cathyvv

It depends on the fabric and the cost. Blenders, 1.5 to 2 yards. Anything else that I really like or can visualize in a quilt, at least 2 yards.

I've gotten more of a fabric if the sale is ridiculously low priced ($1/yard), and have started donating some of it to my guild for charity quilts.

Even so, my stash is starting to take over the house!

Aurora

I have to travel a several miles to purchase fabric so when I go, I stock up. Fortunately, they also have layaway. So I purchase fabric "to go" and fabric "to stay".


Last month our local WalMart had a bin of partial fabric bolts for $4 a bolt. Each bolt still contained several yards of fabric. I bought four bolts of their better fabric.

maryb119

I used to have a 2 yard rule but I have bumped it up to 3 yards. Many times, as they are unroling the bolt and the fabric keeps getting prettier, I decide to get 4 yards.....just so I have enough.

Abby'smom

My favorites are the remnants at Joann's -- I buy what appeals to me -- I have really built up my stash this way -- the remnants are usually 1 /2 to just under a yard each so I have a bit of fabric to work with!! I need to do a scrap quilt!!

Sewnoma

I adore scrappy quilts so I usually get 1/2 to 1 yard pieces. I love remnants!

If it's something I will want to use for solid borders, I get 2.5 yards because I don't like to piece borders if I can avoid it.

If it's something I will use for quilt backing; I get 2.5 yards if it's wide, or 5.5 yards if it's not. That gives me plenty of backing plus leftovers. I love cutting long strips off of leftover wide backing to use as binding on my next quilt; I dislike seams in my binding so if I can bind a whole quilt with just 4 separate pieces of fabric I'm a happy camper.

grandme26

If I love it and can afford it I will buy 4-5 yds.

MargeD

I agree with SherriB, I generally buy 2 yds., but if I really like the fabric and I have the money, I like to buy 3 or 4 yards, unless of course I plan to use it as a backing, then I would buy more. Now how vague can I get, but it all depends on the fabric and the amount of money I do or do not have; but if it's a fantastic price, I would buy more, then use it for backing fabric.

JoyceHoopes

I used to buy 3 yard pieces but since I'm usually buying for stash rather than a specific project, I've gotten into trouble with not having what I need. Now I buy 3-5 yards at a time. It all looks nice stacked on the shelves. I'll probably never live long enough to finish all of the projects that are works in progress, so have decided shopping from my stash is the way to go. Unfortunately, I can never find just the "right" piece or don't want to risk cutting it up and then finding another use of it I like better. Seems like maybe I'm not really a quilter -- more a fabric collector. It's a good thing just me and the dogs- no one to complain and I have a quilter's last will, etc. so it will all go somewhere worthwhile when I'm gone.

AngeliaNR

Seems like maybe I'm not really a quilter -- more a fabric collector.

Me, too!

Jo M

This is the way I do it too! Sale prices figure into it also.