How much yardage to buy on speculation?
 

Just wondered ... for all you folks with such lovely stash supplies -- when you see a great sale, how much do you buy just "for future use" (i.e. no specific project in mind)? I ran into a rare and great sale yesterday but had no idea how much to buy so left it for now, but want to go back and stock up a bit. If I find a fabric that really speaks to me, how much on average should I buy? I don't make full-size bed quilts (or haven't yet) so it would be for some projects like table runners, bed throws, placemats, baby quilts, etc. and I usually like to buy at least three different, but coordinating patterns.

I always buy 3 yds minimum of each color and at times I still run short! If the sale is really good, I buy the entire bolt.

for a lot of color and pop in a quilt ( I do a lot of scrappy ) you can't go wrong with fat quarters. 4 will equal a yard ( maybe a few cents more than an uncut yard ) but you can really add a lot to your stash. Of course, you will also need a simpler ''quiet'' color to help tone down those wild and crazy fat quarters, so then I will add either tone on tone blenders in fat quarters ( again, think scrappy cream blender fabrics ) or yardage. example, why do a quilt with only 2 colors, say black and white fabric when you can do the same quilt with 20 or 30 different black and white fabrics for a lot more eye candy!! the yardage will be the same for the finished quilt but you will have so much more fun doing the scrappy look.....imo!

it really depends on the fabric- when i look at fabrics i usually 'see it' as either a great backing- or great for a blender- or a great focal print---so- depending on where it falls in my 'mind's eye' determines how much of it i will buy-
i seldom (bother) with fq's unless it's something i absolutely have to have a piece of-but really do not think i will have much use for- or that's all they have-
i was told once to always buy as much as you can afford :)
if it's a great backing fabric i will buy between 6 yards & the whole bolt
if its a blender i will buy 2-3 yards-
if it's a focal fabric i decide if i would want to use it for more than 1 or 2 quilts- usually about 2 yards-
i rarely buy less than 2 yards- unless it's something that i do need for a particular project and know i only need 1 yard- maybe if its just for a binding and i don' t see alot of future need for it-
i like to cut borders lengthwise often so 3 yards generally will give me the length i need for any border-
but if you make small items 1 yard pieces may be plenty for you to build a good stash-
you really need to look at it the way YOU quilt- and choose accordingly- if it is something you might use over and over buy a couple yards- if its a once or twice then moving on---buy 1/2-1 yard...build your stash to fit your quilting needs- not mine :)

What did someone tell me years ago? Buy one yard if you like, 2 yards if you really like it, and 3 or more if you love it!
For me a lot depends on the price, whether I love it and if it is near the end of the bolt then I take it all!

With a reallyy good price, i buy 5 yds for a backing. Useually i buy 1 yard if i like the fabric.

If it is a great border fabric--3 yards. If it is a great background fabric--5 yards. If it is a great backing--9 yards. Everything else--3 yards.

I agree........and a sale is always a good time for backings!

I think that it depends on what kind of quilts you make. Do you make lap-size quilts or full size? Do you make scrappy quilts or traditional patterns where you often need 5-6 yards of a focal fabric and varying amounts of other fabrics?

I tend to make full size traditional quilts and have bought anywhere between five yards and the whole bolt of a great focal or backing fabric. A great border fabric, at least four yards. Blenders or versatile small tomid-size prints, usually 2-3 yards. I never buy less than one yard. Unless I'm doing an applique quilt and only need a tiny bit of one fabric, I never buy fat quarters.

I always try to decide will I use it as focus, background, complimentary, or borders. If its focus, background, or complimentary at least 1 1/2 yd each. If its borders at least 2 1/2 yd. and if its backing at least 4 1/2 yd. Also the more fabrics you have in a quilt the less you'll need of each one. This is all based on lap-size quilts which is what I make the most of.