ghostrider

Why buy fabric by the bolt? I guess for the same reason that some people buy large quantites of chicken, toilet paper, or scouring powder at warehouse stores like Costco, Sam's Club or BJs.

I buy bolts when there's a quantity discount or a good sale, and especially when it's a basic solid or a blender that I know I'll use in the future even if I have no specific plans for it at the time of purchase. I've never regretted doing so and it saves money...same as that chicken at Costco.

Peckish

I bought a bolt of a certain color for a Cathedral Windows that I want to make, but I don't think one bolt will be enough! It's 15 yards, and I've been told to expect a king size to need as much as 30 yards.

MYWR

I have bought a whole bolt of muslin - with a 40$ coupon at Joann's and I have also bought interfacing that way for tee shirt quilts - also with the 40% off coupon. A long arm quilter would buy bolts of batting when on sale - but printed fabric - not me - unless maybe a batik but I like variety too much

Hemlock Tea

I would buy whole bolts of Kona solids in colors I like (and hope to soon), and if I were able to at the time I would have bought a whole bolt of the Dropcloth print in yellow from Jay McCarrols' Habitat line (I could only manage 5 yards). I love that print and would use it with a lot of my projects (bags, a skirt, several quilt backings...).

NDQuilts

If I want the borders cut length of fabric plus the backing of a quilt, I can rapidly approach the 15 yd mark for a queen/king sized quilt.

Jan in VA

Every once in a while, design lines are sold in 10 yd. bolts (always approx.!) IF a shop buys the whole collection - every piece. There have been several occasions I wish I had availed myself of the opportunity to purchase the entire collection of a fall line of Fossil Ferns (Pat Campbell) from Benartex. I ordered it for my shop back in 1999, sold most of the bolts within one week and had to re-order the whole collection again! The Benartex people were standing in the aisle at Market in Houston that year (about 6 weeks later) talking about us for having done that! I've hoarded and nearly used up every scrap of the 1.5 yards I cut from each bolt for my personal stash. But they are *still* such great blenders I've wished many times I'd just really floored those manufacturers and re-ordered TWO bolts of everything!

Jan in VA

They were used in this shop sample....not a very good pic of them though.

momto5

Just what she said!

valleyquiltermo

I will buy natural and white muslim from 44' to 120's wide, and black and indigo blue by the bolt. As I'll use them for backings and back grounds. It's amazing how fast it goes. Oh bought most of them for discounts of 50% off for 1 cut of fabric and coupons off intire orders.

mcdaniel023

I have purchased a couple of bolts of white on white. I love quilts with brights and white. If I had the money i would love to buy a few bolts of Kaufman fusions. I use it as soon as I get it. Love them.

simpsonfs

I buy basics by the whole bolt but it usually is on sale when I do. But I do like the post about being "fabric manic" and buy the whole bolt then get home and wonder why you did! I tend to keep a healthy stash, but now I am justifying my problem by calling myself a fabric collector.