how do you buy (and use) fabric?
 

So this will be another of those survey type of questions-

i just acquired another 50 ( or so) yards of fabric because i got a rand good deal on them. ( i actually do have good intentions for a lot of this batch!)

anyway, do you buy only for a particular project - exact amounts - and use it before starting the next project?

what do you do with your scraps- if any?

i know there are a lot of " stashers" on this board - some with buyer's remorse - some still happy with their accumulations.

this question is not about how much to buy - it' s more of a "do you buy only for the immediate need?" or are you sort of a " i think i will get this now because ...."? even if there is no immediate/definite need/ purpose for it?

i am very selective about buying any fabric that is more than $ 8.00 per yard - but almost give-away prices on nice fabric - i am willing to look at - even though i know dh will give me the evil eye when i bring it in the door.

I usually buy fabric for a specific project. One in a great while, I'll fall in love with something and buy a yard or two. My quilting budget is too limited to buy 'just because'. Once I finish up a couple of UFOs, I plan to make a couple of scrappy quilts for donation.

I usually buy fabric for a certain project or a pattern that I want to make down the road. I have seen fabric that I thought would work for a project and at a later date I go to purchase it and it is sold out. :(

I have mostly stopped buying just because I like it fabric and have been working on reducing the stash to the point I can buy good quality fabric when I have a project that I want to do. I haven't made any significant purchases of fabric for over a year except for our guilds annual charity sale. My daughter still brings me fabric she finds cheaply mostly from Goodwill.

I buy for a specific project. Unless it is flannel baby prints. My weakness. Sometimes I do buy a fabric that really catches my eye but that is rare. I do save scraps and make "bonus quilts".

I'm pretty much an impulse buyer, but I like to buy coordinating fabrics to use (someday) in a quilt. I also like to pick up blenders, and I use a lot of those as backing for cross stitch greeting cards. And I'm trying to build a stash of batiks, so I purchase fat quarters of those. Then occasionally, I will find a particular fabric that I just love, so I will build a quilt or other project around it. I guess I kind of do it all! I'm not very good at the resisting part of fabric acquisition.

And I'm just starting to try to organize my remnants. I'm cutting 5" strips or squares, 2 1/2" strips or squares and folding larger pieces in approximate same-size folds for easy storage and selection. I have lots of smaller sized pieces that I need to sort and discard to the doggie bed pillowcase for the animal shelter.

this question is not about how much to buy - it' s more of a "do you buy only for the immediate need?" or are you sort of a " i think i will get this now because ...."? even if there is no immediate/definite need/ purpose for it ? I buy for immediate need. Like I need a background,border or backing fabric. I am trying to use my stash for everything else.

i am very selective about buying any fabric that is more than $ 8.00 per yard - but almost give-away prices on nice fabric - i am willing to look at - even though i know dh will give me the evil eye when i bring it in the door. I agree 100% on this. That said I still will ask myself if I think its really a fabric that I will use and already have something that coordinates with it.

When I retired and got back into quilting I started building a stash of fabric when I could catch something I liked on sale. I don’t have an LQS within an hour of travel and what there is, can be limited and/or expensive. I have purchased for specific projects, but now having acquired a bit of fabric, I aim to use it for new projects, knowing I’ll still need to pick up the odd bit of coordinating or background fabric which may cause me to buy at “the regular price” but will be limited. I still have “holes” in my stash, but I have enough to put several quilts together on hand without shopping. I accept that trade off that I won’t/may not have the newest trendy fabric, for the cost of my quilting hobby. As for scraps, I’m a keeper of all scraps and have found they come in quite handy when trying to flesh out a projects fabric requirements. I just haven’t gotten to organizing them quite yet ;).

I do a lot of different sewing, but over the last seven years that I have been making quilts, I have mostly purchased fabric for specific projects. I always over buy because I usually prefer to buy yardage versus pre cuts, so I end up with lots of leftover fabric.

I have currently stopped buying quilting fabric until I finish my current Grandmother's Flower Garden. I do have fabric and batting for two more quilts so I have enough projects to last me this year.

I also make kitchen items, zipper pouches and other accessories with my cotton fabric. I recently bought a load of cute flannel prints and made seven pair of pajama pants for myself and one pair for DD.

I buy what I like, as there may come a day where I have to be more selective with my purchases. I know for a fact that what I have now will keep me busy for at least a few decades! My only regret was buying charm packs and jelly rolls, I now only buy yardage and fat quarter bundles.

Scraps I set aside and generally offer them up here on the board.

I buy for specific projects but sometimes those projects get put aside or I change my mind and use something else or I have more leftover than I thought so a stash gets built. The only fabric I've bought with no project in mind specifically are some bolts I bought from a quilt store that were on clearance. I did only buy the ones I thought would make good backings. Oh, and today I picked up some muslin from Joann since it was 60% off for backs of pillows.

In the past I made quilted totes & bought coordinating remnants to make them. I also bought jelly rolls & FQs that appealed to me. Because of that I’ve been able to make some quilts from stash. Lately I’ve only bought for specific needs, such as a new project that caught my eye, or for backing/binding for a quilt in progress. My yarn collection is a “just because!” story, however.

I can honestly say I never buy fabric with a particular quilt in mind. I do it the other way around. I have terrible impulse control when it comes to buying fabric. But I'm a happy camper :)
I rarely save scraps although I do have some of fabrics I really love. I don't toss them though. I give them new homes.

I start out with "immediate need" to finish a project. I have totes and totes of fabric sorted by color. Then I have several totes of coordinated quilt fabric with specific pattern all lined up and ready to sew. I am now buying sale fabric to complete those into quilts. I goal is to finish those first.......however, then I slip and see some beautiful fabric I just can't live without. If I find a real good bargain no way am I going to let that slip out of my hands.

My buying habits change as my needs and desires change. Have a friend who blesses me with wonderful LQS fabrics then I need to shop to coordinate with it. Then I see that piece I think I really like and purchase only to have to buy more because nothing in my stash works. I promised my daughter and daughters-in-law I’d not leave them this mess to clean up. I need to get busy!

I usually buy for specific project but may not use right away. I have closet 50 kits. Sometimes I will buy because I like but it is rare and I will use those for small projects like bags totes, bowl holders etc.. scraps I just throw in a bag but don't know why I keep I hate scrappy quilts. I never have buyers remorse, my tastes have remained consistent over the last 2 decades

When I was the Crafts Lady volunteer at the local thrift shop, I bought tons of fabric, batts, thread, etc. At 50 cents a yard, it was impossible for me to turn down those wonderful fabrics. But since Dec., 2017, I have not bought anything, ... no fabric, thread, batting, ... I only slipped when I bought 3 flat sheets from the thrift shop to make crib sheets. (Two were on special clearance price of $1.50 each and one was a pure accident.) So, I don't fit into either category.

I took a years long hiatus from quilting. Before, I bought a lot of fabrics at bargain prices for stash. I would also decide to make a particular quilt (usually for a class or workshop) and buy everything I needed for the quilt, plus extra in case I decided to make pillowcases or a matching mini. I ended up with a pile of UFOs and a bunch of fabrics that are either hard to match, or that I'm not particularly fond of anymore.

Now, I am quilting much differently. I have realized that I really like making scrappies, so I buy fabric much differently. Last year, I started cutting down my fabrics into the sizes I use the most. There were a few spots I was pretty low on, so I did go buy FQs. Now that I have a nice balance, I only buy yardage when I really need it, like for sashing or a border, and I only buy what I need.

The money I save buy not buying random fabrics for stash is used for buying staples. For example, I bought an entire roll of W&N and a whole bolts of fusible interfacing and plain white flannel when they were 70% off.

I don't buy tons of fabrics, usually fat quarters and half yards.bi get in a fabric buying mood a couple of times per year. I buy LQS quality at bargain prices ($4/yard). I may be collecting a color family for a future project, buying for a specific project, or just rounding out stash (neutrals usually). I love to have a ton of different fabrics in my quilts which is why I buy small pieces. My "stash" pretty much fits on 1 bookshelf plus a few larger pieces of yardage bought before I realized I'm quite content with smaller amounts.

Additional paragraph
 

I’d say 75% of what I buy is for a planned project whether or not the project is immediate. I buy specific fabrics if I’m making a quilt for a specific person . But since I donate most every quilt or pillowcase for kids’ charities, I buy cute fabric for usually under $6/yd.

I will buy pricier fabric if I love it and it’s also for a planned project. I have bought maybe 2% of my stash impulsively so it’s not really a self-control problem. My problem is not using it fast enough.

As for scraps, I tend to use them till I’m tired of the same ones. Then out they go to giveaways here.

I buy fabric for backing in 5+ yard batches or by the bolt when I get a deal. I buy tone on tone, solid black and solid white by the bolt because I use a lot of it. I buy fabric that I love with no plan for it here and there. I have a large stash, so I am trying to use up fabrics that I have.

I buy fabric if I like it and it's a good price. I don't necessarily have a project in mind for it. I have cut down on my buying, since I have a HUGE stash, but if it's something I HAVE to have, I'll get it. LOL I also have a HUGE stash of scraps. LOL

I usually buy with a specific project in mind: however, if I see fabric that I love and it’s on sale then I buy 2-6 yards of it . The bigger yardage is for backings. I am trying to use what I have which is two huge bins worth- to much for me.

I have too much fabric, so now I only buy what I need and only in the exact amount. I did that today as I'm working on a graduation quilt and my stash doesn't have any lime green.
My scraps - anything 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" are saved for postage stamp quilters - not me. I've been doing leaders and enders with 2 1/2" squares, working toward an Oklahoma Crossroads quilt. Larger pieces are left intact to work into another quilt. I would dislike cutting it up, then find I need a different size. Because most of my fabrics fall into the same color genre, I can just keep using a piece until it's gone.

My sassy answer to your questions is..... "carefully". But in reality, as well as being careful, I also purchase occasionally when there is a good deal. Recently a local quilt store had a 50 - 70% off because they were closing. I chose to buy fabrics that I liked knowing that because I was drawn to them I would use them. Most cuts were 3 yards with a few 4 yards. (I just finished the bolt.) I did not purchase anything just because it was a bargain. I also chose not to go back for more. I did have a quilt in mind for some of the fabrics. But honestly my stash is deep enough, mostly inherited fabric, that my primarily purchases are backing and occasionally MSQ pre-cuts that KNOW I will use.

Thanks for the question. It was nice to stop and examine my own rationale for shopping for fabric.

Scraps? I turn them into quilts and donate them or give them as gifts. I love scraps and have made many more scrap quilts than planned or single line quilts. I have scraps organized by size and from time to time I will dive in and just create a top for no reason because it is fun to see a pattern develop with multiple colors.

I buy fabric if I like the pattern in addition for specific projects. I buy batiks and quilt cottons and occasionally apparel fabric. I have mounds of folded fabric. I need to purge. I have kits in QIAD zippered plastic totes that have not been opened. It will take my life time + to piece and quilt them. I purchase fabric in 3 yard increments when not buying for a project. I tell my daughters do not purchase fabric, just come to my house and take what you want. I love fabric and yes, it makes me happy knowing I have a lot of it and purchased at reasonable prices over the last eight years.
I have quality quilt fabrics now selling for $12 or more per yard, that I paid less than $6.

I buy for a specific project, more than the pattern calls for as Most patterns I find are for smaller quilts than I like to make. Any scraps left from the project is sorted by color and saved for scrap quilts; of which I have made 5 now.

When my LQS closed a few years ago, I became an on-line only buyer. This means I end up with quite a bit of fabric that is not quite what I thought it would be, and which I would probably not have bought had I been seeing it in person. So I consider that my quilting destiny has been essentially changed by the fact that I can't buy in person. I think I bought more haphazardly and impulsively when buying in person, buying things I liked with no purpose in mind.

Now I mostly buy for a specific project, except for neutrals, which I'm always on the look-out for. As an on-line buyer, this often means that some of what I bought isn't quite right for the intended purpose, and goes in the stash. Occasionally there is still the impromptu purchase when I feel a fabric and I are meant for each other.

We have a small house and I have not yet been able to figure out where the heck to set up a scrap storage system, so my scraps are currently in plastic grocery bags here and there, unused.

edit to add, I'm a terrible sucker for bargains. I'll buy a fabric I wouldn't ordinarily consider if it's on sale, which I think is pretty dumb, so hoping to stop that practice.

Could you explain about giveaways on the board? Where do they happen?

I have a fairly healthy stash from when I was working (retired 18 mos ago). Now, lower income and no more room have slowed me down. Well, also I have learned to say to myself "Will I really use it? Do I really love it?" I buy mostly for a specific need, but also if I love something. I learned the hard way that if I love it, I should just get it. A few years ago, Minnick and Simpson had a line called "Midwinter Reds" that I loved, looked at several times, and just didn't get it. I still regret that, lol.

Specific need is kind of broad for me. For example, I bought the APQS kit for "Journey to Fall Paducah" because it reminds me so much of the Light Bright I played with as a child, and because I want to do a quilt in solids (they really intimidate me). Normally, I'm quite comfortable pulling fabrics, but not solids! So while I don't often buy kits, this was one that I wanted. Now, I know it'll be a while before this gets done - I have UFO's I need to finish or at least make good progress on before I start something new. While it's waiting, I'm watching for a great sale on solid black, as I will need over 10 yards to complete the kit. I found the perfect backing through MSQC, so once I find the background black, I'll have everything I need. It'll get done. Someday! ;)

I buy it now, with no particular need in mind mostly. If I'm making a specific quilt, for a specific need, I buy for that need. I am careful, but often buy because the fabric "speaks" to me. I haven't figured out what to do with my ever growing pile of scraps. Besides applique, I don't like working with small squares, scraps. I don't have the patience!

I have 2 kinds of buying. One is to buy for a specific project. I have a lot of fabric, but usually not enough of a particular color or fabric to finish the project. The other kind of buying is totally impulsive. We travel a lot. I end up in a lot of quilt shops. There are very nice people there, which spurs me to want to spend money there. Or, I go into a new shop and pick out things because I find fabrics/kits/patterns inspiring.

Yes I have done a lot of the traveling buying too but have slowed down on both the traveling and shopping without needing something specific.

Can I ask why 3 yards? I'm new to quilting and stash building. Are 3 yards typical to what a pattern asks for?

I am bad at buying fabric I love and buying some to go with it and keeping it until I find a pattern to go with it. If I find a pattern I like I go to the fabric I have first and if I can't find the right fabric I go shopping. I never buy less than three yards and five of the ones I really fall in love with.

For years now, I buy most of my fabric at thrift stores, estate sales, etc. I will also buy new fabric but I try to limit that to specific purposes, not just buying it for the joy... but sometimes joy wins. Many of us quilters have that moment when we see the pattern or the fabric or whatever it is that triggers us into the next project (or maybe the project after that). So sometimes I can go look for the fabric that does what I want, other times I look at the fabric and see what does it want to do.

Mostly I make scrap/charm quilts so I do need a wide variety of fabric, but I'm really starting to realize I don't need the yardage I have so I have been giving away some fabric recently. I've also been organizing my stash better but it's time to make up some projects/cut some fabric/make a new mess out of the order it's taken so long to almost achieve :)

The thing is about thrift stores is you can only get what you get, not more and not less. So maybe I do have to buy an entire bag of scraps just for that one piece that is calling me, or with my postcard blocks where all I wanted was a tiny little square but had to buy the entire piece of yardage to get it. Most importantly, you have to go regularly and if you see something you want, or think you might want, you need to grab it!

I've had several projects lately that required large collections of fabric. I do try and give away scraps from such things and will hopefully finish that postcard quilt soon and declare a substantial stack as surplus and time to set free.

I am working on culling my stash. *And, not in the best way.* I am just overwhelmed and paralyzed by just too much. So, I have been working quickly through my sewing room, touch it once, make a decision, bag it up and take it the next day to the thrift store. (Definitely in the buyer's remorse category.) And, this is not the first time I've done it this way either. I'm an impulse buyer. But, I have joined the Fabric Moratorium here on the QB to try to get a handle on my buying and hoarding habit. I would love to get all my fabric into one single chest of drawers in my sewing room. Right now, is not the best time to go quite that drastic. But, maybe for the future. I would eventually like to get in the habit of buying for a project or two at a time. I do hold onto my scraps a little too tightly. But, I do like to make fabric postcards and string blocks. I just don't think I need as many as I have saved. That will be a purge for a future date. I don't usually buy large amounts at a time. That has been a problem in the past. I do like to scrap quilt for the most part. But, lately, I have liked to have a limited color and fabric choices. That is a challenge at times because of my buying habits. But, I'm making it work with what I have. I don't piece and quilt nearly fast enough. (At the moment, I'm kind of in and out of a sewing slump on a regular basis.) I'm fighting with that also. Maybe when my sewing room is a little more manageable I will feel more motivated.

Good question through. My family and I have all figured things we all have in common. We tend to be compulsive and obsessive. Some days, lol, the struggle is real. But, with enough practice and restraint, we can change.

If I die before DH, I have visions of him just tossing lots of good stuff that could be donated. So, I'm working on donating good stuff I can't or probably will never get to right now. My kids won't be interested in it either. The struggle is to not go back and buy it again. :o Yep, I've done that a time or two. But, have been really strict on my purchasing habits of late.

Good luck to all that are in the same boat as me. lol

I also used to buy 2 or 3 yards of fabrics I loved. But over the years, I have found myself loving "scrap" quilts more and more. When I make them, I'm not usually using scraps, but cutting strips from several fabrics. If I were able to go back and do it over (keeping what I know, of course!), I'd buy smaller amounts. Rarely over a yard, unless it is for a border or backing.

Most of my stash was bought during the going out of business sales at hancock fabrics and ben franklin. They are wonderful fabrics and I am still very glad I got them. I can be much more creative with the choices those purchases afford me. I do have some stacks of fabrics I bought for specific quilts in my favorite colors and patterns. I also have a few quilt kits that are so fun and were a great price. So, no buyers remorse here.

Where I am always short is in good quality white and neutrals. I like the kind that is good thread count and not thin stuff. I use so much of it that it is always in need of replacing. So, I am always in the market for those. I buy as much as I can afford at the time when the opportunity arises. Also, I need backings and I know which ones need what yardage to finish it up by carrying a little notebook with the amount recorded. (and any small amount needed for specific quilts I am lacking) I do carry a swatch ring and that helps keep me in the right colorways. I don't go out all that often to shop, so I try to be focused on my list of needs.

But, every now and then, something flips my skirt and I buy it. I am a sucker for kitschy prints from the forties. I bought some golden yellow background with cherry bunches just last week. I think it will become a kitchen apron or the bottom edging on some embroidered tea towels.

Lisa, Zozee has games quite often where you have to guess something and she will send you a little fabric gift. It's so addicting! You can play as often as you wish but if it's been less than a month (I think) you can play but you have to play for someone else. Her games are always fun and usually hard! :)
The thread is near the bottom- I believe it's under Free Offers but I'm not certain. I do know that it's a category near the bottom of the main page.