15 Apr 2007 01:35 PM |
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How many times have you stood in a store, gazing at a bolt of fabric, knowing you simply must, yet you wonder how much to buy? How much is enough? How much is too little? Can you purchase fabric without knowing what you will do with it and still have peace of mind regarding the amount you purchase? These are all valid questions to consider when making fabric selections, particularly if you have no idea what you will end up doing with it. |
Listed below are a few guidelines that I generally adhere to when faced with the decision as to how much fabric to buy when I do not know what I am going to eventually use it for:
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If the fabric is ideally suited as the backing for a quilt, I buy approximately 3 yards for a wallhanging/crib quilt, up to 6-7 yards for a full/queen quilt. |
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If the fabric is absolutely gorgeous and I simply cannot exist without this fabric in my stash, I buy a minimum of 3 yards, however, if the conditions are right (for example, if it is nearly a whole bolt and it is either on sale or I have a discount coupon), I buy the entire bolt. |
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If the fabric can be used as the focus fabric in a future quilt, I buy a minimum of 3 yards. |
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If the fabric can be used in borders in a future quilt, I buy a minimum of 2 yards. |
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If the fabric is one that can accent a quilt (used as a “filler”), I buy a minimum of 1 yard. |
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If the fabric is one that I simply know I have to have, but have no idea what (if ever!) I’ll use it for, I buy a minimum of 1 yard. |
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If the fabric is one that can be used as binding, I buy a minimum of 1/2 yard. |
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If recovering/reupholstering dining room chairs, then follow this general guide from J & O Fabric Center:
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Another important factor when finding a fabric is if it has any coordinating fabrics that go with it. If so, I usually follow the same guidelines as above, except if there are some of the coordinates that are just mediocre in appeal to me, I will usually buy a minimum of a Fat Quarter (18″ x 22″).
Hopefully, these guidelines will help you to make better fabric purchases by knowing approximately how much to buy, without knowing the why, when, or what for!
And who is to say you ever have to use it? You may just like to collect beautiful fabric. Most quilters have their own personal preference for fabrics that are considered collectible (their ‘fabric niche’, if you please); mine are batiks. I have never met a batik I did not love. Yes, I am a self-professed batikaholic and I refuse any 12-step program to rid me of my vice!
Do you have any guidelines that you would like to share with us? If so, please leave your comments!
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