabric. I have a small stash and like it that way.

I pick a design and then shop from my stash. I always figure out yardage on my own. I buy (way too much) fabric and add it to stash. I seldom know how I'm going to use it.

Buy More!!!! And if I really like the fabric I might just buy even more. That’s how a stash is created and grows! Honestly, I never trust a pattern (or me!).

I figure their fabric requirements are just basic amounts and since I normally go thru my fabric stash I know I can alter using 2 or more fabrics for their one. Plus I seem to take their pattern into EQ8 and draw it up using the fabric I've chosen from my stash to see if it looks okay. The program also gives me a round-about figure for fabrics too.

I rarely buy fabrics for a projects, more like I buy fabric cause it talked to me and then find a pattern to fit the amount of fabric I have.