Also, be aware that quite often the packaged fat quarters at Joann's are not truly "quarters". I've learned by personal experience that they quite often will be 17"x21" instead of the 18"x22" that a true fat quarter should be. I had purchased a pack of five for a specific project, then had to go back and purchase another pack because every single piece fell short of the true fat quarter measurements and I wasn't able to fudge on my pattern with the smaller pieces. I ended up having to piece the fabrics together to get the correct size. And, of course, Joann's got that extra money from me for the second pack that I really shouldn't have needed to buy. Just a warning.

The SunBonnet Sue quilt sounds really cute. I had a SBS quilt when I was a child, made by my grandmother. As to building a stash. I always buy more fabric than I need, whatever I am making. I have built my stash quickly. I get a lot of my fat quarters at Wal Mart. They have a nice selection (not great, but nice) and you can get them for 99 cents quite often. Look on the "sale" counters for the 1 and 2 dollar a yard fabric too. Just be sure to check it good. Some of the fabric is not worth even a dollar. Other pieces are worth a lot more. They have a lot of ugly fabric there, but occasionally I get lucky and find some good stuff. Hobby Lobby has some very nice fabric too. Most start at about $6 a yard and then their fabric is always 30% off the price marked. So you can get some good prices.
Sorry to ramble so, but I just wanted to let you know. As for asking them to cut 1/4 yard off of 20 different bolts. When I worked at Hancocks, I loved doing that (if we weren't too busy). I was always curious about what the ladies were making. Have fun!

I just finished the Sue for Feb. and I didn't follow the pattern exactly. You can use 2 different colored pinks for the skin and make the boarders all the same. I have fun just doing my own thing with them as using the gioven pattern design as a model. For the March on I'm using shamrocks instead of basketballs-not a fan. I like the book and have made 3 of them doing my own thing. The biggest piece of fabric you need is for the dress so any scrap that fits works. Have fun with it-I'll be using something else instead of sailboats and the cutters for june. No quilt police will be looking so do it howevewr you want.

Don't worry about making quarter yard cuts....a cut is a cut, whether it is a quarter yard or ten yards. The work is the same and the pay is the same. However fat quarters may be a better way to go. You have "fatter" piece of fabric and I think for your quilt it might be more usable. It would be awful if you could not get a whole appliqué piece on the quilt. If it is good fabric you then $1.99 is not a bad price and if it crap fabric...well you don't want it. You might try exchanging scraps with friends to get small bits that you need.

My mother and I made a Sue and used fabric from clothing out of our own closets or from garage sales. It's amazing what you can come up with.

www.nancysnotions.com has a lot of fat quarter collections at a reasonable price.

I have brought fat quarters from JoAnn before and if you wait for a sale they are $1.29 each and before buying check the material as there are lots of thin fat quarters which you do not want. I think I would buy the 1\8 or1/4 yd depending on the amount of fabric you need, when they have the calico's on sale because their regular prices run $4.99 up to $12 yd. Hope you signed up for their flyers. Good luck.

Don't know if anyone has mentioned it or not, but don't forget to check the remnant bin at JoAnn's! Remnants are half off and that's half off whatever the current price on the fabric is. If the fabric is regular $9.99 and is on sale for 30% off, the remnant would be $3.49/yd instead of $6.99/yard! Well worth a check if you're in there anyway!

I love to make quilts from old scraps, when I am running low on good scraps I often go to some local thrift stores and purchase articles of clothing. I have found good quality material in some of the more expensive clothes that are offered for less than $3 per item. I cut off the buttons and take out the zippers to use for other craft projects, then cut away on making whatever pieces of I need for my current projects. I like using this material because it is already shrunk, usually doesn't "bleed" and the gently worn look is often just what I am looking for. One other tip I will pass along, when you are cutting up old jeans to use for projects I cut close to all the seams to make some really strong "strings/ropes" for other projects. They are very handy in the garden to tie up plants without stressing them. I have found multiple uses for these jean-ropes. Even my kids know to come to momma for some jean-ropes for their projects.

I live in a remote part of Wyoming, so shopping for fabric at Joanns or Hancock's is often not an option. So when I visit my daughter in Saint Joseph, Missouri I stock up on lots of fabric. However, there are lots of used clothing stores near my home so I use old clothes to get my scraps for my quilts. I have also used old wedding dresses to have a stash of quality satin, lace, brocade, etc. So many ways to have stashes of material and or scraps. Going to a fabric store is an adventure I always savor and enjoy. Never rush through the store....just take your time....visualize your end results....you will be inspired while there and look forward to your next great adventure.