Since I love batiks, I just buy what I like. There are really lines like in regular cotton fabric. For other cottons, I rarely use all of a fabric line. Even with a quilt that I just finished, the majority was the Nature's Christmas by Moda, but I also threw in some Stonehenge fabric for the sashing and binding because none of the fabrics in the line were going to work well for a definitive sashing. I used the Stonehenge for the binding as well because it made it look like an extension of the sashing (there are no borders on this quilt).

I just heard form an quilting teacher that you should choose at least 1 fabric from that is not with a "line" of fabric/colors. That way your quilt will "POP"

Great visual! You made my day!

I would have to agree with the majority of people who have answered. 98% of the quilts I make are scrappy and I draw upon my fabric collection that spans 40 years. It doesn't bother me a bit to put a batik next to a Civil War reproduction if the colors and values work for that particular quilt.

I do think that the collections of fabric can be very helpful for newer quilters who haven't amassed a stash yet or who are less confident about their color-choosing abilities. And for those who don't prewash, precuts do save time -- there is something to be said for being able to come home with your goodies and immediately start sewing! I know a couple quilters with small children who honestly don't have the time to do much prep work before they sit down to sew ...

Never have bought a line of fabric or precuts, except FQs. I buy sale fabric almost exclusively so my stash is mostly serendipity but all of my quilts are designed from it. I think that is a reflection on the size of my stash, not on my preplanning. The one thing I do concentrate on is buying blenders, the focus fabrics are easy.

Quite frankly, and with a red face, I will admit I have no idea what "lines" are in my stash. I do love seeing those projects that are made from a single line, but I do think that similarly pleasing combinations can be made by going "across the lines." ;o)

I prefer to chose my focus fabric then collect other fabrics to go with it. That way the quilt is truly mine -- no one else would ever chose the same fabrics so mine is a "one of a kind".

I also don't buy any particular line. I buy what I like and bring it all home and pre-wash. They all get the same treatment. I only buy for myself and family. I just got a box of clothes the other day from relatives who dropped used clothing off to my sister's and she sent it to me. I left her money to ship. My fabric comes from varied manufacturers such as Land's End, JCP, Sears. Get my drift? So much in agreement with ghostrider.

It totally depends on whether or not I like the line. If I like something else in the same line, I'd use it. If not, I'd seek other coordinating fabrics. I rarely want to use all the fabrics in a line.

I totally agree. Whenever I buy charm packs or even look at them online, I generally find I only like about a quarter of the fabrics. I can't imagine forcing myself to use only fabrics from one line, unless I happened to like all of those fabrics.