I, too, was up at early o'clock this morning, because my youngest just got her first job. Since she cannot drive on her own yet, I must take her...and her shift at the bakery begins at 5:30am!!!

I've done both, though I usually buy fabric first then look for a pattern. Happy Weekend!

I shop my stash first when I see something I want to do but if I'm lacking some fabric needed I then go and shop for yardage, especially backing since I'm lazy and don't really like to piece backings. Mostly I don't have to buy anything for the top because I get gift certificates for Joann's for Christmas, B-day and anniversary so I buy new yardage when I get those to have on hand. I actually have enough smalls and scraps that I could probably make 50 quilts if I wasn't picky about the larger amounts of yardage needed for sashings, backgrounds and borders.

I almost always find the pattern first and then buy the fabric or raid my stash, which is mostly just fat quarters and left-overs from previous projects. The exception was the One Block Wonder, where the fabric was chosen first. I do buy backings for specific quilts as Donna does. I don't have yardage in my stash, except for a few pieces I bought when Blue Bamboo was going out of business. I really like to find backings that compliment the quilt. I think the right backing can really turn a ho-hum quilt into something special.

Pattern first - fabric follows. ☺️

I do both, and like Donna, buy fabric to supplement my stash when taking a class. I have yet to buy a kit, though.

Saw a pattern I liked and began cutting and sewing batiks, including precut strips. The pattern was half white and half little florals. However the bright white from my stash isn’t looking good with the batiks so I’m going to try off white and maybe use the bright white with some other fabric.

I admit to being a fabric alcoholic....I see fabric I like and if it speaks to me, (which most fabric does), it is given a warm welcome to my stash. I too cruise various sites looking for patterns that appeal to me, and then shop my stash. I can feel a fabric yearning coming on when I like a pattern, but can't seem to find the right fabric in the stash....it's a vicious circle sometimes!

Oh, Val, my problem exactly. When I first started quilting about 36 years ago, I thought I was supposed to buy every fabric out there that caught my eye, and then a pattern would jump out at me for each piece. Not so! Good thing I learned some time later to find patterns, then fabric. Most times anyway! Does older fabric go bad???

Theresa

I usually have the pattern first. I often feel my stash is a fabic store. I'm not sure how I got this much fabric. I must have been sleep walking. I find a whole pile with a pattern bundled up in my "later" cupboard and wonder where that came from. I had so many large bits of neutrals I finally hung them on pants hangers in the closet. Looks like my minimum buy was 3 yards. I plan to get more disciplined about it and am even going to my stash to make a project now that my favorite store has closed. That's it! I was squirreling it away in case the stores close! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!I

I have done both but usually if I see a pattern I want to make, the fabric comes from my stash. If I don't have what I think will work, it gets set aside. I don't often get to a store that sells fabric.....even Walmart! Good thing I can order the basics online!

Usually pattern first and then fabric if I need it. I mostly do a lot of scrappy quilts and use what I have or buy bits and pieces of what I’m lacking for what I have in mind. More often I get a colorway in my head and kind of know what block pattern I want or what the design of the quilt will be, then I shop for fabric if I need to. As an example: the last round robin project we did in my group, I chose the blocks from Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler and went with colors that I knew would go with my living room colors. I have a permanent rod up in the LR to display my round robin quilts, so they are all about the same size and I swap them out a few times a year.

Here is a RR project called “Winter” that has a gorgeous batik with snowflakes that you can see on the borders.

Lovely quilt, Teresa

Theresa

Very cute Teresa....

That's adorable, Teresa. It's been so hot everywhere lately, you should hang that up to cool us all down.

nannykins, I really hope old fabric doesn't go bad. I've recently completed and quilted about four quilts from 2000 and 2001. They still look fine for now. Hopefully they'll last a bit.

Probably one of my biggest mistakes. The fabric speaks to me and has to come home. And usually the 'pattern' ends up as a 'sew as you go' because there are specific sizes that are needed, or maybe I want more of a certain fabric to show. I get into all kinds of trouble making up my own patterns.

I hear you, Beth! I almost always make my own patterns. Several times now I have found myself going back to the fabric source to get just a little more because I didn't plan well, or I changed something during the process and ended up short. Sometimes I get lucky, sometimes not. I guess the challenge of finishing with results I can appreciate works for me, but you would think I'd have learned to plan a bit better!