Fabric purchase without a plan
 

I will be traveling in September. We plan to stop in Paducah, Kentucky. I have only been quilting for 2 years and have always purchased just fabric for a project. So...when you stop at fabric shops and see fabrics that you like, how do you decide what to buy and how much when you really don't have a plan for it?

There is no single answer, I have a friend and if she likes something she buys the rest of the bolt. Even if it is brand new and just put on the shelf.

When I'm just collecting fabric, typically I buy a half yard, but I have a scrappy style.

Some of it depends on the size of projects you make, for me I usually work queen sized and with the size of blocks I make/number of seams, it is about 10-12 yards of fabric for the top. So -- if I really really love the fabric,6 yards means you can do just about anything with it, including a back. 3-4 yards is very usable. Then it starts going down from there.

I used to buy fabric because I liked it, with no plan involved. But now I have a huge stash that seems difficult to use, so I gave some to my mom, some to friends, some to local charities. Now when I know I'm buying, I put the patterns I want to make the most (usually 8 or 10 patterns) in a small 3 ring binder and take it to the store with me. That way I can refer to the pattern's fabric requirements and look at the picture(s), which helps me envision the quilt with the fabrics I'm picking out.

Over the years, I have had multiple instances of wanting to use a fabric I had in my stash only to realize that I needed more than I had. So, my rule of thumb has become 2 to 3 yards.if the fabric is a "light"or I really really like it, otherwise, I purchase a single yard.

Have fun on your trip https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

I try to purchase what I can't purchase at home. At Hancock's of Paducah, a few years ago, I purchased neutral batiks. If I see a precut or pattern that I like, I may get one. I have also just picked up a yard of glorious color in a batik. Or sometimes, I will pick up a quilter's gift. The key to shop hopping with me is don't spend too long looking. A recent vacation, I purchased a $10, rotary cutter case. It's similar to an eyeglass case with a zipper. I am going to use it in a gift exchange for my Guild's birthday party this month.

If you have never been to Hancocks in Paducah I suggest having a plan of what you want. It looks s overwhelming, especially for a newbie. My first trip there I came out with nothing. Had to take a break and then return with something in mind. Of course I purchased more than what I wanted.

Has Hancock's opened foe instore shopping?

Hard to answer that question. It depends on how much I like it of course, but these days I have so much yardage that I opt for fat quarter bundles. I love them! If I buy yardage I'll get 1-2 yards generally.

I use to buy a lot of yardage. Now I buy precuts. I buy yardage of basic colors to go with the precuts. . If I see a print I really love I will buy a yard. Most times that yard will sit in my stash for a long time. I buy backing fabric as needed.

I don't have much of a stash - whats left are two big bins of scraps and some precuts I won, and pieces I bought early on. Those are hardest to use. Now I just buy for a project, then the leftovers go in the scrap bins and I make a lot of scrap quilts. I hear from my local quilting friends how overwhelmed they are with giant stashes, can't work them down, etc, and I figure that is not for me. So as stated above, that is something you will need to work out for yourself depending on your desires, your space, your budget and how you like to quilt. Just having pretty fabric for me isn't enough to justify buying it, unless I have a plan for it. A prettier one will come along one day when I need it.

Before I put myself on a "NO FABRIC BUYING" mode back in Nov 2018, if I saw a fabric I liked I'd buy at least 3 yds. If it was a neutral say in white, cream, grey and/or black I might buy at least 5 yds and if it was close to the end of the bolt, I'd just take it all. My last quilt bus tour which was back in Oct 2018 I came home with 60+ partial bolts of fabric which is one reason why I put myself on a no buying mode. I still haven't found shelf space for the bolts. Plus I had shoulder surgery between then and now and went into a no sewing mojo mood till just recently. Beautiful fabrics out there but can't buy until I find room for what I already have.

If I like a fabric I will buy the fat quarter bundle if they have it since most of my patterns use fat quarters. If I swoon over the fabrics I will indulge in a yard of the entire line along with 3 yards of a favorite in the line for use as a border, thankfully, I only have 2 or 3 of those! 90% of my stash is Fat Quarters, the rest is 1/2 yard to 5 yard cuts and 80% of my stash are Batiks.

Something to keep in mind as you evolve as a quilter, is that your tastes may change! When I started quilting I loved the traditional fabrics and patterns and I purchased a lot of those fabrics, patterns and books. A decade later I find I am drawn towards more modern quilts and patterns, and batiks are my fabrics of choice. In a major overhaul and purge of a few years ago, a local gal was the recipient of totes and totes of fabric and books and patterns that I once loved but no longer suited me. At the end of the day, have fun and enjoy your shopping trip and don’t forget to show us what you got!

I also will buy a yard of fabric if it fancies my taste. It adds to my stash but I something plan a quilt with that fabric in mind.

I often purchase fabrics with no particular plan. And I just returned from a Hancock’s of Paducah trip! My purchases included multiple neutrals to use for backgrounds, multiple wide backs (108 inch ones) for quilt backs, polka dots and stripes and checks just because I love using those in quilts, lime green and dark pink fabrics because I seem to use a lot of those, and some Tula Pink fabrics. One or two yards usually works for me except the neutral backgrounds . For those, I generally get at least 4 or 5 yards. It is harder when you don’t know what you’re going to need. I have a lot of fabric, but it seems I’m short on something when I go to actually make a quilt pattern.

My wife and I have a significant stash. If I had it to do over again, I would buy larger quantities of blenders and background fabrics and fewer “focus” or “showstopper” fabrics. We still love what we’ve bought, but it will take a lot of creativity to use all of them since many of them don’t blend with each other. Then when we’re ready to start a project, we could buy the focus fabric that’s appropriate for the recipient and use a lot of the blender fabrics from our stash.

Blender and background fabric is what I allways seem to come up short on, so I've been making a real effort to get more each time I've been fabric shopping.

I usually buy 3 yards of a fabric if it makes me 'smile' a very large smile and I can put it into the stash I already have. I do, now that I have learned some better lessons over 30 years to group for quilts I plan to make. I also look at clearance fabrics for better buys. Last seasons fabrics are just fine to me.

Something I really like or off white I will buy at least 6 yards. When I go to Handcock's I buy lots of remnants. I spent about 300.-400. Dollars. No such thing as me having too much.

This is what I've done for years. Now I'm trying to use up some of my stash lol

You're supposed to have a plan? :(

I've appreciated the observations/advice from a couple of you saying you'd focus on blenders/backgrounds. I don't necessarily always have a choice of what I purchase (thrifting is alive and well in my world), and those seem to be among the rarest of thrift store finds. I am thinking that when I next go to the LQS, I will be focusing my attention (with some difficulty, I'm sure) on the less eye-catching fabrics that will work well with whatever treasures I'm able to find in my thrift adventures. Is it just me, though, or are they the least likely to be on sale (and in stock) at any given time?

I should also confess that I have found I am more likely to plan my quilts around what I actually have (with judicious additions if absolutely necessary) rather than to go into a store with a pattern or list in hand. To me, that's part of the fun and challenge of quilting. :-)

Pre Covid-19, when I'd go to a fabric store, very rarely would I have any kind of a plan. I was more of a "buy it now and figure out later what to make with it". After having to stay home/out of fabric stores, I'm a bit more organized. Now however, I usually have some kind of a plan, or at least, a rough idea of why I'm therehttps://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

I will usually buy a yard and plan a quilt around it. Enjoy Paducah. A fun place to go.

I like scrappy quilts. I used to buy 1/2 yards but now I buy 1/3 yards unless it is a fabric I really like. I have a huge stash and I just don’t need 1/2 yards anymore.

I usually buy the minimum unless it is at a store I particularly want to support. Online I usually have to buy 1/2 yard unless shopping through ETsy where many vendors have 1/4 yard minimums.

Hancocks has great batik remnants. And you can always use neutrals and wide backing. But do get at least one fabric you fall in live with.

I have started using my cell phone to take pictures, front and back, of a few patterns - that way if I find something that catches my eye I pull up the pictures and have the fabric requirements right there

Seajay

It is not like garment yardage where you know how many yards for a dress, skirt or pants. I think you should pick out three or four patterns you have been wanting to try and take those measurements with you. That way you won't have to little or excess for at least one project.