I bought the Back To Nature kit and it is beautiful but it does not have layouts for cutting the fabric. So I hope I have enough with the way Im laying out the block patterns. It is batiks so wont be hard to match up with other batiks if I dont have enough.

As one who makes and sells kits, I would offer a couple of additional suggestions:

1.) If you're purchasing a quilt kit and will want to enlarge it or have a matching backing fabric, strongly consider purchasing the additional fabrics at the same time as the kit, even if you don't plan on completing it for awhile.

Since fabrics, especially now have a limited life-cycle, waiting to purchase later may ensure that you won't be able to find the fabric you want for the backing or additional borders, etc. This applies to most kits, but there are some lines that are ongoing and reprinted all the time, so for kits made from these rare fabric lines you should be able to safely ignore this advice. For this reason it pays to do a little research on the fabric lines used in the kit you are considering.

2.) Many kit makers now, especially online shops, are not constructing a sample quilt, because it's very expensive to do so with a limited kit run, and the quilt can be fairly represented using photoshopped or EQ7 images. If you look at a kit in an online shop and are uncertain at what's going to be in it, don't be afraid to call the shop and request a few fabric samples of the included fabrics! Most reputable shops will be happy to send small samples if you aren't too outrageous with your requests. (i.e. don't request dozens of samples that take a lot of time to produce.) Likewise, requesting a sample or two of the main fabrics will give you a good idea of the fabric quality that's in the kit.

3.) If you are thinking about expanding or modifying the quilt, call the shop to see if it's possible to create a custom kit just for you. Most shops precut all their kits, but some custom cut kits after they're ordered. Doesn't hurt to ask, and you may save you some money just by making that phone call.

I love kits! I also like BOMs for the same reason. I like to know that everything will go together nicely and have appropriate balance. Sometimes I do add or change a fabric or two in a kit.

Every time I go to our largest quilt expo here I am amazed. Vendors sell packages of material that look good. But if you really look there is not enough difference in texture, design, or size of pattern. That would be too boring for me. Yet many quilters buy them.

I agree, No Substitutions!!!

QKO - wonderful advice! One time I was making a quilt from a kit I purchsed at my LQS. I wanted to make it larger than the pattern called for so bought additional fabric. And more fabric. And maybe even more. If I'd bought 2 kits I would have had what I needed at less cost. So now I try to know about that when I purchase.

Those darn kits are so pretty and hard to resist! I have a tote full to prove it! (Unfinished, of course, lol)

I love quilt kits and order only from Pieceful Gathering.

I have always wanted to order a kit, but you gals have scared me right out of it! The best thing about not using a kit is if you do cut a piece wrong, you have a backup!!!!!! (extra fabric).

My friends and family always give me fabric for Christmas - happy dance - and I can do whatever I want with it. I just don't have to be on pins and needles (to coin a phrase) about ruining something that I just might not be able to replace.

That is my story - When in doubt - don't! Edie

PS - But there is something in the back of me saying "Aw, go on, just try it once." Maybe!

I like the kits as well, and I have found a seller on ebay that has some very nice kits, good prices and always works out perfectly, fabric wise. The seller is JordanofOregon, if your interested. I have purchased many many things from there and always been very happy.

I do not particularly like kits either. The few I have purchased either had goofy instructions that simply didn't work very efficiently or the fabrics were not to my liking, therefore I do occasionally purchase a charm pack or two but seldom any other precuts. I have plenty of stash and I can use ALL fabrics I like and don't need to substitute and then wonder what to do with the ones I didn't use. I would prefer to purchase ONLY what I need (if any) rather than have odds and ends that I couldn't use from an expensive kit.