Sale fabric - how much to buy?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Southern California
Posts: 341
Sale fabric - how much to buy?
Just wondering how much yardage you buy when you run across a great sale on fabric you just can't pass up, but don't have a particular quilt or pattern in mind. I'm just beginning my adventures into quilting, so any advise will be appreciated.
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,653
As much as you can afford and have room for.
It seems that some prints have a very short run - and once they are gone - they are never to be seen again.
On the other hand, buying on sale (excessively) can turn into an addiction.
It seems that some prints have a very short run - and once they are gone - they are never to be seen again.
On the other hand, buying on sale (excessively) can turn into an addiction.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,401
It depends on the fabric and how I plan to use the fabric. I agree with Tartan, if the fabric would be a focal part of the quilt. Sometimes you know it will make a perfect backing, then I buy the size of an average quilt for me, usually 5 - 6 yards. The next thing I look at is how the pattern repeats. I do not buy fat quarters because they never seem to be enough, so I buy a minimum of 1 yard because I know that I can make a rail fence quilt with 4 - 1 yard pieces of fabric to make a nice size throw. So try and determine what type of quilts you like to make and what size fabric do you need for those quilts.
#6
If you are just starting to build a stash I would buy 1/2 to 1 yard of a lot of things you love. You'll always find a use for them. Bigger pieces of yardage are good for backings and continuous borders but I love have lots of choices for a quilt and don't like going out to buy something to go with. I love having solids or things that read as solids for blending. I love smaller prints and then bigger ones for focus quilting. It just depends on your budget, storage space and desire to be an addict like the rest of us.
#7
If it's one I'm pretty certain I'll use for a backing, I'll buy five to seven yards if the price is around $5.00 to $8.00 per yard. If it's for a possible border, I'll buy three yards as that will permit me to cut them parallel to the selvage edge for minimum stretch and no seams.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Southern California
Posts: 341
Thank you all for your help. I've only finished a lap size quilt and am working on a log cabin I took a class for. The top is done, now just have to finish it. I already know this hobby could become very addicting and would like to build up a good selection of fabrics.
#9
I only bought small pieces, probably just a lot of fat quarters when I first got started quilting. It's probably all I could afford at the time. I now have boxes of annoyingly small pieces of fabric. They're too big to get rid of (I know I'll use that 2" square!) and way too small to ever have a cohesive quilt. I don't mind having lots of scrap batiks because I hand appliqué exclusively with them. The rest seems wasteful though. I wish I had bought less variety of bigger pieces (at least 1 yard). Those fat quarters are so tempting but not as practical IMO.
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