If I LOVE the fabric and it's a good sale price I buy the whole bolt. I'll use it for something! I've learned over the last 30 years to only buy fabric I love. No matter how cheap it is, if I don't love it I won't use it.

I usually buy 2 yards - but most of the time I buy jelly rolls -

Welcome from Murrells Inlet. SC. Usually buy 2 yds., and if I think it might make a good backing 5-6. Hardly buy from the regular priced fabs, always head to the mark down corner, 40/50% off. Beautiful fabs, but hardly ever find any blenders in the mark down. Good luck, it is very addictive.

When I had more money than time I used to buy two to three yards. Now that I am actually making quilts I have found that for a Queen sized bed quilt three yards is good for the focus fabric and one to two yards for the other colors. I am finishing a quilt that called for five different fabrics so this formula worked well with it. Most non-scrappy quilt patterns ask for four of five different fabrics so this 'system' has worked well for me. Backs are a differnet story but more and more I am even piecing the back. Hope this helps although in truth I'm like most quilters "Never enough fabric".

If the fabric is going to be the "main' fabric, then three yards, everything else 2 yards except backs. If a back is going to be 45" wide, then I buy the length x 2, or five yards. Better yet, buy a 108 to 110 inch fabric, then you just have to buy the smaller length. While the cost of a yard is more, I need less yards, so the price is cheaper. Example: $15/yd x 2 yards = $30 instead of $6/yd x 5 yards = $35.

BTW I think of a Blender as something that will tie together two different patterns or colors together. So a blender could be a pink and yellow batik that "blends" a pink pattern with a yellow pattern together in the same quilt.

I just went to a small quilt show in Paducah, Ky. It was sponsored by the Paducah quilting guild. They had bundled packages of fabric priced $3-$5. I bought several of these bags for under $20. Some of the pieces were really nice--like 2 yardseach. I got my money's worth.

Most of the time I try to have a project in mind before I buy unless it is a real good price and that I know I will use later.

I buy three yards if it is a focus fabric so that I can make sure I get legthwise, one piece borders out of it, and use the rest in the quilt, that will 'eventually' get made.

I buy two yard pieces for baby quilts, so that I have enough for a backing and can use the fabrics in the blocks as well, or for borders and blocks.

If the fabric will be fussy cut to get a specific area of the fabric for a center block, I count the number I will need and a few extra, and then buy the amount of fabric needed.

If it is a blender or sale fabric that will make a great backing, then it is 6 yards. I have hit some great sales on Air Force fabrics that were not great for use in quilt blocks, but made awesome backings.

I only buy fats if I can get 4 alike, that will make great accent fabric for something I already have, or to make purses or totes (sometimes 4 fats are cheaper than 1 yard during a sale). I especially like fats to make 'trip around the world' quilts, and make sure I buy at least two alike. And lastly, I love Christmas fats to make sampler quilts.

I buy Kona cotton by the bolt when I can with a 50% off coupon at Joanns.

I try very hard to not buy fabric just because it is a great deal, but because I can really see a quilt that will come of it. Quilting is just getting so expensive!!

Right now I am collecting Christmas blues and silvers to make the famous Dunster's Diamond Star Log Cabin quilt, in one yard pieces. Watching all sales year round to get the best deals.

Diane

2 Yards if I really like it because you may not find it later but if it is something I know they carry all the time then I would buy 1 yard.

What do you do when you need backing fabric?
I need to come hold your hand and walk you through it. :D

Usually 2-3 yards. I'm currently reorganizing the fabric here, and the OCD in me is ironing all of it, and there are some pieces that are 7, 8, 9 a,d even 10 yards. I must have gotten that really cheap