I started out just buying what I needed for a quilt. Now I
have a whole closet full of fabric, If I see fabric that I
like I buy 2-3 yards of it, cause I know when I go back later
it will be all gone. Hence, the full closet and am now branching outside of the closet. LOL.

P.S. to debbieumphress - your avatar is adorable.

It depends upon your personality and your pocketbook, I think. I can't STAND it when I need something I don't have so I tend to have a LOT of fabric. I have a lot of other stuff, too but I'm not a hoarder. My things are all nicely organized.

I usually buy what I need (plus a bit extra, JIC), but sometimes I also find a fabric that I must have...it's so breathtaking, I know I will use it somewhere?? right?

At least that's how I then decide that I want to start another project, in that color, of course that means I also have to then buy more coordinating colors to make this new project. And then it begins again.

Dear Quilting Friend, You do as you feel comfortable right now. Time will change how you approach each quilt project. I am limited in space to quilt and a dear friend who is no longer in the quilt shop business gave me these BAGS of fabric. Now I'll be quilting until I'm 105 to use up all these goodies. Oh My !!!! Have fun in your new endeavor.

I have 2 or 3 quilting friends who've each been quilting for 15+ years and have very limited stash, as they buy only for the quilt that they're making. When enough leftovers are left they all make charity quilts and then have no stash again.
I, on the other hand have 1000+ yards of fabric, no kidding

I have 2 or 3 quilting friends who've each been quilting for 15+ years and have very limited stash, as they buy only for the quilt that they're making. When enough leftovers are left they all make charity quilts and then have no stash again.
I, on the other hand have 1000+ yards of fabric, no kidding[/quote]

Ohhhh, I envy you, how wonderful to have so much fabric to choose from!!! You wouldn't even have to use sheets for backing! LOL. Not that I really mind using the sheets, they are sturdy and long lasting if I choose wisely. And I do enjoy the spirit of the hunt for fabrics in yard sales and thrift stores! So I'm really not complaining about my lot. I am blessed with what I have, I know!!!

Buying more than you need is a great expense. You may think, "Some day I will need this". and then find that "some day" you never needed it or you won't reuse material for a quilt that you made a purse out of because you just get sick of the pattern. In such a case as this, it's fun to get together with QB's and share your extras!!!!! This could be a fun party!!!! and quilt at the same time!! You could make them into FQ's and have a FQ's frenzy!!! Hey, can wetrade online? :wink:

[quote=Alisapao730]Buying more than you need is a great expense. You may think, "Some day I will need this". and then find that "some day" you never needed it or you won't reuse material for a quilt that you made a purse out of because you just get sick of the pattern. In such a case as this, it's fun to get together with QB's and share your extras!!!!! This could be a fun party!!!! and quilt at the same time!! You could make them into FQ's and have a FQ's frenzy!!! Hey, can we trade online? quote]

sure you can trade online, just post in the classified that you have fabric to trade, you can even say what you are interested in getting and what you have to trade for it. This board is great like that!!!

Thank you![quote=wildyard]

I have a small stash now from all the wonderful people on this board. I am a new quilter also, and if I had a choice, I would have a large stash so I could just make what I want to, and have the fabric I need. God bless. Penny

Boy, and howdy!!!! When JoAnns has there quilting fabric for $1.99 a yd, I fill up my buggy. People ask me what am I making and I just tell them "I can't pass up this sale". Needless to say, my stash is starting to come out of my ears....uh...sewing room. I figure I will make some quilts out of them someday. HELP, I've got the STASH BUG!!!!

I, on the other hand have 1000+ yards of fabric, no kidding[/quote]

Ohhhh, I envy you, how wonderful to have so much fabric to choose from!!! You wouldn't even have to use sheets for backing! LOL. Not that I really mind using the sheets, they are sturdy and long lasting if I choose wisely.

I use sheets sometimes when it's to be machine quilted; once did for a handquilter - hard!
My son made me promise to not buy any fabric for 6 mos last October (Torture but I did it) - my many shelves of it I can see but I had to go through my 17 large Rubbermaids - and guess what: Found fabric I'd long forgotten and fabric I'd never seen before in my life (though I bought it at some point).
It was like my own LQS.

I have a large stash,too. My DH was cleaning out our storage shed and brought in an arm-full of fabric and asked me if I had forgotten I had it. I said I had but didn't tell him about what was in 5 other large Rubbermaid bins in the same shed.LOL

LOL! Too funny! ;)

just an idea, but I draw out a sketch of what I want to do with the fabric, the picture shows the Pattern and what fabric goes where, then I attach swatches of the fabric to the sketch, it helps me remember, when I finally get back to it ( I also make a note of WHERE I bought the fabric, in case I need to go back for more)

Once you have gotten bit by the "quilt bug", fabric becomes an addiction!

If you deviate from creating quilts from patterns, your stash will grow. Now I buy fabric that I like becuz I know I will eventually create a quilt with it. Sometimes the fabric alone is my springboard for creating a new quilt.

Typically now, I only use quilt patterns as an idea. I tend to design my own quilts based on fabric I have.