I mostly buy fabric from Craigslist or garage sale and have waaay too much!

I buy at least 2-3 yards. I brought two yards today at $12 a yard. Never again.

I also prefer many fabrics in a quilt. I gravitate towards inticate designs (mariner's compass is one of my favorites). I usually piece my backs also. For the backs I often use a Bricks pattern or a Burgoyne Surround that has dozens of different "reds" or "blues", etc.. I am trying to not re-use the same fabric in my Dear Jane quilt. So, like Lori, I find that I rarely want/need more than a yard of a fabric unless it is for a binding or border. Lori is right that so much depends on the styles of quilts that are your preference.

If I can afford it, I buy at least 3 yards for my stash (4 yards if I am afraid that the store won't have it later on). If I can't afford that much, I try to buy at least 2 yards for my stash. When I started folding my material like bolts and storing them on shelves, I found that almost all of my stash worked well together with each other. That gave me more confidence in being able to just buy something because it is pretty and knowing that I will use it later on in different quilts.

I buy at least 2 yards, and 3 if it might be also used on the border...There has been times that I find something so cheap and good that I buy 5-6 yards for backing...

I try to have a general purpose in mind. Questions I ask myself: Would I use it for borders and maybe focus fabric, then get 3 yards. Would it be a background fabric, then 2 yards. A supporting fabric, then 1 to 1 1/2 yards. Would it make a good backing, then 5 or 6 yards ( or more depending on size of quilt). If you like scrap quilts then Fat Quarters are great.

when it is a fabric i think would make great borders or backgrounds i buy 2-3 yards- if it is something i love but really have no idea what i would do with it i buy 1 yard- or maybe even a fatquarter- if i just can not even imagine what i would do with it- if it is a fabric i think would make a wonderful back i buy anywhere from 5 -10 yards...depending on the price & if i think i could use it for more than one quilt.
so, it really depends on why i like it- is it a good blender- fabric i would pull out & use often? then i need 2-3 yards of it- is it more of a feature fabric that needs other fabrics with? then maybe only 1 yard....i seldom have a plan when i buy fabric-unless i'm choosing a backing-

I buy a yard if it really speaks to me. If it is a great blender and a great sale I'll pick up 2-3 yards. Have been enjoying the 5" charm packs a lot too. You can enjoy the guilty, quilty pleasure of having a minimal amount of everything in that particular collection for under $10. The charm quilts work up quickly, make nice gifts and are just a lot of fun to make.

New to quilting (after a 30 yr. absence) .... and I've only done the rag quilts, so I like to buy 1/2 yard of any color that suits my fancy.

I am so hoping to take some classes and learn how to do the bindings!!!!! That was the part (years ago) that I really did not do well at .... now that I'm retired, I can spend more time and learn things properly!!! Plus U-tube is just great for learning things :)

jody

WOW I can't believe all you ladies who buy so much fabric of one kind. Perhaps it is my quilting style but I rarely buy more than a yard unless it is for a back. I mostly buy FQ's or a regular half a yard. I almost never put borders on my quilts and use a lot of white so I don't need great quantities of one color. I like the scrappy look. I guess that is why.