Just find your 2 colors in the same color family, they don't have to be the same fabric. You can do it and I expect you'll be very pleased with the results.

I get two yards of big prints, and one yard of small prints.

I usually buy for the quilt I'm making unless it really catches my eye then I get at least 1-2 yards......umm guess I should mention I have maybe 5-6 quilts started at the moment............sigh...ok maybe its more than that...

I never buy less then 3 yards of any fabric that I really like and don't have a plan for it yet. The reason why is, when I finally decide on what I will use it for I want to be sure I have enough. I rarely use more then 3 yards in any one quilt but there has been times when 3 yards just barely made it.

Also I want you newbies to understand that if you really find a piece of fabric you truly love, you better grab it and make sure you get plenty because it doesn't last long on the shelves if it's that pretty and they don't make it all the time so chances are when you do go to make that quilt, you will not be able to find that same piece later on. This has happened to me a couple of times. I guess that's why 3 yards is now my minimum amount.

5 always sounds like a good starting point to me i figure if i really really like it i can use it in a couple of quilts and maybe buy more of it

Usually one metre if you want it to be a focus fabric, half a metre for the first coordinate and 20cm of however many other bits you want to add to it. All the other bits can be bought after you finish the main part of the top. That way you don't buy too much or make a mistake with the colours.

Oh If I could buy fabric and I liked it, it would be two to three yards, and if I loved it, it would be what was on the bolt. :D I can only dream. God bless.

Been quilting three years, have a good stash, but I figured out if you buy lights, mediums and dark fabrics of the same color class or group, you will be better able to plan a project. While buying, select your feature fabric first then coordinate it. 2 yards of each should do it. Backing is a different story.

I usually like to buy 5 meter lengths of fabric I like and only buy a meter(40 inches) if I want to get lots of different pieces.

If it is something on sale that I know I will use, I get however much they have, as usually the really 'good' sale fabrics only have a couple yards left on the bolt. If I really like it and don't have a specific project in mind I'll get 1-3 yards depending on the budget that day. The only time I get less than a yard is if it's a remnant or if I'm getting a FQ to see if the fabric will actually go with the fabrics I already have set aside for a particular project.