I'm new to quilting. Absolute love at first try! When you see a fabric you love, or a great price/sale, how much do you buy to add to your stash? This would be for use as part of a future unannounced/unplanned, as yet, project. I've be advised that 1/2 to 1 yard is a good amount. Most of the patterns I have seen thus far, seem to be requiring 1 yard or less as part of the top fabrics.

I don't have a hard and fast rule. I buy what I can afford or think I might need. Usually, if it is a good sale at least 2 yards. As you go along in your quilt adventure you will find what works best for you and the quilts you do.

No rules for me either. If it's something I think will be good for a backing and it's really on sale (CHEAP) I might buy 8 or 9 yards of it. Same for something I can use in my Linus quilts. Also will pick up fat quarters just because they'll blend with something else I have. Make your own rules. If you are concerned about colors, I've seen shoppers with little notebooks that have fabric samples glued into them so they can match colors. Whatever works for you. Just have fun with it. Happy quilting. Glad it was love at first quilt!

No rules for me either. If it's something I think will be good for a backing and it's really on sale (CHEAP) I might buy 8 or 9 yards of it. Same for something I can use in my Linus quilts. Also will pick up fat quarters just because they'll blend with something else I have. Make your own rules. If you are concerned about colors, I've seen shoppers with little notebooks that have fabric samples glued into them so they can match colors. Whatever works for you. Just have fun with it. Happy quilting. Glad it was love at first quilt!

Sorry, not sure what I did. Guess I clicked too many times.

What an awesome idea to glue fabric samples in a notebook!

I generally buy 1 yard at a time unless it at an awesome price then I buy what I can afford.

If I can (have enough $$$) I like to buy 3 yds. If not, go for 1 yd to a Fq. Always take cash, not plastic --- can get one in trouble -- ha,ha,ha ;-)

I usually buy 2-3 yards if i can afford it at the time, if not at least 1/3 yard or a fq, then i can use it in a scrappy quilt. But i always WANT the whole bolt LOL

I never buy less than 1 yd, if it is a great deal I will buy 3+ yds or more, especially if it could be used for backing :D:D:D

No rules for me...I buy what I can afford!

I thought so, too, until I ended up with fabric pieces with squares cut out of the corners. Most annoying!!

Generally, I buy a yard. The real challenge is using your stash :wink:

It depends! Yesterday I scored 29.5 yards for $70 at Hancock's clearance. 4 fabrics I bought everything on the bolt. The rest were in the 1-3 yard range depending on price and "feelin the luv".

A fabric stash is something that grows on you. You don't accumulate it; it finds you. Next thing you know, you are expanding your home to make room for the stash. Every wall in your house will have some sort of shelving on it to accommodate your unexpected guest. You have asked your children to move on and get a life, forgetting they are only 10. What is WRONG with me?? I have tons of fabric in my stash, yet I can not bypass the fabric department in Walmart. I know there is a deal in there somewhere!!!

LOL!! That is so true!! Only difference is I have 2 teenagers that look at me like I'm crazy. I swear I started with 2 pieces of fabric that mated.

I think it's going to depend on what size you find you like to make best. I make quilts for charity-kids and soldiers, so if it's a kid's fabric I try to get 1-3yrds, for soldiers 1-5 yrds if it's a great price.

Basics that I know I'll use-like red/white/blue or patriotic patterns, neutral tone on tones that will go with a lot of things, I try to get as much as I can afford-I have a yearly budget for fabric/supplies and keep it in cash in an envelope. Keeps me honest that way.

Some advice from one who has way more fabric then needed....you don't need to have an entire room of stash. I have a friend who has 3 closests full, and some hidden up in the attic because they remodeled.

Think before you buy, will I really use it? Do I absolutely love this fabric or am I just buying it because it's so cheap and I'll find a use for it sometime?

I've started only buying fabric when I could find enough to do an entire quilt when super cheap, because in the past I would just buy everything in site when it was cheap. Now I have a lot of fabrics that I just can't figure out what goes with it.

Now that explains it all. I just KNEW I didn't buy all that fabric; it's been out there multiplying like rabbits when I wasn't around.

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!

If it's on sale, I buy lots of it!!!!

I used to buy 1 yd increments, but, soon realized, if it was something I really liked and wasn't project specific, I never had enough. So, now, my rule of thumb is 3 yds if it isn't project specific and whatever the pattern calls for if it is pattern specific. If it is something I REALLY like then no less than 3 yds, sometimes up to 5 yds, depending on the fabric.

I usually buy 1/2 yard pieces, this works great for scrappy quilts. This way I can have assorted pieces for a quilt. If I really lke it and its a fabric I may use in a couple quilts I buy 1 yard.
If I am buying for backing fabric I will buy 2 yards which will work for a crib/lap quilt. I wouldn't buy a lot at first being a beginner, you may change your mind what kind of quilts you want to make and the fabrics you like may change over time.
A lot depends on what kind of quilts you plan to make.
Baby? Children? Lap? Bedsize? :thumbup:

i try to get 2 yards of a favorite fabric.

keep blenders in mind..(neutrals,tone on tone)

"Blenders are quilting prints with an abstract, tone-on-tone or washed appearance that help blend the different components of the quilt together"

sample pictures:
http://www.fabric.com/quilting-fabri...-by-color.aspx

White or WOW(white on white)

it really is what your pocketbook will allow. use coupons,look for sales. use freecycle,craigs list garage and estate sales.

I work at a quilt shop and what I noticed most people buying a yard but we have some gals that have been quilting for a very long time that if they love the fabric they buy 3 yards. If it is a really good deal they will finish the bolt if it can be used for a backing. 8yds +.
I love adding to my stash. Have fun!

I work at a quilt shop and what I noticed most people buying a yard but we have some gals that have been quilting for a very long time that if they love the fabric they buy 3 yards. If it is a really good deal they will finish the bolt if it can be used for a backing. 8yds +.
I love adding to my stash. Have fun!

There was an article on this Board (I think in Nov.) about stash building. You can probably find it if you look for Stash Building in the search above.

I have no hard and fast rule either. I just buy what I like but I always buy at least 2 yards of everything. The one thing I do do is, when I find a fab that I love I pick a complementary fabrics to go with them. For instance, if the fabric is a medium, I will buy a dark and a light to go with it. That way I always have fabs that go together and I can fill in as needed form my stash. Hope this helps you. Enjoy your shopping!

It depends on the fabric and how much I like it. But if you happen to acquire 2 pieces of fabric, make sure to leave a light on in the room. If you leave then in the dark, they mysteriously multiply!! I make lots of scrap quilts and I can never understand how I can use enough scraps to make 3 king sized quilts and not see a dent in the stash. Please, someone tell me how this works! As for acquiring a stash, watch what you wish for because you may get more than you bargain for :-)

If you save 2-1/2" scraps for quilts, I'd suggest getting a wallet photograph insert. You can put the 2-1/2" scraps in the photo plastic and, when you don't want to match it anymore, you can take it out and put it in your scrap bin. It also allows you to take the fabric out and feel the weight, etc., when you compare to fabric in the quilt shop.

Here's something on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-NEW-CREDIT-CAR...QQcmdZViewItem

I buy a lot of WOW and COC. I buy both of them by the bolt (10 to 15 yards). I just checked and I have 6 bolts in my fabric cupboard of just WOW and COC.

I rarely buy specific fabric for a specific quilt, which is odd I guess. I go to my stash which is an accumulation of fabric bought just because I love it, AND the price was really good! I like to buy a minimum of 2 -3 yards and more if I can. My stash isn't huge, but it seems I can always put together just what I like for almost anything I'm making. You will find out what works for you ... it's an interesting and fun process :)

If I really LOVE the fabric, I buy as much as I can afford, if I just like it a lot, I just buy 3 or 4 yards, which is probably why I have a pretty good sized stash. LOL

I used to buy 1/2 to 1 yard but now I buy the whole bolt or atleast 6 yards. I found I have a pile of FAt Quarters and no backing or borders for quilts.

If it is something I really like I usually buy 3 to 4 years otherwise I usually buy 2 to 3 yards.

If it is at a garage sale then I buy all the cottons I can afford. At the quilt shop, JoAnns and Connecting Threads I try to buy at least 2 yards.

If you really love the fabric and want to make it a major part of a quilt I would get at least 2 yards, maybe 3.

This is what I do......if I love the fabric I will buy 4 yards. If I like it I buy 2 yards. If it is cute, I buy 1 yard. Good luck :-D

I have no rules but generally buy 2 yards (I generally use a sheet for backing that I get at Goodwill). Today I bought burgundy paisleys to make a log cabin at my quilt retreat. If I run out of fabrics, I'll make a border of a solid fabric. I spotted batiks on this website for $6 per yard and beautiful 100% cotton fabrics for $4.50 so I may buy more at those prices.

So that's how I got so much fabric!

I purchase mine like many already mentioned on the topic. If I love it I buy sometimes 4-6 yards...and if I like it 2-3. I have found way too many times I didn't purchase enough for a particular pattern and also found it worked great in others. I am one who would rather have extra than be too short of something. Another thing is there are so many variations of colors that one can't have enough of the different shades of fabrics. At today's prices and the fact that the prices are constantly going up all the time when I find a good sale I get what I can so I don't have to worry in the future about paying way more than I would want. I truly don't need any more fabrics other than ones that would blend or add that wow factor. However when something just jumps outs to me I can't let it go and get what I want. I just figure after I'm done (and will have to live into another lifetime) and have so many leftovers I'll have great crazy/scrappy quilts to make.

I buy three yards and then usually find it's not enough because of the way I want to use it.

Sandy

Anna, You're my kind of woman.

Sandy