How do you....
 

I am new to this message board. I always end up buying too much fabric. How do you all try to buy the right amount. Is there a good calculator to use?

Not sure what you really mean by the right amount. But if you are following a pattern, they usually have yardage amounts. If I don't have a specific pattern, yardage amounts will also depend on the size of the quilt I'm making. Anyway, any "extra" fabric goes into my stash for future quilts.

ETA: there is an app called Quilt Calc that also might be of some help. I have it on my phone and kindle fire. You could calculate, backing & binding yardage as well as border yardage.

If I am using a pattern I usually buy the specified yardage or a little over to allow for shrinkage or errors. If I am making up my design, I go through the math to determine the amount of fabric needed for a block--then multiply that out based upon the size of the quilt I am going to make. It might help to make a sample block first to get the amount of fabric needed, then multiply that by the number of blocks. Then calculate the amount for borders (if any). I cut binding strips 2 1/4" wide and based upon the finished size you can calculate the amount of yardage based upon the number of strips needed. Lastly the backing. I don't usually buy backing until I am done with the quilt top and see what scraps and extra blocks I have left and piece those together first, then buy enough backing fabric to get the right size.
I guess there is no easy way without lots of figuring if you don't have a pattern to give you yardage. Most of us must over buy or we wouldn't have so much stash!!

Oh I forgot to mention that Robert Kaufman had a free quilt calculator app that you can download on your phone that you might find helpful in estimating yardages.

Too much fabric. Is there such a thing as too much fabric? LOL

If you are designing your own, not following a pattern draw your quilt out on graph paper, then you can identify each fabric & figure out your yardage, it is always better to have a bit extra than to not have enough. With extra if you make a mistake, or figured wrong you will probably be OK, if not enough you may not be able to find the fabric again by the time you find out.

Welcome from western NY and happy quilting :)

If I am using a pattern, I buy what is specified. I don't worry about leftovers. They just go into my stash for use on a later project. If I just like the material, I buy at least two yards.

I love this app!

If I have a specific quilt pattern in mind, I buy the required yardage. If there's a fabric sale, I buy what I like, 1 1/2 yds. - 2 yds. ... It's nice to have a stash now, fabric prices are getting way too high. Thus, I have several scrappy quilt patterns to make.

I don' t think it is possible to " come out even" when buying fabric without a specific pattern.

I frequently end up with "not quite enough" or " lots left over" when I buy fabric " just because."

Welcome from NE Ohio.

Usually when I am buying fabric, it is for a specific project like a Bargello which then I get 1/4 of a yard or 3/8. If I love it and it is on sale, then I buy2 or 3 yards. Good question. Welcome to the board.

That's what I was thinking! For me, "too much" is often just the right amount, especially when I either decide to change the pattern around (happens a LOT) or I cut the fabric wrong and need to re-do pieces (happens when I'm sick or up too late).

If you're using a purchased pattern it ought to have a list of how much of each fabric to buy to have the quilt finish out at X-size. Some patterns have it for several sizes, some for just one.

If I'm designing my own pattern, what I do is count up and list out how many pieces of each size and in each fabric I'm going to need, and then I figure out how many of that piece I can cut from a strip of fabric cut by the length of fabric. Then I multiply it out to figure out how long of a piece I need to buy.

So let's say my quilt is just a bunch of 4" squares; those are going to be cut at 4.5" square. Let's say I count that I need 30 of them in blue, and my blue fabric is 42" wide after I trim off the selvedges.

42 divided by 4.5 is 9.3, so that means if I cut a strip of fabric 4.5 inches wide by the width of my fabric, that will give me 9 squares per strip with a little scrap left over.

I only need 30 blocks, and if I get 9 blocks per strip, I need four strips and I'll have some blocks left over.

4 strips at 4.5 inches wide is 18 inches. That happens to be exactly 1/2 yard. BUT!! I'm a pre-washer, so after I wash my fabric, trim strings and square up the fabric it's going to be smaller - it'll probably shrink a bit too. Even if you don't pre-wash, if you square up the fabric you're going to lose some, so even though by measurements I only need 1/2 yard, I would buy more to make sure I have enough to handle any wonkiness in the fabric or any sloppy cutting at the store. I would probably go ahead and get 2/3rds yard, which would be 24 inches; that gives me lots of wiggle room.

This made me giggle!

I only buy for projects - not for stash. For pre-purchased patterns I'll by anywhere from 1/4 to 1 yard of extra...depends on how much of that particular fabric is called for in the pattern. If I'm making up my own pattern, I usually do so in EQ and it calculates yardage for you. I think their calculations are a bit off so I just do a quick double check simply multipling out square inches/yards as a double check. But then still purchase extra to cover my own cutting errors.

Welcome to the Board! I never buy too much, I buy as much as I can get. Any extra can always go into a future project. maybe matching pillows or one for a fur baby's bed or two.

Thanks everyone. I am just concerned with a pattern I am using. it is for a minecraft quilt. The second page does not show all the colors used in the end product. If you look at it, it does not show any measurements for the brown or red colors. http://www.quilthowto.com/Minecraft-quilt.html

That's what I was thinking. Lol, blasphemy!

You mean you can buy too much fabric??;)

The instructions are pretty vague. Some of those measurements look like they may be off. I'd use it as inspiration and draft my own pattern.

Good question for a beginner. I haven't learned what "too much fabric" is. LOL Good luck to you.

ok I didn't know you could buy too much fabric. hehehe Thats where my stash came from. hehe sure didn't mean to sound like a smarty pants just kiddin around

But buying "too much" is part of the fun and builds your stash! LOL

I usually buy 1/2 - 3/4 yd over what I need - anticipating a mistake (who, me?????????????). Then I always have a little bit left over for the next quilt or making a multi-colored binding. I cut my binding 2-1/2" and my borders I cut 4-1/2". Then I buy two or more yards (yah, the mistake thing)! But down the line, it'll all get used. I tried something different on my last quilt. I bought some charm packs - 5" and did the border in those squares. There are 42 squares per pack and I used 50 something. Turned out great. Then if there is some squares left over you can use them for something else. For what it's worth, I always buy more than I need, because I don't want to run out in the middle of a quilt and not get the same dye lot. I had that problem once - just once. Have a good day. Edie

I have never worried about buying too much fabric. My fabric stash would prove that. lol

define "too much fabric" lol

sandee in mo

This is the million dollar question.

If I have a pattern, I buy an extra quarter yard more for just in case mistakes, and left overs go into a scrappy quilt.

If I am buying because I like it:
if the fabric is a neutral and on sale, I go for 3-5 yards depending on the sale
if it is something I like and I like the price 2 yards
If it is something I fell in love with and not on sale, I go with as little as a half a yard

I agree, there's no such thing as too much fabric. If so there wouldn't be more at the store :) I always figure what is needed then I add what is wanted. Without stash I wouldn't have a clue what to start next. I look at it like how I cook...I see what I have in the fridge and the pantry and pull out the things I want to start with, then add to it as necessary. You'll see after you've made a few quilts, as your skills grow so does your stash. It's a win-win.

I always get at least a mim of 1/2 yd more than the pattern calls for. All my fabric gets washed before I cut for a new quilt pattern. This extra allows for any shrinkage that may happen.

If I'm just adding to my stash, I try to buy at least 2 yds. If its a neutral or black I buy 5 - 10 yds as it will never go to waste. If I'm working on a pattern I buy what they state and a yard or two more for good measure. If I find a neutral and/or black in backing fabrics I'll buy them instead as you get more for your money. I've found a sateen backing in a few colors and have been buying them as they have such a nice feel and drape to them plus you get more for your money at 108" wide.

Exactly what I'm thinking! I always stop I my LQS just to browse. If I see something that catches my eye, I pick up two yards....even if I don't have something planned yet.

I wind up buying more as a precaution ( or so I say ) in case of mistakes . For me there is no calculator that will cure me of this illness. I suppose you have to trust the pattern as to amount you need and go with it. Sorry I was no help, but that is the truth in a lot of us quilters .

My thoughts EXACTLY !!! lol !!

For this quilt , I think some fat quarters would work good, so you get a variety of shades. I would get 2 fat quarters for each of the browns and reds I want to use. or if you want to be safe , 1 yard might work for each and then you will have extra.

It's better to have too much than too little. If you have too little, it's virtually impossible to 1) find the same fabric again, and 2) if you do find it, have it be of the same dye lot.

I just started trying to design my own quilts using graph paper and colored pencils. it has been a lot of fun. I use an iPhone/iPad app called QuiltSandwich that tells me exactly how much fabric to buy and how many strips to cut. When I use the app at least if I buy "too much" I am buying it because I want to. Not because I didn't know how much to buy. I am glad to learn that there are others who make cutting mistakes too... Or are they piecing opportunities????? :).