I started out buying FQ's, I still have those original FQ's. I never use them, guess I am one of those quilters that don't know what to do with them. I saw a episode on Simply quilts that said if she is buying for stash, then she never buys less than 3 yrds, thats how I buy. 3+ yrds at least. But I too am thrifty when it comes to buying, I usually buy not because I love it, but because I like it and its on sale. Good luck.

Also a newbie here, I sew for my granddaughter and thus I am the "Seamstress to the Princess." At 6 she already has definite opinions of material, patterns, etc. My stash began with her request for a Thanksgiving dress. I am blessed to have a friend who told me right away the method in luvTooQuilt's comments. Go for it and have fun!!

My stash is gigantic. I buy prints that catch my eye on sale at Walmart and use those fabulous coupons for Joann. But the biggest part comes from estate sales. You never know what you're going to find.

I love finding those swatch sample books and just made a quilt for my niece using odd paisley bits. The sash has random embroidered phrases -- the first use of my new babylock. Unfortunately the sash puckered a bit. C'est la vie! I'm a haphazard quilter and she loved it.

Here are a few photos. It is brown dominant, but no matter how I photographed it, all the other colors seemed to pop.
http://www.catholichomeandgarden.com...nd_friends.htm

A good place to start is yard sales, thrift stores (I have found some excellent fabric there) and I usually buy 1 to 2 yards at a time.

Make sure it isn't too thin tho.

I tend to buy the following:

fat quarters ( I like to blend lots of them when making blocks or scrappy quilts)

Half Yard pieces (fabrics I want more than a fat quarter of but can't afford lots of)

1 yd pieces (fabrics that are a great price but a novelty print)

2-5 yd pieces (solids, linen blends, shot cottons, etc.) Anything that could be used for sashing, setting triangles background etc.

10 yd or more bolts muslin, both bleached and unbleached.

I also buy vintage bed linens (flat sheets) from thrift stores to back my quilts with. Lots of fun picking the perfect one for a quilt and very economical :)


I also love to pick up charm packs and jelly rolls and kits on sale for those times when I want a quick project for a gift or charity.

I am fairly new and have the same problem. I told my friends they should have a fabric shower for new quilters.
Good Luck!!!

If I see a fabric that I really like or a novelty that I might use for a particular image on it I will get a fat quarter. If I LOVE it I will get at least a yard.

I usually buy about 2 yes more than the pattern calls for and build my stash that way. If I see fabric that I really like I will buy 2-3yds of it for later use.

Welcome......just keep buying as you go and before you know it....you will have a scrap stash!

I'm not a good one for this area of quilting, I buy fabric for quilts and then some. I have to ( NEED TO ) go into a fabric store at least once a week. In fact I was at Joann's this past saturday looking for fabric for a quilted hand bag. I bought the fabric I need along with a couple of yards from other bolts, with no idea of what I will make with the extra fabric.