thanks for the calculator

Hoffman layer cakes do have 40 different fabrics and also in their 2.5" strips but very disappointed that others just have 20 fabrics in their 2.5" strip set. I don't cut any of my yardage until I firmly am ready to start making a specific pattern.

Thank you for that handy chart!!

Dina, your choice of colors in your quilt is stunning.

precuts are often have multiples of the same fabric. I would lay out fabrics that you believe will work well together (whether colors, themes, patterns, etc.) and then cut your 10" squares. Some may have 2 or 3 or 4.....

Wow, Bree123! This is great!

Why, thank you. How sweet. I am very pleased with this quilt, though mainly it is because the border fabric has cats in it, and purple and cats are my two favorite things. :)

But thanks. It has taken me years to get any confidence in fabric selection.

Dina

Bree123 and bearisgray thank you for the charts and link. Both are helpful.

I often buy remnants from my LQS and cut my own precuts. I cut 2.5" strips, 5" charms, 1.5" strips and 10" squares. I have plenty of variety at less the cost of prepackaged precuts. I have bought precuts from Craftsy when they have clearances sales especially on their kits. You get lots of fabric (sometimes 10-15 yards) in the kits for about $3-$4 per yard average. Whether you buy precuts all depends on what you are making and what fabrics you have available to you.

I even cut my own solid background strips from yardage. Bella solids are $4.95 a yard at Thousands of Bolts (or you can buy Kona solids from Joanns) and it takes 3 yards to get the same amount of 2.5 strips in a jelly roll. The jelly rolls are $32-$40 dollars for 42 strips versus $15.00 if I cut them myself. I use my strip slotted ruler which makes it much easier to cut the strips.