After selling one of the samples for my Floral Improv class, I needed to make another one. No problem. It was fun and went together quickly.
Here’s Cheerful Garden.
Perhaps you can tell the background is composed of three different fabrics. That’s because I didn’t have one piece of fabric large enough for the 13 x 16 background! Of course, I like combining lots of different fabrics, which is why I mostly buy fat quarters. After a cut or two, my pieces aren’t too big.
What size fabrics do you buy and why?
Ellen Lindner
P.S. Floral Improv info.
Hi Ellen, I used to buy fat quarters all the time, and then I got to where I was doing traditional patterns and needed the length of the fabric, so I switched to 1/3 yards. But now I do more of the improv piecing–I might need to re-think this and go back to the fat quarters!
Thanks for commenting, Debby. The way we use our fabric really dictates how much we need, doesn’t it?
I love fat quarters because they are so versatile. And with fabric becoming increasingly more expensive, it makes it easier to buy a collection I really like. But I am fond of buying different fq’s for variety so I have more of those than collections. Fun!!!
I’m with you, Maeve. An abundance of fat quarters is exhilirating! I like a wide variety of EVERYTHING!
Never less than 1/2 yard. I have been caught short to many times.
Nanette, I can BARELY squeeze my fat quarters into my drawers! (So, I guess I won’t be changing my purchase habits any time soon.) But, 1/2 yard would certainly have advantages.
My local fabric store has a good price on fat quarters. Otherwise I buy 1/3 or 1/2 yards for my stash. I will buy a full yard of a larger repeat, or if i “have to have it!” And , of course, for a project or for sashing I would buy a longer piece.
That sounds like a good approach, Michele. Aren’t we lucky to have good stores near us?