I've been asked to make a quilt thats "not too flowery, not too sweet."
In This Corner is one of Denyse Schmitd's quilt patterns. It uses her latest Hadley fabrics with coordinating solids & one cream fabric... and it looked perfect for this next project. Well you know me, I just wanted to get started, straight away!! This wasn't on my to-do-list at all, and I didn't have the pattern!
So I created my own version of her quilt... I had a few DS fat quarters and plenty of assorted creams in my stash. I worked out the block size I needed, and started cutting. I cut 9" squares, paired them up, sewed 1/4" either side of the midline, and then cut them across the diagonal. Quite a few large HST triangles, this is looking good! and then suddenly I had more creams than Hadleys!! It seems I had not worked out if the fabric I had here would go the distance of a double bed sized quilt!!
Over the past few years I have only bought fat quarters. I make alot of scrappy quilts and so a little bit really does go along way. And, I don't often use just one designer range, preferring to mix-n-match everything up! And, I also do have a bit of a fabric stash here, so "using- the- stash" has become my driving force over the past year! So when buying a little extra fabric, fat quarters it is for me! However, if you want to make quilts that are fresh & modern, some ideas do seem to need larger amounts, not only for the -ve quilting space but also for the larger scale design elements, yes?
But all is not lost - I will order just a bit more, and will wait just a bit longer to finish this!
{Actually, I have also been really wanting to use more cream in a quilt for awhile now, as I have a lovely idea for a great quilting pattern!}
But hey, back to those fat quarters...
... how much do others buy when getting fabric?
... how much do others buy when getting fabric?
(I'm interested in your shopping habits!)
Linking up with WiP Wednesday
and Stash Report here
http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/09/28/stash-report-week-39-2014/
Linking up with WiP Wednesday
and Stash Report here
http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/09/28/stash-report-week-39-2014/
It depends, I am a bit more careful of what I buy now. Like you, I have a tendency to make scrappy quilts, so I think it's wiser to buy FQs. I hate to get stuck with fabrics I don't like...It's nice to have a stash, but I don't want it too big either, I find that too much-unused material gets a bit overwhelming. If it's a fabric I particularly like and repeatedly use or sometimes if it's on sale and almost to the price of a FQ, I will buy a half yard or even a yard sometimes. I don't really buy fabrics in advance for binding and backing, especially backing, I buy as needed (and often times, in the sale section).
ReplyDeleteI mostly buy fat quarters as well. I do a lot of applique and that size is more than enough when you are cutting little bits off at a time. If I'm piecing, I'll sometimes buy a half yard. The only time I buy yardage is for backings, and then only if I can't find enough in my stash ( which seems to expand when I'm not looking) to piece a back. I used to buy two or three yard pieces if I really liked a fabric, but not anymore.
ReplyDeleteOrder some from Pink Chalk Fabrics - they have 20% off at present. Looking forward to seeing it finished.
ReplyDeleteI rarely buy more than half a metre unless for a specific project/pattern, more likely .3m.
ReplyDeleteI'm not buying anything but neutrals and solids to go with what I already have -- tons of stuff I no longer care for but feel compelled to use. Three yards minimum if it will make a good background to pull assorted prints together into a cohesive mess. Otherwise it's FQs or 1/2 yards. I'm currently planning to something like you're doing with all my Christmas prints.
ReplyDeleteI'll buy the yardage needed for a specific pattern when necessary, but if I'm just adding to the stash, I usually buy a half yard. My favorite LQS sells half yards, not FQs. I usually have plenty for scrappy projects or planned palettes. Like you, I prefer pulling a variety of prints from stash rather than using one designer's full collection.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do love a scrappy quilt!
DeleteHere in NZ our fabrics cost anywhere between $27 - $32 NZ ($21- $25 US) per metre! So unless it was for something specific, I wouldn’t buy ½ yards regularly here. Just now the NZ$ is dropping - so no shopping- but usually if our NZ $ is high against the US $ then actually internet shopping is the way to go, not only to get the variety, but the cheaper price too! Which is very sad for our patchwork shops! (and that's a whole different discussion!)
Thanx for popping by! L