How much fabric do you buy?
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lived in San Diego now retired in Eagar, AZ.
Posts: 887
I buy 3 yards when i don't have a project...if knit, it will make 2 prs of pants, 2 skirts, 1 skirt and 1 top or 1 pant and top, 1 jacket or 1 bog coat (my fave), if quilting cotton, it will make queen size borders without a seam (with corner blocks) or a background fabric for any size quilt.
If on sale for a really good price, then i buy 6 yards and cut borders to put away (up to 6 inches x 4 strips leaves 20 inches x 6 yards for the stash) I cut the borders first so that i know they won't get shortened while working on something else. i have a box with pre-cut borders in 2s, 3s, 4s, and 6s... it's not that i don't use borders in other widths, but i know these work with a lot of my normal block preferences.
If on sale for a really good price, then i buy 6 yards and cut borders to put away (up to 6 inches x 4 strips leaves 20 inches x 6 yards for the stash) I cut the borders first so that i know they won't get shortened while working on something else. i have a box with pre-cut borders in 2s, 3s, 4s, and 6s... it's not that i don't use borders in other widths, but i know these work with a lot of my normal block preferences.
#13
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Enid, OK
Posts: 8,273
I vote for this one!!! If it is great background fabric, like a white on white I get no less than 4 yards..if it is really cheap and would be good for backing then it is 8-10 yards.
#14
If I bought every fabric that I just "liked", I would need at least one more house to store it all in, lol! I rarely buy fabric on a whim though. I have a great deal of self restraint in that way. If were to do that though I would not buy more than three yards because, backings excluded, I've rarely seen any pattern that calls for more than three yards of any one fabric and I am willing to piece in a different fabric in a similar color to make what I have stretch. Two and three color quilts being the exception of course. I make bed quilts exclusively. If I mostly made runners and wall hangings or other smaller pieces I would probably limit myself to 1/2 or 1 yard. Also, I'd never spend more than $6.00 on any one yard of fabric. Even though I'm very thrifty with my purchases, I have enough scraps to last me at least 10 years so I am still buying too much when I do buy. My latter years are going to be spent making scrap quilts, I am sure!!
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,991
[ Originally Posted by susieqwva
Like it . . . . 1 yard
LOVE it . . . . 3 yards
REALLY, REALLY love it . . . . 6 yards!!!!
This would be my idea too. The only exception is if it is to be used as background or backing or if it is really on sale ($2 or $3 a metre) and then I might buy the whole bolt!
Like it . . . . 1 yard
LOVE it . . . . 3 yards
REALLY, REALLY love it . . . . 6 yards!!!!
This would be my idea too. The only exception is if it is to be used as background or backing or if it is really on sale ($2 or $3 a metre) and then I might buy the whole bolt!
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Small town south of Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 1,692
Good question. I used to buy 1yd increments and became frustrated when deciding to use it because ultimately I didn't have enough. My new rule of thumb is:
If I like: 3-5yds
If I love it: 5-10yds
If it is a good blender: the bolt
I always buy white, beige and black by the bolt.
If I like: 3-5yds
If I love it: 5-10yds
If it is a good blender: the bolt
I always buy white, beige and black by the bolt.
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