I have developed a very bad fabric hoarding problem lately, after getting back to quilting after a few year's absence. (No stash!) I decided that I had to give myself some boundaries in buying fabrics that I don't have a particular project planned for using it: 1) It has to be selling at a really, really good price. 2)It has to be exactly a color or pattern I could visualize using. 3)I have to be reasonably sure I won't find this particular print or something close to it again.
Then I rationalize and try to believe that the fabric meets all this criteria. But it works well in theory! If you can afford to buy it, you will use it someday - either sharing it with someone or planning a quilt around that fabric you just had to buy.

I have been a fabriholic since I started sewing at age 12. Everyone in my family always knew that the way to my heart was through fabric! If you really want to buy fabric to have on hand, maybe you should try getting 2 or 3 yards of 3 pieces that belong to the same family. That way you can put them together in a plastic bag and have them handy for when you want thm. But, Irish is rite, you should do what fits you best.

I think that is a good idea, about buying a different "basic" color of fabric each month. I kind of have a similar plan, myself - only instead of purchasing no fabric, I've purchased a great many novelty prints that have very limited uses.

So my new goal is to buy more basics, and round out the colors in my stash (I have A LOT of dark blue, but no purple, very little light blue, and so on)

i need to take lessons...
i found ebay and lost all sense of reality lol.. ordered way too much and now as it shows up in the mail i wonder what im supposed to do with half of it lol

I am somewhat like you. I too don't really buy fabric that I just "like." All fabric I buy is with a specific project in mind at time of purchase. The difference is that I have so many projects in mind, on the go and planned, that all the fabric I buy eventually becomes part of my "stash". Eventually it will go into a particular quilt, but for the time being, it sits on my shelf and I get to pet and stare at the pretty stash!

Rachel, I try to only buy fabric for a project. When I see all of these "stashes" I think OMG they are never going to use all of that up and look at all the money that is just sitting there being wasted.

A sale is only good if you are going to use it. Even if you get fabric for $1 a yard, in the end, if you havent made it into something, then it gets given to Goodwill or sold at a garage sale.

I have one motto when it comes to fabric..BUY!!!!!!
I love to have fabric in my stash because I like to be able to go to my stash on a rainy or snowy day and be able to work on a new project - sometimes if I find a good buy I buy extra - because I know that somewhere down the line that will work as a great backing or will coordinate with others....
I LOVE FABRIC!!!!!
I've worked in fabric sine 1986.....it's the only life I know :-)

Rachel,
I am the SAME way. A lot of times I will go because they are having a great deal and then I get there and I think what am I doing here I have enough fabric at home for this quilt, and that quilt and I walk out with nothing. I wouldn't go into a store and buy paint if I didn't have a wall to cover, I wouldn't buy diapers if I didn't have a butt (just turned a year old) to cover. Why go in and buy fabric if I don't have a quilt to make with it!

When I do get ready to make a quilt I buy everything I need for it right then and there.

I'm the same way!!

I can't relate either. I try so hard not to buy, not even 1 piece, but I can't help myself especially if it's on sale!