lazyquilter

I find myself in the same quarry. Since the only lqs closed, the closest is in 3 directions, each one about 30 minutes +/-. BUT.. Less will take me anywhere so the problem is, at least in what I have noticed, each owner has a tendency (unintentual) to buy what they feel is the most applicable to their customers. And then when it comes in I notice it's more to their liking then ours. When they do bring in a really nice line, they normally do NOT bring in the whole line (collection). This leaves me with the pattern I want to make but not all the fabrics. So basically with my particular background, I tend to buy on line and have over the years, narrowed down my favorite 5. I watch for pricing and it can be as much as 50 cents a yard less, I watch for the quanities they carry and if they carry the whole line. This is extremely important as for the newer or less experienced quilter (namely me for one) they don't realize that if they go to the fabric manufactures website, they always have patterns for the newly sold collections. These are FREE downloads. So your are holding a pattern that you truly want to make, you fell in love with the collection and the shop only purchased certain yardages. Anything after the first run is not as pretty or the same feel as most of the manufactures will do a second line run for discount shops... I am sure there are more of you who know more then I do about this, but if you can find a way to bite the bullet and purchase all the fabrics of your taste, then do it. I am just pulling out a stack of 3 year fabrics that has that "special" pattern that I am going to make for myself.

Blue

MaryAnna

Hey Rachelcb80, I recommend a book entitled "All-in-One Quilter's Reference Tool" by Harriet Hargrave, Sharyn Craig, Alex Anderson, and Liz Aneloski. C & T Publishing. It is a very handy reference tool to give you yardages, block sizes, etc. It's handy when you want to design your own quilt and need calculations.... that being said, memorize your bed quilt size, and other sizes you like to quilt. I walked into my LQS when they were having a sale, I spotted the blue & yellow fabrics that I fell in love with. I knew I wanted to make a wallhanging out of them, but didn't know exactly what yet. I bought 16 different fabrics from this line, enough for any pattern- 3 yds total for quilt top, and likewise I bought 2yds for the backing. If you memorize a few 'key' sizes and yardage amounts necessary, you can take advantage of sales or special fabric lines and get the right yardage for any project. I also knew I needed 9 yds total for a bed sized quilt top and 8.5 yds for backing for my bed.
Hope this helps!
Kind Regards,
MaryAnna

RedGarnet222

Oh boy do I hear this! If you are making a quilt in certain fabrics buy the backing too while you can get your hands on it! Ask me how I know this??

Honey

I, too, will buy fat quarters or half yards to fill in, but I usually have what I want when a pattern strikes. Now I am collecting big bright flowers for a quilt.

dljennings

truer words were never spoken!

quiltmom04

Maybe the archives from the York Dispatch or York Daily Record might have the articles. Or try calling the Historical Society - they should have the documentation.

crazy cat lady

I too, have seen fabric & it calls to me - BUY ME!!! I hate to buy a some & then wish I had gotten more.

AlisaQuilts

When I see fabric I like I usually just buy a yard of it and wish I purchased more later. I never know how much to buy. After reading through it blog, I am thinking the average amount to purchase is 3 yds and if you are buying material for backing, purchase 4 yds. Is that correct?

Favorite Fabrics

This is true! Most collections are only printed once. Sometimes the better selling prints in a collection get printed again... but not if it's a holiday line. Unless it's by Benartex. They keep their designs around longer than most companies.

I've been told it's because most stores want to order something NEW, so that their customers always have something new to look at.

eleu16

how true...happens to me all the time....