WMUTeach

StephanieR, I often purchase true bargains that I really like, in 3 to 4 yard cuts. I never use all the yardage in one quilt. Even a two color quilt does not use that much yardage of a single color. But a three yard cut will for sure give you enough for one quilt and some left over for another quilt. Oh, I should mention that you may use more of the fabric if you are making the binding out of that color or a really large quilt such as a queen size. In the end, 3 to 4 yards is just a nice easy amount but no rules apply. I hesitate to buy only 1 yard. I fear I may run short. As you make more quilts you will begin to know your own style of quilt, size of quilt and how much room you have to store extra fabric and scraps.

Have fun with quilting and ask all the questions that pop into your head. Everyone here was once a newbie! There are so many really skilled and helpful quilters on the Quilting Board (QB) site of all ages. Take advantage of the experience of our members.

Karamarie

I am trying to use what I have also. I have found I have to just not go into quilting shops for a while as the temptation is just too great. I know that is not good for our quilting shops but I have bought plenty in the past and there are other things to buy in the shops besides fabric.

tuckyquilter

I'm a scrap quilter so I use anything 100% cotton if at all possible. I have a large stash but - - In 2018 I was given 8 shipping boxes of fabric. I did a quick scan of what I would actually use and took it out. A friend came and we sorted for QOV, then sorted the rest in to colors. I sent out an email to a specific group of friends and said SHOP ME FIRST.
that way I spread the wealth around. They have been happy to do so.

tranum

About every quilt I make is for charity donation and I use only uncomplicated patterns. Mostly I buy the entire bolt or at least what’s left on the bolt and I feel there’s not as much waste this way as I make several quilts with same fabric but they don’t look alike using different patterns.
This winter I sewed up 4 Chinese Coin quilt tops using my scraps and donated scraps but the scrap bag looks like it’s just as full again.

incoming2me

I used to buy fabric when it was a steal.. anywhere I found it. Walmart, Jo-ann, Hobby Lobby, Hancock (before they closed) ...you name it. 90% of the time with no regard to what I was going to use it to make. Pure hoarder fashion.
After years I realized that I didn't really like much of my fabric and would have to go out and buy more for projects.
I've since become a fabric snob of sorts. Now I shop at my LQS for projects...and every blue moon, find something at Jo-Ann or Hobby Lobby. I found an Alexander Henry "Ghastlies" print at Hobby Lobby for a steal one time.. bought the entire bolt.
Scraps under 1/4 yard at tossed in a big tote... (or four.) Those are a bit out of control, yeah. Understatement.
The rest is folded and grouped by color and stored in 2 six foot freestanding cabinets on wheels.
My DH just shakes his head. His mom is also a quilter... she trained him well to ignore the fabric.

luvstoquilt301

I have a good sized stash and pass along my scraps and sometimes yardage I no longer need. I have certain amount of space for fabric and will never exceed that. I seldom buy fabric as I belong to a charity group that has a quilt store amount. I like picking from what I have and turn it into a great charity quilt.

Stitchnripper

I have just about no stash. I win the fat quarter drawing at the shop a lot so have a lot of them. I try to pick similar ones because I have a quilt in mind for them. I buy very little. I love scrappy quilts and have made several of them from my bins of scraps and some background fabric. I buy for that purpose.

QuiltnLady1

I used to buy what I liked in 2 - 3 yard minimums and I have the stash to prove it. I now try to shop my stash and only buy if I need to fill in for a particular quilt. Most of the fabrics I buy in bulk now are the fabrics for backgrounds and borders -- I have been using sheets for backing since they are cheap. I have lots of scraps -- I bought an electric die cut machine a couple of years ago and I use it to cut up the scraps, then I play to see what I can make. (I have trouble following patterns exactly and so I like to play with layouts.)

Watson

I usually have a pattern in mind that I am going to make in the future and I pick up the fabric for that pattern as I see it. Usually, I haven't written down how much of each fabric I need and I end up with too much. Need to change that.

Sometimes I see something I love and I'll buy 2 yards (metres). But, that doesn't happen too often and those fabrics often sit on the shelf because I like them too much to cut them up. (Figure that one out.)

My current plan is to start picking up solids because that is something I don't have a lot of, so I'm going to write up a plan and start filling holes in my stash.

Because I do collage, if I see a really neat patterned fat quarter that I think I could get a lot out of , I'll pick it up.

I will buy whites and blacks in larger quantities if they are on a good deal because I seem to go through those quickly, but I try to always buy the same company/product so I know the scraps I have hanging around are going to be all the same shade, more or less so I can use them all together. (As in, always buy Kona White, for example.)

Watson

quilting cat

I have so much stash that I Shouldn't buy on impulse.
But I am also a sucker for a good deal -- yard sales, thrift shops, final clearance racks, etc.
Right now, i am concentrating on using up scraps in charity quilts -- pink piano key border, red crazy scrapped "made-fabric", random batik log cabin,...
There is an annual fundraiser in June with donated fabric, tools, notions, yarn, etc. at irresistable prices. I'm trying to use up enough stash before then to relieve the guilt of buying 40 lbs. more!