World Wide Quilting Page

Question of the Week

Question for the week of September 8, 1997:

Our question this week comes from Anthony Jones

When you see a fabric you love, but don't have a project in mind, how much do you buy?

Jan Patterson :
I like to buy at least 2 yards. This genersally will give me enough for some piecing and perhaps a border or binding.

TravelinNdl@wimberley-tx.com (Barbara Hunter) :
A yard. 1/2 yard would give you 4, 4"x44" border strips. You have a 1/2 yard left to make a number of blocks combining other fabrics.
Dee :
If I LOVE it, I will buy 5 yards, if I Really like it, I will buy 2 Yards, If I like it and it fits the colors in my house I will buy 1 yard and then when I go to use it, I willkik myself for not buying 5 yards.
Barbara Goggans :
buy 3 yards
stephani@mpx.com.au :
It depends how much I like it and the cost/yd. At least a fat quarter as I love scrap quilts. I'll buy a yard or two if I like it .. I have a good stash.
Marilyn Shake :
I usually buy 1/2 yard if I don't have any particular project in mind. However, if the fabric is to die for and I think I might use it in a quilt, I would buy 3 yards!
Rosalen :
I would consider my storage space. Do I have room for it and how much--never less than a yard.
karen/phila :
1-1 1/2 yards. Since fabrics are only produced for a limited time , I want enough for a reasonable project. And in case that project never comes along, I want to believe that I did not waste too much money. Of course, we all know that there is no such thing as wasted fabric. It's an investment.
Sandi :
I buy as much as I can afford. If I really like it 2-3 yds. But sometimes I just buy 1/4 or1/2 yd. depending on the
fabric. Usually I have to buy other fabric when I pick a quilt anyway. Some
fabric is just for looking at.
Ann Anderson :
If it has many colors and will integrate
and tie other fabrics together, then I
buy 2 or 3 yards. If it is really
strong to be used in smaller amounts in
a quilt, then I buy a yard. I almost
never buy less than an yard if I don't
know what I will be doing with it.
shawna b :
i usually buy 1 yard
bbagley :
Three yards for a focus fabric.
A fat quarter for an interesting
"go-with-something" color.
7 yards if I think it will be a good
backing.
bonnie b :
I have only been buying one half yard of a fabric I see that I really like. But I have found that it really isn't enough when I have a project. So from now on I will buy at least one yard maybe two. I'm a beginning quilter.
Mary Zenger :
If I just want some to add to my stash I buy 1/2 to 1 yd. If I think it would be good for bordersS etc.S I buy 2 yds. If I think I might also use it for backing or swappingS I buy 4 yds.
Sue Smith :
I used to buy a yard and figure I'd have enough, but lately I've discovered that's not enough and I usually buy at least a yard and if I really love it or it's too good a buy to pass up, I buy as much as three yards, maybe four.
Nanette :
I always buy two yards - plenty for a pieced project, and some left over for next time!
IISerger :
It depends. If I feel that I would probably use if for quilting, and I think it would look best for the blocks, then I would buy about a yard. If I think it would look good for the backing or background, I would buy at whatever the average is for the backing of a quilt. If I am going to use the fabric for a craft item, I would buy about a yard to a yard and a half.
diana ismond :
My rule for purchasing fabric that I've fallen in love with is four yards, unless it's really expensive,
then I'll go with three. This gives me enough yardage to incorporate the material in the quilt and
still have some left over for the border. I can always utilize the remaining pieces in another quilt.
Barbara: :
I buy only one yard, it's all the room I have. I buy it and I use it as soonas possible so I can buy some more.
Barbara: :
I like to buy at least one yard of fabric. I see so may that i like that it is difficult to buy them all.
Barb :
I buy at least one yard, sometimes more.
Robin Foster :
Genrally I buy 1/2 yard unless it strikes as a multi purpose fabric then I buy a yard. A fat uarter gets used up too fast, a half yard is more flexable. Price is a consideration. On sale = can buy more. Really pricey = buy less, may even drop off to a fat quarter.
Judy Grow :
If I absolutely adore it I will buy 6 yards (done very infrequently). If I really like it I will buy one yard. If I admire its potential I buy 1/2 yard. If it just provoked interest, I will buy 1/2 yard, just to have it in the stash and not miss the opportunity.
Kay Johnson :
I'm taking a beginning quilting class. Our teacher said if we love a piece buy 2 yds. So of course I have been buying 3 - just to be sure !!!
Sarah Lau :
I buy at least 2 yards. This way I will have enough for almost any project I made find in the future.
lin :
1 yard if I like it. And 2 1/2 yards if I really like it. If I really like it I will want to use it in the blocks as well as some in the border and at least 1/2 yard for bias binding.
Celeste Lemire :
Depends on how much I love it and its other possibilities. Anywhere from half a metre to three metres. to
K. Kelly :
As much as you can afford!
Elizabeth A. Crawley :
When I see something that I just can't live without (this is a frequent occurance), I buy at least one yard. I make my own folk-art type clothes, so fabric is used for quilts and clothes.
Anita Keaton :
I buy about 3 yards at least unless I want it to be the backing also, then I would get 10 or so. Obviously this cannot happen too often for the high cost of fabric.
Angie :
I usually buy 1-1/2 yards. I'm amazed, well maybe
I'm not. The question of the week usually has a few
answers, but when your talking fabric, just look at
how many fabriholics there are(:>)
Anita :
Minimum 2 yards
Janet Atkins :
3 yards if I really love it.
Nancy :
At least 1 yard - two if I don't have to mortgage my first born child! I've run out
of a spectacular fabric and haven't been
able to locate enough of it to do what I wanted with a special quilt.
Carolyn Vick :
I always just buy 1/2 yard. I find that is all of one fabric I need per quilt.
Jennifer :
I buy anywhere between 1/2 yd to one yard. There's no way on God's green earth that I could buy 2-4 yards because I don't have that much money and see so much fabric that I REALLY like. Of course, I'm prone to making scrappy quilts, so running out of a fabric doesn't frazzle me too much; I'll just go looking for something similar in color and value and not worry about the pattern. However, if I see a fabric that would make a beautiful all-over background for a quilt, I try to buy as much as I can.
Wendi Lepar :
If I absolutely love the fabric I generally buy between 3 - 5 metres. Then I hang the fabric up in my sewing room, put my feet up, have a cup of coffee and just look into the fabric. Invariably the quilt idea jumps back at me from the fabric. Try it - 9 times out of 10 it works.

I live and quilt in a small town called Bulawayo which is in Zimbabwe. We have very little recourse to quilt teachers and shops as you do over seas. We manage very well with our locally produced 100% cotton which is not specifically designed for patchwork but fabric that is great none the less. If any one would like to do a swop of fabric with me I would be happy to so.

email: arenel@telconet.co.zw

I live for my quilting, patchwork and would definately call myself a fabriholic. One day I will get to use up all those great fabrics that I can just not resist.

Jill Pryce-Lewis :
If I absolutely LOVE it, I would buy at least 5 metres, and then would probably go back for more!!!
Sharon Marshall :
3 metres
Sharon (gsemars@iaccess.com.au) :
Three meters
Rosemary :
I purchase 3 metres.
Shirley :
When I began quilting and had no fabric I bought in quantities of 2-4 yards - but time has gone by and I have pieces that were quite expensive that I no longer like so now I buy in fat quarters when I have no project in mind. I find some of the enjoyment is always looking at and for fabrics, therefor I want to be sure and have room for new fabrics. My space is somewhat limited and that plays a role too.
Marion Kerr :
It depends on how much I love it and how I see its use. If it's a textural design in a color that would fit with many color schemes, I'd probably buy 4-5 yards. If it's a specialty fabric that would be best in one quilt, I'd buy 2-3 yards. If it's a color I use LOTS and I like the design, I'd buy 3 yards. If it's a BARGAIN and I'm always looking for good fabrics for backs, I'd buy 6-8 yards. Bottom line, if you LOVE IT, buy it.
barb :
i buy 1/4-1/2 yards
jbr :
If I really like the fabric, I buy at least 2 yards. That's usually enough for an accent fabric even in a large quilt. If I REALLY REALLY like it, then I buy 4 yards. That gives me enough to either use it to back a quilt, make a border, or make myself some kind of a garment. If my budget allows, I might even buy more than the 4 yards, but I would REALLY have to be in love to do that. Hope this helps! :)
Kim :
I also buy at LEAST a yard, two if I can. But if you're like the rest of us, you always have so many projects, and so little time!
stephanie :
I buy at least a yard...if at all possible
I will buy 2 yards depending on how much I
love the fabric.

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