Can someone please enlighten a novice?
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 260
Hi Steve-I'm new to quilting also. I buy what I love at the time and when I get home I wrap it around a 6x24 in. ruler and slip the ruler out and store fabric flat on a book case shelf. I try to sort by design, color, pattern etc. If, I have a pattern in mind, I place it or a copy with the fabric. If I use some of the fabric, I remeasure and tag the fabric with new measurements so I'll know how much is left. My hubby suggested I use a small photo album and slip a paper with pieces of fabric and yardage amounts on it into each sleeve. If I'm "building a quilt" I can carry this with me and match up fabrics. Also place ideas in front of book. Happy Quilting!
#13
Annmarie....I've learned the hard way to never purchase less than 3 yards and preferably at least 5 yards if I really love what I am holding.... I bought one yard of a fabric one time and found a quilt pattern it would be just perfect in....only to find I didn't have enuf....went back to the store and it was gone! Couldn't find it anywhere.... So now I try to get at least 3 yards of each fabric but I LOVE fat quarters too! LOL I use my fat quarters and scraps for BOM projects!
#14
Steve, I am afraid I can identify with your dilema. As a novice, too, I know the feeling that having more quilts in your brain than would ever be possible to finish!!!!
Tt first, reading the message board I kept reading about "stashes" and wondered if I would ever have a stash. What a stupid idea. Like you, I wandered around fabric departments buying fabric for this quilt and that quilt and guess what? I now have a big pile of fabric, too, and lots of ideas. I find, though, that the ideas are not only stimulating to my brain but indeed satisfying even if they all are not going to be accomplished this year (or ever, LOL).
Like you, I am still going to "work" everyday and frankly my time right now for quilting is limited but I am still enjoying it immensely. (I do have two projects going and one in the mix, though) I pour over designs and yes feel the fabric and think about the people that will get one of my quilts (eventually) and it is very pleasing to me! Enjoy the whole experience and don't fret.
Tt first, reading the message board I kept reading about "stashes" and wondered if I would ever have a stash. What a stupid idea. Like you, I wandered around fabric departments buying fabric for this quilt and that quilt and guess what? I now have a big pile of fabric, too, and lots of ideas. I find, though, that the ideas are not only stimulating to my brain but indeed satisfying even if they all are not going to be accomplished this year (or ever, LOL).
Like you, I am still going to "work" everyday and frankly my time right now for quilting is limited but I am still enjoying it immensely. (I do have two projects going and one in the mix, though) I pour over designs and yes feel the fabric and think about the people that will get one of my quilts (eventually) and it is very pleasing to me! Enjoy the whole experience and don't fret.
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,053
Originally Posted by annmarie
Just curious -when yu lovely quilters "start buying fabric because you love what you're holding at the time" how much do you buy when you don't have anything specific in mind for its use?
If you're wanting backing fabric, usually 6 yards will do ya. You'll need double the length (plus a little) of your quilt if it's wider than the width of the fabric you're buying, and I rarely make quilts over 108" long. If you run a little short, you can always piece a little into your backing to make it long (or wide) enough. That can be fun. :)
Your fabric will never go to waste. I promise. You will use it some day, on some quilt. Even if you look at it one day and say "What was I thinking?" LOL You'd be amazed how many times that odd piece that you couldn't resist at the time will be just the thing you need. :)
#16
Thank-you Lin & Patsy. Now I have good rationale for buying more than 1 yd. which is what I have been doing because of the cost. BUT 3 yd. makes so much more sense. I just needed someone to tell me it is OK :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink: :wink: :wink:
#18
As far as how much fabric------If its fro a baby quilt, I'll get say a yard or so and add it to my stash. If its going to maybe go to a grown up or is an exceptionally gorgeous piece like the green that I used in my pansy quit, I will get several yardds--whatever I think the pocketbook can handle at the time. I like flannel for backing on baby quilts and will get a couple of yards whenever I get to the store and nothing else strikes my fancy at the time. I too tend to buy it for a project only to find that I "borrowed" it for something else :lol: I have so many ideas whirling around in my head sometimes its makes me dizzy :!: But take it from the champion worry wart, if you stress out about how much or whether to use it or save it for another project, it quits being fun. Just enjoy it and go with your instincts about color and design. Its not suppose to stress you out, that's called work and we already have to do too much of it :!:
#19
I got some NASCAR fabric on sale for $3/yard at WM the other day. HUBBY helped pick it out. I was going to go for 3 yards of each (2 prints), but he said "get 5"!!!!!!!!! And he told me to get the big checks for the b&w flag instead of the smaller checks. I was going for the smaller ones bc I thought it might look better on a smaller project, but he insisted I get 5 yards of that, as well as the 2 Dale and Dale Jr prints...AND HE WAS PAYING!
So, Usually I get about 3 yards of each.....
So, Usually I get about 3 yards of each.....
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