Hi, everyone! Our local Walmart is discontinuing their fabric department and the fabric is on clearance at very good prices. When you are buying fabric to add to your "stash," and not really having any project in mind at the time, what is the amount you usually buy- 1 yd., more, less?

Sometimes it's wise just to buy all they have. haha

I always buy all I can afford.

Our Walmart sold out fabric three years ago and brought it back in smaller quantities. I bought a yeard of each and sometimes qwhole bolts. Build your stash.LOL

Always 3. Seems that is enough if I want to do something and you can never have too much! :)

Just be careful - I know from experience that Walmart fabric is sometimes a little thin. Not that it stops me :)

I buy as much as I can.I added alot of fabric to my stash when our wal-mart clearenced their fabric. I bought 3 and 4 yards. If there were alot on the bolt I got it all to use for the backing of quilts.

I agree. But I only buy it if I can afford it.

Buy the basics you will use before you buy fabric. WonderUnder, Pellon, the good muslin, batting on the bolt if there is any, all the fusible, interfacings, wash- a- ways, stabalizers. Also buy several yards of cotton canvas. Insulbrite, cotton ticking, any thing on the bolt that you won't find later at these prices.

When our local Walmarts (all 5 of them) discontinued fabric I usually bought every inch I could afford. I purposely waited until it was 50% off to cut down on what was available. When it was at 50% I only bought what I really liked. Since I knew the people that worked in those departments so well they told me when it was going to be on 75% off and I went back early the morning it went on sale---like at 5am and bought ones that I didn't like as much. That's one of the reasons my stash is so huge. Luckily they all did it over a whole year and a halfs time because I was spending several hundred dollars a month on the closeouts.

3 yards will do any project you might take on. I'd buy in this order: 1.Fabrics I LOVE and can see myself using, 2. Fabrics that have small patterns or are useful as fillers or background fabrics. 3. Stuff I like but wonder what I'd use it for (1 yard cuts!)

3yds if I LOVE it... 3yds if it will make nice backings
1-2yds for everything else :D:D:D

Our wm still has fabric but they down sized it a whole lot. But when they remodeled and clearance fabric out for $1.00 a yard I went crazy and then when it went down to $.25 a yard my husband started helping me pick stuff out and he doesn't care about quilting. So I say go for it while you have the chance cause when it's gone it's gone. I got some really nice fabrics that will be great for backing on quilts.

Minimum of a 1.25 yards, I found I can always get 12 blocks out of that. If I'm really in love with it 2-3 yards.

I would say 3 yards of the bestest one's and then 1-2 of the others of good quality...never know when that particular ones will come to mind sooner than you think! At least it doesn't spoil
LOL

My Walmart still has a complete fabric dept. I guess I should start watching for it to disappear.

At least 2 or 3 yards if it's really multi-use. If kind of specialty, 1 or 2 yards, and then some others to go with it.

That's a great idea!

I like to get 3 or more yards that way if a friend or a sister really likes it I have enough to share. It also depends on what size quilts you make. If you only make baby quilts or wall hangings 1/2 yd should be enough. But, if you make king size quilts it takes a LOT of fabric for both sides.

if you belong to a swap or a guild, get as much as you can of the fillers and blenders for the colors YOU love best. template plastic, templates, everything that costs a lot at retail. honestly? there are online sales on fabric all the time.
there's one place that only charges $5 shipping all the time.

ONE went Out and One downsized when they built SC, Here more lately they reevaluated and we got to keep it TG!!! We got bargains but Not .25 a yard, I buy as much as I can and the store that went OUT I rarely go to. Why Shop at WM if you Can't buy Fabric??? Not Me!!! :twisted:

1,2,or 3 depending on how much I like it. 5 or 7 yards for backing.

When our walmart closed out their fabrics, I just happened to walk in on their last day. There wasn't much left, but they had several partial bolts of muslin both bleached and unbleached for $.21 a yard, and I bought all they had. Then I bought several yards of anything else that I liked that was under a dollar and got a bag full for $15. Usually, when I buy fabric, I buy a yard, 2 if I really love it or if it's border fabric. Unfortunately, that has left me with very few pieces big enough to back a quilt, so now I need backing fabric!!

Our walmarts did away with the yardage but now fabric is coming back in 2-3 yard packs pre cut. How stupid!!!!!!!!
We are lucky to have a quilt shop and Hancock fabric here.
Out hobby lobby thought it would be a good idea to downsize the fabric and bring in more silk flowers. Seems like stupid is all over this town.

I usually can only afford 1/2 to 1 yd when I am buying because it is a good sale. Therefore, I am often short when it comes to borders. This really forces you to become creative with pieced borders!

3 yards is always a safe way to go

I always try to purchase at least 3 yards of fabric or what is left on the bold when I shop and it is on sale. Our Wal-mart in Manteca California took the fabric out and I told them at the time I would not shop there anymore and I have not. That has been a couple of years now. They may not miss my business but I am very stubborn and will not shop there anymore. I called the main office and also told the store manager.

Mine's going out next spring when they remodel again. I have found some good fabric and then some great fabric. Some was even on the $1.50 racks. You have to know your fabric tho. If you feel it, the hand can tell you a lot. Is it too stiff? Too much sizing. Is the pattern true or off print? Some can still be used according to the quilt pattern.

I've been looking for six months for a good turquoise and brown for a quilt. Stumbled on it at Walmart's for $2.44 a yard. There were two bolts each of two coordinating patterns and I bought all of it. No, it's not Hoffman or Kona but I don't really care. It won't get that much wear and I can really enjoy it. I know, post a pic. I'm working on it.

I bought a package of 2 yard precut from our wallmart. When I opened it I found it was very thin. Will not buy any more.

If it is to beef up a stash, look for basic colors in small scale prints and solids so it will be most flexible in future coordination. That is my rule of thumb.

Buy what you can COMFORTABLLY afford, but by only what you like the best and think you will honestly use in a quilt sometime. I try to get at least 1 yard and try to shoot for 3 or the end of bolt if it fits the budget.

And buy the special ones that you just can't take your eyes off of :-)

I agree. Just would just get the basics. Their material is not always the best for quilts that you hope will last a long time.

I usually buy 1 yard unless I really love it and then I buy 2.

I USUALLY BUY 3. SEEMS TO BE TO ME IF I MAKE A MISTAKE I WILL ALWAYS HAVE EXTRA. ALSO IT ADDS TO MY STASH. NEVER CAN HAVE TO MUCH FABRIC.

I try to buy all that they have of one that I like but at least 3 yards.

My Walmart went out a year or so ago, in one small town they petioned Walmart and got their's back. I couldn't believe they did in our town because that was the only fabric on the island. We have to go at least 25 miles to get fabric now. I would buy the basics as the other lady said: batting, interfacing, etc. If I really love a fabric I usually buy 3 yds. Sometimes Walmart fabric is not good quality quilting fabric. I would be careful because I wouldn't want to put all that time into a quilt and have problems later. One fabric I bought that I really liked, I decided not to use in my quilt because it was so thin. Good Luck

Hi, it's Miss Sandy here, I was just at my Walmart in Sarasota, and i knew they were eliminating the fabric department, but when i checked in they were loaded with bolts of batiks, fun fabrics, knits, childrens themed, along with many different battings, including iron ons, I am out there tomorrow to see what I can buy. Hope you all get a great buy.

I am lucky, Our WalMart still has a big fabric dept. When they have their seasonal sales on fabric i always buy as much as i can. I have all the fabric i need for next Christmas. So far there is no talk of getting rid of the dept and i hope they don't. So far i have never had a bad fabric experience even though a lot of quilters will only buy from quilt shops. I can always purchase greater amounts at their lower prices.

I think so. We were told 3 years ago that no matter what the flap about Walmart discontinuing fabrics, our store would never get rid of their fabric department because business in fabrics was so good.
We have 3 superstores local, all 3 had fabric, now after the major remodelling that Walmart is systematically doing, none of them has any fabric. And the 4th one, the next store up the highway that still had fabric, now is undergoing remodel and all the fabric disappeared over one weekend.

Since I like scrappy quilts, I buy 1/2 to 1 yard cuts to have lots of variety. Used to buy 3-4 yds. and had too much of the same fabrics. Sometimes I have 20 or more fabrics in one quilt! Someone said you can use as many colors as you like if pieces remain small--not more than 2" square or 1/2 square triangles. Picked up several bolts for cutting at Walmart on $2 table. When cutting finished, she labeled them $1 a yd. Said she couldn't change price as bolts are marked off site. I spent $20 and got 20 yards!!! Came back next day--now $2 yard!

our walmart is remodeling in Nov/Dec and i was told that the fabric dept. was being downsized and will be mostly craft stuff(like the packaged fabric). they are expanding the electronics dept. the walmart in Cheboygan is basically done with their fabric-they have some trims and knits for 75% off. and there is seasonal stuff in the space where fabric used to be. to answer your question-if for backing buy a lot, maybe 4-5 yrds. otherwise a yard or two.

I always get at least two yards. Some folks getting even more than that. If you know you will never see it again, I would consider getting three.