How much fabric do you buy?
 

I am new to the quilting "passion" and wonder how much fabric you buy when you find it on sale and don't have a specific project in mind?

Waaaayyyy too much! According to how much the final price is, and how much I can afford, I usually get a cart full of whatever I like. I usually buy prints on sale, so when I need solids, I "have" to go buy them (oh, woe is me, another trip to the store)! LOL

I buy only what I need. I always have some project going. I guess I don't plan ahead far enough to buy ahead. I just wait until I'm ready to start a project.

I need to clarify, I'm somewhat new to this obsession of quilting, too. So when I see some fabric that I'd like to make a quilt from someday, I never know how much I'm gonna need for whatever pattern I decide on. That's why I buy too much. By the way, I'm a contender for the top spot in "She who dies with the most fabric, WINS".

I like to buy wholesale by the bolt, that way i always have enough. If I am buying for a specific project, I buy at least a yard more than I need, but I too am a contender for the same title.

I only buy for a specific project. That doesn't mean one that I am working on or one that I am starting. However, if I fall in love with a particular fabric, like the feature fabric on the Romance collection by Tina higgins Designs for VIP by Cranston (and not any of the rest of the collection) I will get that one 2 or 3 yards at full price and then hunt and search for other fabrics as I c an find them to go along with them. It may take a year or more for me to assemble exactly what I want. When I spread it out over that long a time, if I pay full price for many of the fabrics it's not too bad. My quilts take a year or more each for me to make.That's design and contruction time after I have the fabric. I'm slow! LOL!!

When I first started quilting I binge bought fat quarters. Now I buy with a specific project in mind and always at least a yard more than I'll need - sometimes I need a wide margin for errors! But, if I see a fabric that I love I'll buy 3-4 yards of it - unfortunately that happens way too often.

I usually buy 3 yards.

One of the first things I ask myself is how I would use the fabric; in a block, for sashing, backing, or borders and what size of quilt you would want to make. A block 1 yd of each fabric (this all depends on how many blocks are in your quilt and how many different fabrics you would want), sashing 2 yd, backing at least 4.5 to 5 yd, and borders 2.5 yd. All this would make a lap to twin size quilt.

I am very new to this craft also. I started out buying fat quarters too. (I think trying to build a stash quick) But is really not enough for a big project .....so now I buy at least 3 yards at time or if it is a really good sale and I really like it I usually buy 6 yards. I am really good at buying fabric.....making a quilt....not so much.

I'm not buying anymore just got 3 large totes of fabric from my brother from my sister-in-law who past away earlyer this past year. It is a mix of quilting fabric, silk, saten, knits etc. Most of it is 3 to 6 yards and lots of scraps. Much of it is vintage fabric from the 40's and 50's.

I'm cheap so I generally only buy for a project. If I don't have a project in mind, I will tend towards buying a FQ pack or layer cake or something like that. If I am not buying pre-cut, I will probably only buy a yard if it's a good sale. I know I should buy more, but I just can't afford to spend the money. I can usually get a whole quilt out of a yard by adding other fabrics.

Cheers!
Rachel

I buy WAAAAAAAAAAAAY to much and I know it...

My rule of thumb is:
If I like it, I buy one yard...
if I love it, I buy 3-5 yards...
If I cant live without it, I buy the whole bolt...
( I do that alot !!!)

I buy what I need for an up and coming project,usually in 3yd increments. My stash seems to be growing, and I am using some from my stash lately. I sometimes buy 108" fabric, and whatever is left over for another project.

Depends on how well I like it. If I have a project in mind I'll get what I need for that and get an extra yard or 2 for something else. I've done that since I started sewing to get my stash built up. And now its built up alright. I'm almost stashed out of my sewing room. haha. If I don't have a project in mind I'll get a couple of yards but it all depends on the fabric. If its a neutral and I think it will go with lots of stuff I'll buy about 3 yards.

I buy fabric I like, and have started going to Paducah a lot to go to Handcocks of Paducah, (not the chain store) I hit the rement table of baticks and just grag what ever hits my fancy,1/2 yard to just over a yard. I'll find some thing to do with them, no problem, also get lots of wide backing that way.

If I see a whole collection that I love, I will purchase small amounts of each print from 1/4 to 1 yard. Then I will look to see which one of the prints I would use for a border, binding or any other larger part of the quilt and purchase from 2-4 yards. If it is just one fabric that I see and fall in love with I usually purchase 2-3 yards. I have done this when ordering online also. There are a great many fabric stores online who have a half yard minimum but if you ask, most will cut you
1/4-1/3 yard pieces when they know you are taking all of the collection plus some larger pieces.

I don't normally buy fabric just coz it's pretty....I have to have a specific project in mind. But....when I do buy fabric, I always buy at least one yard over what I will need coz you never know what little accessories you might want to make to match the quilt. All that being said, I will buy basic solid colors (white, black, red, etc.) ahead if they are on sale or I have a 50% off coupon....same goes for batting and thread. As for quantity, I will buy as much as I can afford of the basics, with 3-4 yards a minimum. It would be great to have a huge stash to pick from when you want to make a quilt....but fabrics that you think are great today may not look so great tomorrow and be totally out of style in the coming months. That is my reason for not buying much ahead.

Way to much. I buy 3 yards if I like it 5 if I love it and like Debbie.JJ I buy prints and have to go looking for solids when I start a project.

Just the other day I saw another quote. "She who dies with the most fabric isn't quilting fast enough." LoveLove it!

My usual cut is 1 yard. If I'm pretty sure I will want to use the fabric as a border, I buy 3 yards. The only time I buy more yardage than that is if I want to use the fabric for a backing. (I should mention that I buy almost all my fabric when it is on sale at a local fabric outlet, which means batiks are about $7 a yard. When I need a lot of yardage for muslin, applique background, etc. I usually purchase that from either fabric.com or from Hancock's of Paducah when they have their annual sale. I don't buy much fabric at $12/yard!)

The 1 yard cuts of batiks I have are becoming a nice stash, plus they fold nicely for storage by color.

I have found over time that I really don't care much for fat quarters. If I love the fabric, it's not enough and I am afraid of using it all up by cutting into it. If I don't love the fabric, it sits around way too long because it doesn't suit any of my projects. The 1-yard cuts work well for me because I have enough of the fabric that I'm not afraid to use it, but I don't end up with yards of it 10 years later (and I have some of that) after my taste in fabric has changed.

I usually buy 1 yard pieces of fabrics that call to me. Sometimes I'll run across a fabric that I think will make a great backing and buy 2 yards of it (I make square 48" x 48" quilts). If I'm buying the 1 yard and it turns out that it's the end of the bolt, then I will buy the entire piece. This method of purchasing sometimes means that I'm totally out of a fabric that I've decided to use for sashing and need to run back to the wholesale fabric warehouse where I do most of my shopping. And after I've enlisted the help of the owner, not being able to find it, he then says "why didn't you buy enough in the first place?" and I've had to explain that a lot of us buy fabric with no clue what we're going to do with it.

At this point, it's a darn good thing I have a large stash because I was laid off from my job this week and have been able to spend my time making perfect applique circles for some future project.

When I started I would be skimpy and buy two yards. I would have to hunt down the same fabric to buy more / b

When I started I would be skimpy and buy two yards. I would have to hunt down the same fabric to buy more. So now I buy 3 yards and that works good.

If there is a particular line of fabric that I just can't leave the store without, I will buy enough of that line for basically a queen quilt. Otherwise, I have been trying to just buy for a project. My stash is basically nice scraps and a few just had to haves!! :-) I have some really beautiful patriotic fabrics that I have had for 2 years and just now working at finding a project for them. My best quilting friend only buys for specific patterns and she still has a nice stash and we usually make pretty 'bags' from our leftovers. Have fun - you'll find what works for you.

I used to buy 1 yd if I liked it, 2 yards if I loved it, 3 yards if I can't live without it or 5 -7 yards if it is slated for backing. Now my cupboards are full and I have scaled back to only buy when a project is missing something or I may pick up some charms or FQs here and there. The passion has turned into an obsession and I don't want to end up on TV on one of those hoarder shows.

Me, too. Just what I need. Even then its surprising how quickly a small stash can grow!

I usually buy 2-3 yds. If I buy pre cuts, then I look for something to go with it and then I buy 1 yd. If I see a print that calls my name then I'll buy at least 3 yds. (unfortuneately I have seen waaaaaay too many of those....)

I like quilts that use lots and lots of different fabrics so I don't need much of each individual one. I buy only with specific projects in mind and get 1/2 to 1 yd of most fabrics unless I plan to use it for a border or background. I am just starting out though.

I'm one of those that only buy for specific projects. That said, I do over-buy when I do. Usually by at least a 1/2 yard. That's how I've built my stash. And thank goodness too, because apparently I can't read/add/multiply/divide! Just bought fabric for a large lap quilt last week. Decided to change things up from the pattern and didn't calculate the number of fabrics correctly. Discovered this after 12 out of the 16 blocks needed were complete. Off to my 'stash' and found 2 fabrics that worked and that I had enough. Whew! I really didn't want to have to put on 'real' clothes and pay full price even if it was for only a yard or so of fabric. Now working on the latest batch of HST's to make up the last 4 blocks. Thank heavens for a rotating cutting mat!

2-4, sometimes as much as 6-8 or a full bolt if it's something I use all the time. But...I put out about 150-300 quilts per year counting big ones and little "pup" size ones...

3 yards, if it is really to die for 5, then if it is so darn cool I can't believe it, 8 yds.

My favorite quilts are very scrappy. I'm also frugal and don't like to waste money on fabric I won't use. The first three quilts that I made were scrappy, but I went out and bought lots and lots of FQ or half yard cuts before each one. I ended up with lots of scraps

When I started planning seven quilts to give to family, I wasn't sure how to stockpile fabrics for them. Bonnie Hunter's scrap savers system at quiltville.com seemed just right for me. One thing she suggests is to cut 10.5" squares of fabric to piece backings. That seems to keep me from buying big yardages just in case I need them for backings. If I need something specific for sashes or borders for a certain quilt, I promised myself that I would buy them after I finished piecing the blocks. Then I started buying one yard cuts of fabric for cutting strips for piecing. I had to step away from quilting for a while, but every now and then I pick up a few one yard cuts of fabric , knowing that I have a cutting plan for strips and squares.

My favorite quilts are very scrappy. I'm also frugal and don't like to waste money on fabric I won't use. The first three quilts that I made were scrappy, but I went out and bought lots and lots of FQ or half yard cuts before each one. I ended up with lots of scraps

When I started planning seven quilts to give to family, I wasn't sure how to stockpile fabrics for them. Bonnie Hunter's scrap savers system at quiltville.com seemed just right for me. One thing she suggests is to cut 10.5" squares of fabric to piece backings. That seems to keep me from buying big yardages just in case I need them for backings. If I need something specific for sashes or borders for a certain quilt, I promised myself that I would buy them after I finished piecing the blocks. Then I started buying one yard cuts of fabric for cutting strips for piecing. I had to step away from quilting for a while, but every now and then I pick up a few one yard cuts of fabric , knowing that I have a cutting plan for strips and squares.

I don't do that much anymore. Seems like the fabric I have bought like that I have a difficult time using them or adding fabric to do a top.

You are just like me! I buy a lot of whatever is left on the bolt! Sometimes it's just 1 -2 yds., but sometimes it's 7 -8 yds. But it seems like I never have the right fabric for some part of each quilt. I guess I'll just do scrappy quilts from now on, and maybe -- just maybe -- I can use up some of my stash!

I have waffled back and forth on this question many times over the years. At first I bought only what I needed for a project. Then I bought what I thought I loved in big quantities. Next I just bought FQ's to try to match up with my stash. Then I just tried to work only from my stash. Last year I went on a 10 day shop hop and purchased lots of kits. Finally I have realized that where I started at is what made me the happiest in my work. I like to have complete control over all of the fabrics I'm using in a project and I don't like to feel like I have to use just what I have because I have it already. I'm not really enjoying having a stash to feed and take care of anymore either. Too many pieces in it that I love but have never been able to make work in any of my projects and that makes me feel bad for buying it in the first place. So I'm going to go back to my roots when I'm next in a position to start picking and choosing again and will just work on one much loved project at a time. It's kind of funny too that my first several quilts were completely made up by me when I chose just one focus fabric to work with and then built the rest of the quilt and fabric choices around that main fabric. No one else even got to have a say in the patterns. It was pure bliss now that I look back at everything I've done. For me...less is more.

If it is a great sale, I buy all they have if I really like it. Yesterday I found some "Valentine" fabric that was really nice feeling to the touch. I bought all they had which was just under 4 yards. I paid $2.86 for the entire piece. I have so much fabric (used to work in fabric for 3 years) I only buy what is on sale unless I need a special piece.

I am on fabric diet (starvation....no new fabric ) but my Daughter who is soon to be a Grandmother is so much fun to shop with ....She sees what she likes, takes armfuls of bolts to the counter, asks for x# of yards and then says "Oh just do not cut, I'll take the rest of the bolt" cannot imagine were she got this from ;) Looking back over my shoulder i see the bolt with the remainder of the fabric from her wedding dress (35yrs ago). She has sons, she will soon have a grandaughter and the fabric will be used !

BTW her 'excuse' for buying the rest of the bolt is "whatever we have left from the nursery fabrics, Mom can use for the charity quilts" (she is right I will, saving a bit for memory quilt also)