I buy lines and then get coordinating solids to go with.

The only time I don't use a line for a quilt is when I plan something in all solids.

I don't trust my eye for flow with picking my own patterned fabrics. I have a rule though. I won't buy a line of fabrics if there is more than two colors I don't like.

Sometimes a line of fabrics contains the same print in many colors. Not what I like in my quilts!

I have favorite fabric lines but that doesn't determine what I buy. Cost is a big determination. I also get on a color kick, where I can't seem to get enough of one color. Right now I'm in my "red" phase.

My thoughts exactly. I do appreciate the talented designers who created the lines and selected the colors, but I don't buy all the fabric for a quilt at once. I mostly use my stash. I rely on the designers' combinations of colors in my chosen focus fabric to help me identify other fabrics for the quilt.

I totally agree with your comment, NJ Quilter.

I have been sewing since I was a girl... Since I grew up in a post depression home we saved everything.. I have a stash of cotton fabric that is mind boggling at times.. yet, nothing really goes together like a collection does.

Now being retired, I'm only using what I have unless it's a special gift or I need backing, or I can't help myself when I see a new piece of fabric.. or.... or or. The truth is I have only once bought all the fabric for a quilt top, and it was not a collection.

At this stage of the game I don't think I'll ever justify buying fabric from one line to make a quilt.. But they look so beautiful together, almost makes me wish I'd rethink my plan.

I guess I am the lone wolf who buys fabric lines and uses them. I love fat quarter bundles! I make Jenny Doan quilts, which she uses layer cakes, jelly rolls and charm packs. I also make scrappy quilts. I buy quilt kits and know that someone else picked out all the fabric for me but -- I loved the quilt in the magazines and just had to make it just like it was in the magazine and was thrilled that they offered a kit for it. So call the 'Quilt Police' on me. I've been quilting since 1992, so I'm no beginner. I've made advanced quilts many of times. I don't enjoy the process of having 20 different fabrics laying on the counter trying to match them to make a quilt. Not my idea of fun. I'm not good at that. It comes easy to many people. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people.

I don't think I have ever purchased fabric for a quilt from one fabric line. Usually, I buy what jumps out at me. Well, really a fabric that really catches my eye, which is generally my focus fabric, then I will choose coordinating fabrics from there. I was taught to have different scales in fabric, large, medium to small, and then solid or a fabric that reads as a solid, more if you want more colors. Also, check the selvedge on the focus fabric, you will generally see circles of colors that were used in that fabric, and there you have the way to choose fabrics that will go together. Hope this helps.

I totally agree with this. The fun of creating a project lies in selecting the fabrics and all that goes with it. This is also why I don't buy kits.. well that and the high cost. :)

I know I own designer fabrics, but I have no idea which ones they are. Once they get to my home they are sorted by color and size only. If it works for my current project, it gets used. I have no idea who made most of my stash but that is not the only part of my life that defies labeling. I have owned designer clothes too and never could remember who designed them either...

I learned to quilt on my own. The first quilt I made was a Trip Around the World quilt. I found out the colors the couple were going to have in their bedroom. I selected a paisley and went from there, selecting other colors that went with the paisley and the colors the couple wanted. But I usually go with a focal fabric and choose fabrics from that. I do not try to stay within a fabric line. That is generally too restive.

I agree with madamkelly, I do have some name brand fabric but mostly I just See, Like, Buy & Stash until needed.

I'm a newbie, but so far I just choose a focal fabric and then find fabrics I like to go with it. The precuts are usually more expensive than I want to pay, but the ones I have bought were not cut well and caused more work than if I had cut it myself so I didn't save any time. But I am glad there are precuts and fabric lines for quilters who want them. I've enjoyed seeing all the replies and ideas given to answer the original question.

I believe in mix and match!

i feel like the whole "buy the line" is great for the mills and distributors because one is inclined to buy more fabric from the same source. the idea that a quilter SHOULD have ALL the fabrics has been a tremendously successful marketing tool. it does make it easy for quilters to ensure their fabrics coordinate, but sometimes the quilts look just too coordinated...too off the shelf or ready made for my taste.

for myself i love to play with colour and texture. i buy for one project at a time and very seldom submit to the impulse to just buy 1/2/3 meters of what i like for no reason aside from the desire to have it. the few times i have done that can be found in the quilting cupboard, sitting awkwardly with the slow accumulation of scrap bits from completed projects, lonely and sadly unused.

the whole blog universe mostly irritates me. but that is another post altogether (i should blog it. but no. ha!!)

aileen