so since I am a newbie, I have a question regarding buying fabric. If you see a fabric you like, how do you figure out how much to buy?

I buy what I can afford that day and find something to do with it later. Sometimes it a fat quarter sometimes it's 6 or 8 yards. I do not have a method or reason other that I like it and I like the price.

Pretty much this. I buy what I can like and as much as I can afford or want of it. Sometimes I see it and a plan pops into my head, sometimes I see it and just *need* to have it! :lol:

it just depends on if there is a project you have in mind. if not and you really have to have the fabric then what I do is get two yards. most get either 2 or 3 yards. on fabric they like that is not planned for a project at the time of purchase. if you are wanting to use it for a specific project it just depends on how much you need. I would recommend getting at least 1/2 yard extra of that fabric just in case you make a boo boo cutting. but that is just me.

I started out buying a minimum of one yard of anything I liked, but now I buy a 3 yard minimum, so I can be guaranteed to have enough to back a quilt with it if I want to....so it really depends on what you might be using it for.

I buy from 1 to 3 yards if I can afford it. I have been known to get half yards. Here lately i have only been buying what I need for a project.

I buy what I need and add a yard or if I don't need it I buy 1 or 2 yards depending on whether it's a big print or a filler.

As much as you can afford!

My dear friend, also a quilter, have learned the hard way that in the quilting world...a little more might work, but three yards always works!!

Depends what type of quilting you like to do. If you do scrap quilts or applique or smaller projects like table runners, you may just need smaller pieces like fat quarters or half yards. If you are making bed sized quilts and want a piece for the border, 3 yards is a good number. If you find a piece you would like to use for a backing, it can take 8 - 10 yards for a queen or king.

Not much help, am I????? LOL

I once heard someone use this rule of thumb.... "If you like it buy a yard, if you love it buy 3 yards, and if you can't live without it, buy the whole bolt!!!"

I have found I buy why too much....I am cutting back to a yard...unless I know I will use that fabric over and over...I end up with way to much left over. I also am trying to buy per project and get what the pattern calls for. I hate that I have as much fabric as I do...and of course I always need another color...

I'm with the others on this. If I go crazy over a fabric I will buy several yards and it really does depend on the fabric so I guess I'm not much help either lol

Boy, if I had a yard of fabric for every time I've heard that one!!
I think it depends on how much you like it, what you can afford and the chances you might see it again. Good luck!

I am funny about borders--I don't like to piece them! So that means I have to buy at least the length of the desired quilt plus some extra! Then, too, I sometimes match the pattern in my backings and that means more than twice the length of the quilt allowing for repeat etc. I guess I just like giving my $ to the LQS. They should really love me!

If I like it buy a yard, if I love it buy 3 yards, and if I can't live without it, buy it all!! Thank god there's not too many I can't live with out!!!!

:D

I rarely "splurge" (pay full price) for more than 1/2 yard. If it's on sale, 3 yards or "How much is left?" :lol:
A store that is moving is offering an extra 15% off for taking all that is left on the bolt, so that is what I've been getting of each.

If you end up with a lot left over you can always use it in a pieced backing.

I buy a minimum of 3 yrds, a bolt if I really, really like it and I can afford it at the time, but never less than 3 yds. Just remember, if you really like...guaranteed it won't be there when you go back for that 1/2 yd you need...law of averages LOL!

That's what I do !

The biggest mistake I made in buying fabric, was buying too many great focus prints and not nearly enough of the quieter, more boring (think tone on tones, small nondescript prints or marbles) that I needed to co-ordinate with my wonderful prints. I also did not buy nearly enough lights as I didn't realize how important those would be. I needed to be more experienced to realize that you just couldn't mix all those great intense fabrics in one quilt without having the other. Now the most of a great print that I would buy is 2 or 3 metres if I'm making a large quilt. If I find great sales on the boring ones, I'd buy 4 or 5 metres of a great colour that I know will co-ordinate with much of the stuff I have.

Believe it or not, all your comments really help. Thank you for the advice.

Buy as much as possible even if you don't know what you're going to do with it.....ideas will always come later :!:

If I like it very much I will buy one yard. Dee

That is the never-ending question. If you really like it, buy at least three yards.

My thoughts too!!!!

In my experience, if I find one that I have no plans for, I usally buy 2-3 yards, this depends on how well I like the fabric!

If I find a fabric I like, I keep it in mind. I figure out a project to make, then figure the amount I need. Then, I go back and buy it. (If it's not there, I probably didn't need another project started anyway.)
If you take take down the information, it can usually be found online somewhere or be reordered from the quilt shop.
Maybe this is why my stash only consists of two filing cabinet drawers. mmmmm????

I count the number of ladies that come into the shop and buy a half yd or 1 yd of fabric and then call me later to see if I still have it. Sometimes I do, but more often than not, I don't.

The 1 to 3 yds rule seems sensiable, if you can afford it, and with most of my fabric being $4.50yd, most can.

Lanny

I buy as much as I can afford. If it is something that absolutely calls out to me I go beserk. I found one this norning and bought ten yards for $2.99 a yard and can't wait to get my hands on it.

I used to buy only what I needed for a particular quilt. Then I found out that I ran out of my fabric before I ran out of blocks. I carried a swatch of that material around for 5 years, trying every quilt store I went into, looking online, etc. Finally one day, my daughter said "Look on eBay". Whadda ya know, I found it on about page 6, my exact fabric, and just exactly the amount I needed to finish my quilt! Glory be!.
Lesson learned, I always buy more than I think I'll need. I can always find a place for the left overs (another quilt, a swap, another crafter or quilter) and now I never have to wait another 5 years to finish my quilt.
nanac

I usually have a project in mind, I figure about how much I am going to need

One metre if I think it will be a focus fabric, and varing lesser amounts for the stuff to "go with" something else or to add a solid to my stash. It works for me.

I started out buying a yard of each of the fabrics I liked. Now I'm up to anywhere from 5-10 yards. I figure that way I could use it on a few projects or have it for the backing. I used to put all my ugly fabric on the backs, but now I like to match them.

I'm like this, too and totally agree. Also have to add, if I am collecting a particular color (right now it is pinks) I will buy 1/2 yard.

at least 2 yards more if i really like it

It's really an individual thing and depends on what type/size of quilts you usually make.
But I've never regretted buying too much, but I have regretted buying too little.

And if you buy too small of a piece, you can't use it for a focus fabric, or a border or much of anything except scrappy or applique. So if you like, buy lots!

I have to say that I have way too much fabric but I am always sorry if I don't buy the fabric I love. And if I love it I usually buy three yards. However there was this perfect green leaf over all print that I bought three times because it just went with all the quilts I made in that time period. They laughed at me at the quilt shop and would always go get that bolt and put it on the counter. They knew I would buy more of it. And I used it all.

I have learned not to walk away from fabrics that really grab me, even if I don't have a plan for them at that moment. I agree with the many people here who said they buy 1-3 yards of one you just love.

Usually I am buying with a project in mind so then I know how much I need, though I sometimes buy extra to make a pillow or two to go with that quilt.

I think it depends on what kind of quilts you make=
Bright solids for childrens quilts -1 yard of assort. colors
childrens prints 1-1 1/2 for piecing/borders
1/2-1 yard misc. prints for scrappy quilts
tone on tone -background fabrics-2 yards of several fabrics
backing fabrics for crib/lap quilts-2 yards

I buy everything from charm squares to yardage-if I'm in love with the colors/pattern I buy as much as I can afford. If it's a collection, fat quarters, after that it depends on the fabric and colors. I have a cupboard full of awesome pieces that I have no idea what I'm going to make with them! But I have passed up fabric I loved then couldn't find it when I went back. Eventually you'll figure out what works for you. Since I love applique and making I Spy quilts, I can use really small pieces.