Depends on how much on sale it is. If it's not more than say 50% off I probably won't buy more than 5 or 6 yards. If it's more than 50% off I may buy whatever is left. I've been to a couple of LQS where they had fabric on sale for $2.00 a yard or $1.00 a yard if you took all of it. Of course I took all of it!!

That's for sales though. For regular buying my thoughts are, if it's a blender (tone on tone, marble, etc) then I generally get 2 yards. If it's more of a focus fabric I'll get at least 4 and sometimes 7. If it's a large scale print that I'm only likely to use in the border and not for a focus fabric too I'll get 3 or 3.5 yards.

I read soemthing like this somewhere: If you like it get a 1/2 yard, if you love it get a yard, if you really love it get 2 yards, if you thinks it's totally awesome get 3 yards

Thanks for all the help. Sounds like a yard is where I will start. I can see buying fabric is very addicting!:p

Fabric buying is very addicting. I have been teaching an older couple quilting & they started out just buying 1 yard. I suggested 2 or 3 yards but they didn't think they needed that much. When they started their quilts, they realized they never had enough of one fabric to complete the project. They now buy 2 to 3 yards at least. With the left over fabric, if they have any, they use to make practice blocks before starting another quilt. When they have many practice blocks, they make scrappy quilts for animal shelters out of them.

I love this method! Unless you want it for a stack and whack or elegant lone star then you need to count the repeats.

A fat quarter is never enough if I really love the fabric. Sometimes, I will buy 5 or 6 yards. Soemtimes, I just finish the bolt. I will use it eventually.....after it's been properly aged....like a fine wine. Then, it's ready for sewing.