I am new to quilting and newer to this board. I have a question regarding buying fabric. I have several finished and unfinished quilt-tops and am anxious to try to actually try to machine-quilt finish some of these projects. Recently I injured my hand, so I'll have to temporarily put off progress. Well, my DH has just offered a road trip to Lancaster tomorrow, (to lift my spirits a little). OK, now to my question.....

How to shop for new fabrics, I don't have any plans for a new quilts, so how do I buy stash? Should I just buy fabrics that I like? and how much of each? Or should I try to find a new pattern and figure out exactly what I need to make something new?

I have just learned to pick a fabric that I like with other colors within it as a focal point..example.. floral print.. then chose the colors within it to compliment the floral print. :)

Pick a pattern that has fabric requirements and shop that way. First find a focal fabric and then work around that. That's how I do it SOMETIMES. Sometimes I just stash build. If I really like something I don't do less than 3 yds.

If you find something you like buy it!
at least 3 yds
but if you are just building stash
try buying background fabrics, whites, neutrals, blacks
also buy what types of fabric you like
such as americana,batik, civil war,calicos, etc
so even if you don't have a project in mind they will work into one at a later time.
also quilt backs

I would suggest staying with just a few styles/themes to start with, so that you can mix and match the fabrics later.

I am always on the look out for stash fabrics that I like to include in my quilts. I am always drawn to polka dots, so ususally buy great looking ones when I find them. Around 1 1/2 yards. Enough to add some to a quilt, and maybe a small border, or binding. I do think it may be easier to start with a pattern that has fabric requirements, and then look for those. It may be less overwhelming.
I also keep a look out for "good" colors that I like. For instance.... a "good" red in my opinioin. There are so many reds (or greens, or blacks, or blues) but when I see one that fits my criteria, then I buy it.
It will take a while, but you will find your own shoppin style! Good luck!

As prices for fabric get more & more expensive, I like to have some idea of what I am going to do with fabric purchases. So, it is a big help if I take a few patterns along with me when shopping. However, I do a lot of floral applique, so small pieces of colorful fabrics are always nice.

I'd say buy no more than 1/2yd of "special" fabrics, but things like white, ivory, blender colors you can buy more yardage of because it's easy to use them in other projects, kwim? I used to buy whole yards of things I loved, and ended up with 1/2 yard or more left over! :D

I never buy less than 2yards of any fabric if it is going in my stash. Most of the quilts I make I use at least 5 different fabrics, so at 2 yards apiece I feel I usually have enough. I very rarely use patterns, I might see a block or something else I like and go from there. I always change things around as I create, It never ends up like I had pictured it would be, it gets better. I am always suprised in the end. If I have small project for guild, I will only buy what fabric I need for said project. Went shopping yesterday, bought about 15 yards of fabric. End of bolt sales. I very rarely pay full price.

Hi, welcome from Minnesota!

When I started my stash I just bought fat quarters, but I found that I don't really use them very often ... so now I've started buying at least a yard of fabric that I like, sometimes even more. I'll probably use my fat quarters for scrap quilts or maybe baby quilts.

If it was me I would Buy stash. 1yd or more of ones I love. Also get some tone on tone colors. some fat 1/4s too.

I buy fabrics i like and as much as i can afford to buy! Happy shopping :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'd say find a pattern and then go from there. Perhaps find a print you just love for a focus fabric, then choose other colored prints that go with that focus fabric.
If buying just to increase your stash, I think it depends on what the fabric might be used for: borders generally need more than a yard, like several, but maybe a yard would be enough if you're making a smaller project, like a lap quilt. One Block Wonders need 6 repeats of the print. The yardage would depend on how long the repeat is. If you can't decide on a pattern, then I'd just look for fabrics you love, for whatever reason and then buy 1 1/2 to 3 yards. I generally do not buy fat quarters, but get 1/4 yard instead. Have Fun!

If I were buying for future quilts and the quilt might be a queen size and I judge there would be 3 fabrics in the quilt (think rail fence) then I would do the following estimate.
Queen size is 90x108" or there about. This is two widths and 3 yds long. Or 6 yds of fabric. Say the pattern is simple I would add 2-3 yds for seam allowances which makes 9 yds.
9 yds using prints is 3 yds each.
For lap size I usually buy 1 1/2 yds of 3-4 prints for the tops and then additional for backing.
If you don't have a specific design in mind you just have to "gut feeling" the amount you will need. You say you are going to lancaster Pa. Do you visit Sauders which is north in Denver.
Pa. Have you been there. If not, you should go. It is not far north of Lancaster.

I often purchase "what floats my boat" so to speak. If I know that friends are having babies or if there is something special that might be coming up, I buy for that - otherwise I buy what strikes me. For me that is small prints, batiks and holiday. If there is an accompanying fabric that I like I buy that as well.

I always purchase at least 2 - 3 yds if I really like it.

Hope you have a great day out shopping!

Welcome to the board from Southern California!
I buy fabrics that I like and that speak to me. I rarely ever have a "plan" for them at the time of purchase.
Every one has great ideas.

If you have time, go on a search for free patterns on the internet, maybe you can find one you like, down load and know what you should buy for it.

Thank you, everyone for your great advice, unfortunately, something has come up and we have to postpone our road trip. Its just as well, until I can get a better idea of exactly what I want to be looking for.

Now to get started on some of my unfinished projects, I have a few questions on that I'll be very busy asking on this forum that I just discovered. I've been spending so much reading everything I'll never get anything done....

I usually buy the fabric that jumps out at me and says, "Take me home, I'm the one!" When that happens I usually buy 2-3 yds and if there are coordinating fabrics that I like I get them right away too because with my luck they will be gone when I go looking again. That being said, I rarely pay full price for fabric. I have found great fabric online through many of my favorite sources. I also buy the Quilt of the Month collections from Walmart. I have found very nice fabric at Hancock Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and Jo-Ann Fabrics as well and always wait for a sale or coupon. Of course if I were taking a road trip to Lancaster or anywhere else I would definitely check out as many quilt shops/fabric stores as possible, especially if my DH was offering. In fact I would have it all mapped out in advance if possible :) I hope you get to take your trip soon!!!

When I go fabric shopping I look for what calls to me and buy at least two yards of it. If it yells at me I'll buy three yards. Once in a while I have to make myself buy solids and blenders. They don't call to me but I need them. Just look for what you like.

Peggy - I had to chuckle at your response. You even have a furry friend (in avatar) with polka dots!

Thje first thing I do is walk the store to see what they have. Many stores follow a theme. Tone on tones are always good to have around--a good yard. Also, look for their marked-down section. I have had great luck in those sections to add to my stash as it is less expensive and many times they have end of bolt fabrics they just want to move out and they are still popular patterns. Have a great time!

When I first started quilting, I really had no clear idea of what I was doing so I went on a spree in Lancaster and bought at least 2 yards each of fabric that I thought was lovely. Problem is that I still have it 5 years later and cannot find a good use for it. My advice is to purchase not only darks as I did, but get good background fabrics that would coordinate with whatever you purchase. The fabric may be lovely by itself, but if you cant coordinate it, then it creates a problem like I now have. Someday I will figure it out, but now it sits there taunting me. Good luck in Lancaster! Lititz has some good stores too so check them out.

If I were offered a trip to such a fantastic place, I'd decide ahead of time what I'd be looking for (batiks, for instance, or maybe a specific color). When I got there, I'd buy as much as I could afford of whatever called to me the loudest. A minimum of three yards. Of course, if after I got there, what called out to me loudly was not anything that I had planned to look for, I'd buy that instead and then buy around that if I found more. It's sort of like looking for a cat....you go to the shelter thinking you'll get a black female kitten, but the adult yellow male calls out so loudly to your heart, that you take him home.

I have basics that I keep available (Kona Cotton Black, white on whites, creams) that can be used with anything. I get a variety of those if they are on sale. After that I look for things that jump up and down on the shelf and call my name. A lot of fabrics know my name, especially batiks. Sometimes an idea for a quilt will pop into my head while I'm shopping. I like scrappy quilts so 1-2 yards of a fabric is usually enough, unless it will be used for a border or sashing.

I am making a Red Diamond quilt in November. It takes 1/3 yd of 21 different fabrics, usually flowers. I am using Batik's and traveling to Oregon, buying my fabrics along the way. So far I'm very pleased and only have 4 to go.

It's good to have a stash with different colors, but I like to buy background materials and keep on hand and batting when it's on sale. All this takes up space, so shop accordingly.

It seems we all buy what catches our eye, but then it sets in a cabinet or plastic tote. I now only buy for a certain pattern, because if I buy what catches my eye I never have enough when a pattern catches my eye.

Since you have more time maybe you can find a pattern or two you just love and you can find fabric for it when you get to take your trip.

Angie

This is probably to late since you should have gone to Lancaster yesterday. When I lived in Philly I used to go to Lancaster Co. and just bought up all kinds of beautiful fabric and figured out later what to do with it. Sure wish I could have gone with you....I miss those trips.

If I find a beautiful print, I will buy 2-3 yards of it, but I will also buy at least 3 fabrics that coordinate with it in one yard cuts. I also buy 1/2 yards and yards of tone-on-tone and tonal fabrics because they are always nice to have. I personally don't find precuts (fat quarter, jelly rolls, etc.) all that useful, I'd rather just cut what I need.

Jerudy,
I have a few (quite a few) quilt magazines. If you want, I will send them to you and you can find some patterns that you like. Take the pattern with you and buy the material you need for that quilt. If you buy a lot of "stash" fabric, you may end up with it sitting on your shelves for years. If you can't find the fabrics you want on sale, go to www.quiltshops.com, type in the name of the fabric or what it looks like plus the word "sale". I do this OFTEN and have no trouble with anything I have purchased from these on-line stores. PM me your address.

I built a nice stash by first buying fabrics that caught my eye. Now I have a lot of "theme" fabrics, but not many background type. Now I'm looking for those, and I find lots of nice ones on sale or in a remnant bin. But you can also find a pattern and go from there. It just depends on what you want. Not everybody works from a stash, but I like having one. I bought 3 yards if I really liked it. 2 yards of I sort of liked it and 4 yards if I really, really, really liked it. Now I think 4 yards is too much unless you have something specific in mind for it.

When you finally go, make sure you stop in "Bird in Hand" Great quilt shop on the main street and also signs point to an Amish bakery that is to die for. YUM..Several in "Intercourse" Olde Country Store. Amish Drygoods. Have a ball, its my favorite place to shop.

I buy what I like to abandon. I usually buy 2 yards.

If nothing else it's always nice to have lots of marbled fabrics for blenders in future quilts and for some reason lately I have been hooked on blacks - they really make jewel-tones pop!

I buy what appeals to me and may blend with another piece or something I already have. Have fun shopping.I have learned from this board-there are no real rules. Its your creation.

:lol: :lol: :lol: You opened a can of worms. With a question like that you will get as many answers as there are folks on this board.

Do what is right for you if you can afford it.

Starting out, I used to purchase random "just can't live without it" fabs...and "fill in the gaps" when "the right pattern" appeared. But, as time goes on...am purchasing in coordinated groupings. There are so many groups of fabrics to chose from these days. I just zero in on favs...and whatever seems to work for my pattern...several selections from "the group," and add other accents as needed. (Of course, there are always those strays a gal has to round up!)

Buy what you like, and for goodness sake don't start hiding the stuff from your hubby......LOL

I look at the thrift stores for fabric, Joann's, Wal Mart and Hancocks. You don't need quilt shop fabrics to make a quilt into a memory.

I like to do scrappy quilts,so I usually buy 1 yard to build my stash, but I will buy a couple of yards of background fabric or focal fabric. basically just stuff that catches my eye.

Welcome from Oregon. god bless. penny