UFO-rphanage for Quilters Shipping Labels, Plain File

Updated: November 21, 2007

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- Laura Starr
[Disclaimer: This article is based on a post to the (quilt) lists in May or June of 1998, and reflects only the personal opinion of the author.]

The question comes up now and then of how much fabric to buy, and opinions differ widely. There seem to be two 'camps' of thought, one of quilters and one of quilters who are also fabric collectors, and love to simply pile up mounds of gorgeous fabrics. Although I am not a fabric collector of that ilk, I thought I'd share my own evolution with you since it's something I've been thinking about.

When I began, I only bought fabric for a specific project, and always bought half yard more than required to allow for cutting errors and such. Soon, I realized there were too many gorgeous fabrics and I didn't have enough planned projects! At that time, my circumstances allowed me to spend money on fabric, so I made a rule for myself that it had to be quilt shop quality, and had to be on sale. If it met those requirements, I would buy along these lines:

If it was absolutely to die for 5-6 yards

If I loved it 3-4 yards

If I liked it or it made me think of a friend's colors 1-2 yards

If it was a christmas print 1 yard

If it was an especially exceptional deal, and I could use it in a variety of ways, all of it (this usually applied to a shop that had sidewalk sale fabrics almost weekly at a min. of 50-75% off).

Over time, my circumstances have changed dramatically, and I can't indulge in fabric the way I used to, but my tastes and sewing styles have also changed. I've found the fabrics that I bought a lot of back then, I am sometimes tired of using after six or eight quilts, and if it weren't for my charity work, they'd collect dust. I still use them, but they do not spark the creativity they did in the beginning.

Most of my fabrics these days come from the stash I built back then, or from donations to the UFO-rphanage,but on the occasions when I do purchase a fabric, it's along these lines:

If it's for a specific project, the amount needed plus 1/4 yd

If it really speaks to me, and I just love it, 2-3 yards

If it's unusual or gives me an idea for a quilt, 1/2 to 1 yard

If it speaks to me, makes me smile, etc. a fat quarter.

Most of my purchases fall into the FQ category, and it still lets me feel like I'm not falling behind on fabrics, while staying in a very tight budget. Over time, my quilt making style has changed too. I don't know if it happened as a result of the circumstances changing, or if they were independent of one another, but now I make a lot of scrap quilts, and really enjoy the sort of spontaneous creation that comes from them. No two are the same. One fat quarter often shows up in several quilts. I also challenge myself to use say one yard of x, and six fat quarters plus background fabric, to create a quilt. So far, I've never been disappointed with the results. =)

The point I'm trying to make is to allow your buying habits to change when your style of making quilts changes. Quilting is an evolutionary process, and how we support it for ourselves needs to evolve too. Above all, find ways to enjoy your love of quilting without compromising your budget. =)

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