Quilters - ? about buying fabrics

Brie&Steve · January 2012

How much yardage do you buy of a particular fabric that you like but do not have a specific purpose for at that time?

I'm just falling in love with some fabrics but I don't have a purpose for them right now (as I don't have a sewing machine since I moved internationally - hopefully will be purchasing something in the next month or so) but I wanted to start building up a bit of a stash. I just don't know if it's common to buy 2+ yards or more like fat quarters.

Thanks.

mssaint · January 2012

I tend to buy half yards of fabrics I like but don't have an immediate project for. So far, that's worked for me. If I'm buying a collection, though, I'll usually try to figure out which fabric I might like to use as backing and buy more of that.

maryandkirk0909 · January 2012

I usually buy a yard, just in case I never find anything that matches it well- I know I have enough I can make a stand alone project.

the_jackpot · January 2012

I normally buy 1 yd- or if I am buying a bundle of a fabric I like I will buy 1/2 yd bundles.

speckledfrog · January 2012

Brie&Steve:
How much yardage do you buy of a particular fabric that you like but do not have a specific purpose for at that time?

I don't. Surprise I know, it's unusual for a quilter. Some people do really well with having a random stash, but I prefer to just buy what I need for the project I am working on. The benefit is that I don't have a huge stash filling up my closet. I don't spend money on fabric I won't use for years and years. I don't have to feel guilty about not using what I never needed in the first place. I also never have to worry about needing more of a fabric that might have been discontinued eons ago.

emoflamingo · January 2012

I usually end up buying remnants if I don't have a particular use for it at the moment. Or I buy either 1/2 a yard (if it's a small print that could be used for applique) or 1 yard (if it's a larger scale print that I can use for bigger projects).

1Thess517 · January 2012

If it's a smaller print of any old random color/pattern that I just happen to like, I normally only buy a fat quarter, but that's because I love scrap quilts and it is always nice when I can come up with a project out of my stash. If it's a larger print that I just love and can't live without, I'll normally buy at least a half yard, more often closer to a yard, but that doesn't happen often. If it's fabric I could see myself using for a throw pillow or something, I might buy a yard and a half or two yards.

shanbrite2 · January 2012

I often buy fat quarters of fabrics I love, but I also tend to like smaller projects (like change purses, etc.). If I'm buying for a quilt, I try to buy at least half a yard, but I also usually have a good idea of what I'm going for when I buy those fabrics (I can justify an impulse purchase in a fat quarter a lot more easily, haha).

SpookieCat · January 2012

I'm a fat quarter purchaser for the most part, but then I'll buy a couple of the coordinating prints that I really love in large quantities (1.5 - 3 yards) for backing and binding material if I can see it coming together as a quilt top.

I occasionally have bought large chunks of fabric in finish off the roll sales at my LQS. I also save those for backing materials.

Brie&Steve · January 2012

Thanks for all the advice ladies. I have a lot of time on my hands lately, but fabric shopping should probably be lower on my to-do list so I stop finding MUST HAVE fabrics.

quiltedinky · January 2012

It depends on the fabric, if it speaks to me as a background I'll get 4 yards. If it says it has to come home with me I'll get 2-3 yards. Leftovers from those go into my string stash or I have an ongoing scrap quilt project using 2" cut squares.

MrsStubbs · January 2012

My goal is to not buy fabric unless I have a specific idea/pattern for it. I have so much fabric that I know I will never use. Such a waist.

nursecramer · January 2012

speckledfrog:
Brie&Steve:
How much yardage do you buy of a particular fabric that you like but do not have a specific purpose for at that time?
I don't. I know, it's unusual for a quilter. Some people do really well with having a random stash, but I prefer to just buy what I need for the project I am working on. The benefit is that I don't have a huge stash filling up my closet. I don't spend money on fabric I won't use for years and years. I don't have to feel guilty about not using what I never needed in the first place. I also never have to worry about needing more of a fabric that might have been discontinued eons ago.

Yeah, me neither. I don't have the space or money to buy fabrics that I won't be using right away. I don't know whether I should feel sorry for myself or be relieved.

Quilters - ? about buying fabrics

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