I bought some fabric, and found other that I would care to buy. I am not exactly sure how I want to design the quilt. DH says I should wait until I am sure what I want to do and then get the fabric. I was wondering how long places carry fabric?? Until it runs out??

Yep!! If you really like it, get 3 or 4 yards and plan around that!! :thumbup:

It goes out of the stores quickly so I would buy. I don't have a huge stash by any means, but when I run across something that I just love I purchase then. IMHO.

I agree. If u really love this fabric, then u need to get it while u can. some fabric flys out the door faster than others.. but once it is gone many shops do not reorder that design.

I have WAY too much fabric; three tubs full. I see a print I like and i buy at least a yard. If it's on sale, i will get 3 yards.
we're all different. Some will pick a pattern and get the fabric just for that pattern. If you are new, and DH has expressed an opinion....
Anyway, after yesterday's shopping trip, I am not buying anymore fabric until Thanksgiving!
What I plan to do next is find the pattern in one of the books and magazines I already own and use the fabric I already own.

Some shops do reorder, but I wouldn't take the chance were I you.

Buy what you like, later you might not be able to find something you like.

I've made the mistake of not buying a fabric I like and when I went back to get it it was gone and they did not reorder it.

I made that mistake and am still carrying around a half yard trying to find it. It is a beautiful persian piece and have never found anything like it.

Don't wait, you my regret it.

If you see it, like it - buy it! If you REALLY like ti! buy 3 - 4 yards or more. Even if you don't have a pattern in mind, someday you will. That is how "Stash" is born! Love it!

That's why we quilters have stashes!!!!

Consider what you might be using it for, and how much is necessary to do that ... and then buy some extra, as you're bound to want more when the time comes! :)

if nothing else, go back to the store and copy all the info from the bolt end. Manufacturer, pattern name, any numbers etc. If at all possible, though, buy it NOW!!!!

If you really like it, buy what you can afford. If you don't use it right away, it'll become part of your stash.

ditto :)

I am the crazy one..I have some fabrics that are full bolts!! If I really like it that is what I get..especially if its on a clearance table and the price is right..odds are they aren't planning to reorder it. crafty_linda_b

I'd check ebay if I were you - if you know who made the piece you like, do an ebay search listing it by the designer - I found an out-of-print piece to finish a started quilt (didn't buy enough the first time in the LQS) reasonably priced. Google search may also turn up the fabric you want.

I do agree, designers are always coming out with new to intice buyers, so I also buy it when I see it if its something I really like.

I wish I had a yard of fabric for every time I decided to wait and then went back and its gone!!! the manufactures do not have a long cycle for fabrics these days. Many times by the time it hits the stores .. they already can not re-order.

Most fabrics speak to me or I already know what sorts of fabrics I'll use in piecing or in backing etc. If I find something I really love but can't figure out what I'd do with it in piecing, I buy enough to back a large quilt. Fabrics that I know I will use in piecing without a problem, I buy anywhere from a fat quarter to a yard or three. Large pieces get used for sashings, bindings or larger plain blocks and the smaller pieces I use in piecing HST's and other small block sections. The longer you quilt the better you will get at judging what you'll really use and what you won't. For example, I love looking at novelty prints but know that I will seldom use them in a quilt...they are just not part of my quilting style. However I would use them for a backing for a particular person that they might remind me of so in that case I would buy a large length of it just so I will have it the next time I get ready to make ______ a quilt.

If you love it buy 3 or 4 yards then you don't have to worry about it being from a different dye lot.Ask me how I know.

Flying_V_Goddess...so good to see you post again! Have missed seeing your avatar!
Get the material now...it's usually gone by the time you decide..been there done that too many times.

If you like it buy it...chances are that it WON'T be there when you go back for it.

This is true. And many shops only order a collection once, and when it sells through, even if they can still get more, they just go on to the next new collection anyway.

Buy the fabric or it will be sold out when you're ready to work with it. Guaranteed.
MaryKatherine

I have seen fabrics I really liked; decided to wait till payday or some other reason to procrastinate; gone back in a week or two; and it would be gone already! I am finally learning to buy it when I see it. :lol:

I have seen fabrics I really liked; decided to wait till payday or some other reason to procrastinate; gone back in a week or two; and it would be gone already! I am finally learning to buy it when I see it. :lol:

I always thought that it went out rather quickly until I went toWal-Mart this week. There on the shelf was a stripped fabric that I had bought several years ago to make grocery bags.

Made me wonder what warehouse wal-mart picked to clear out their storage unit.

You can never have too much fabric. Buy now.

I would buy especially if it is seasonal looking. Like really spring colors. If its a privately owned shop you might stand a chance of getting it again if you ask for it. If it is a chain it would be kind of iffy. If I see something I really like I buy at least a yard.

I definately agree, buy it now because you may never find it again. I learned the hard way. So now if I find something I luv, whether i have patten in mind or not, I buy it! ;)

I am starting a class Friday. I was picking out my fabric yesterday and an associate told me that, if I was going to do the binding out of one of the materials, it would be better to get it now because the roll would go quickly.

Much of the time shops don't have the option of reordering fabric. If it is a popular piece it is often not available for reorder. Many times they print a certain number of bolts and when it is gone thats it. Often times when a shop does reorder it takes a long time to get it back in. Most of the new fabric that shops get in was ordered 6 months ago.

If you really like it, buy it! If you don't use it right away, as in you change your mind about the quilt project you're working on, it'll keep until you get ready. I often buy fabric I've fallen in love with, get it home and decide to go in a different direction with what I have in mind. Then I rediscover my fabric and think "this would be great with...!" I don't know if I've ever had "fabric buyer's remorse" except when I didn't get a piece I really wanted adn then it was gone when I went back. :(

Duct tape DH mouth and run to the fabric store! As a former shop owner, nothing made me sadder than to tell a customer that the fabric they were looking for was no longer available.

go online and search for that fabric line and see how old it is and how readily available it is online...if you can find in several places online, then wait...you can start by googling just the makers name, or the fabric line name both should be on the selvage...
or you can start at quiltshops.com and see how many shops show it available.( I have found that these shops are more costly than other online shops though)

had this happen if you can buy now

I would buy it while it is available. If you decide later you don't need it, you can sell it here on this board. That should appease your husband to know that it won't be wasted moneywise.

Buy it while it is the store. Also I have went back to the LQS and the material was gone. I then go on line and look for it and 99% of the time I can find it, so that is another alternative.

If I really like it I will buy at least 2 yds or more if I can think of a pattern right then that I may use it for. If I don't have complimentary fabrics in my stash, well gee, I guess I'll need to go shopping again! :)