Every place I go for news predicts that fabric is going up 30%+ within this year. That does not include what it has ALREADY gone up this year. If one can - build stash now AND also use those backs of shirts too - they are great for little needed pieces. If prices continue to rise, us oldies with TOO much fabric must share with our new lil' quilting friends!

The very first quilt book I bought was Carol Doak's "Your First Quilt Book" (or it should be) Her advice in there:
"If you like it, buy a yard
If you really like it, buy 2 yards
If you can't live without it, buy as much as your budget can afford"
I buy fat quarters, but mostly I buy a yard at a time. I can almost always put enough complimentaryfabric to gether for a baby blanket or some other quick project. However, most the quilts I make are baby or lap robe sizes, so this is working so far.

Be careful what you wish for. Stash can take over and if you don't have the space and you don't like scrappy quilts then it can become a hinderance. That said, when I first started, I always bought a little extra for the projects that I was actually working on. Then I started buying fabric "just because." DH thought for the longest time that fabric HAD to be bought in full yard increments, starting with 1 yard. lol.

I have now become "full up" in my stash containers and have to be extremely frugal (self-imposed).

Some people make a swatch book of their stash and take that with them to the fabric store so they can match and supplement. Others just buy what suits their fancy.

Anything from 1 yard of a panel size to 5 1/2 yards for a potential backing (or more). Trust me, if you want to grow your stash - every Fat Quarter helps.

This has been a very interesting thread. I think a stash builds itself, at least mine did. I got the quilting fever in 2004; started off buying 1/4 yard pieces. That didn't last long. I still only buy 1 yard pieces; but, that's because of finaancial issues. I only buy on sale, unless I'm buying from my local QS; never find fabrics on sale there. However, I don't use only QSQ, though I don't use thin or see-thru. Oh, my stash was increased greatly when I inherited my mother's large stash. Took me months to give away all her double knit; I still find a piece here or there, lol.
My advice is similar to the previous posts. Buy at least a yard when on sale; mostly blenders and tonals. and have fun!

I'm not helping probably b/c I buy whatever appeals to me!
I do go for sales though, rarely pay full price!
The internet has made it much worse for my fabric addiction lol
Welcome!!!!!!!!! :D:D

I recently bought material to do a simple quilt (i am a beginner) and after getting what I needed I was looking around and saw a beautiful yellow tone on tone. Luckily it was on sale because I got 3 yds. Have no idea where I will use it. But it just screamed at me to buy it. LOL...

I am trying one called Easy beginner's rail fence. Is all strips.check it out...www.victorianaquiltdesigns.com

I just re-read this entire thread and you have tons of great ideas!!
I realize also that I need a stash for inspiration. It's amazing what can happen when I'm just playing around with my fabric :D:D

Since I only purchase fabric I really like for specific projects, I purchase at least 2 -3 yards. Also, I select other fabrics I like and purchase a couple of yards for my stash at the same time. As my stash builds I purchase colors I am missing. Currently I am adding browns and backgrounds in colors other than white, adding prints.

While I don't particularly like pastels, for our guild challenge project this year I have pastels, so on a recent roadtrip I actually found several I liked and purchased extra for my stash.

No matter how big my stash is, I always find several new pieces to add to it. Once you start, it will be easier. It is alot like eating potato chips.

I'm a fairly new quilter myself and when I started stash building, I'd get fat quarters or a yard. I quickly found out that that is not enough unless you plan on making scrappy quilts. So now, I buy at least 2 yards. If I'm buying a lot of coordinating fabrics and intend to use them together, I might get 1 yard, but most often I buy 2. I usually buy fabric with intentions to use it together or for a specific project, but I rarely have an actual pattern in mind, therefore I rarely know how much I need of each fabric, and I've found a couple of times that I would much rather have too much than not enough. So far in my experience, having two yards of each fabric in my "plan" gives me plenty. Also, I don't often buy big print fabrics unless I'm buying for a specific project. I stick to blenders and neutrals for the most part and buy prints on an "as needed" basis.

I usually use bed sheets (most often flannel) for backing, so I don't often buy yardage to back my quilts.