I buy minimum 3 yards, but most times I buy 4. Scrappy quilts are somuch fun to make & I always have enough to make them out of "leftovers". I make king quilts almost exclusively.

good to know i'm not the only one addicted lol

Eleanor Burns says at least three yards.

I generally buy 3 yards.......If I really like the fabric, I will use it somewhere........and 3 yards will allow me to use it as background, focus, fill in - whatever is needed for the ultimate pattern chosen.

I have way to much fabric so no more store for me until I finish up a lot of projects. I go to the store and something calls y name and we go home together just pitiful. Good luck with your starting your stash. Sue

I usually get 3-4 yards of a pattern, which is enough for a queen or two twins/laps then a background and third color in the same amount. I usually wait with bindings and backing until I am finished. that gives me enough to make my first block and maybe a mistake or two.

PS it also gives me enough in a stash for a smaller project when I find the right one.

I think it depends on what kind of things you quilt. I make a lot of table runners for gifts right now. I buy charm packs, fat quarters and 1 1/2 yd. of something I really like so I have enough for a border or for a back as I make my table runners reversible.

I buy a yard, 2yds. If I like it and 3yds. If I really like it. If it is gorgeous, I buy 5 yds. One cannot have too much fabric! lol

half yard pieces for piecing of many different colors. These are usually a better price than fat quarter when fabric is on sale. 4 to 6 yards tone on tone, white, ivory, or beige for backgrounds. 2 1/2 yds for outer borders and 2 to 3 yards of black tone on tones. These are some good things to build a workable stash while fabric is on sale, and you don't really have a plan right now.