The problem with Autoshare is this: you're shopping under a time limit. In Fabricland, particularly, this is never a good thing. I returned home with the 10 patterns I had initially picked out (there is a 10 per customer limit - probably a good thing) AND about $50 worth of fabric. Despite having made a list of the fabric I was interested in buying, only one of the six different cuts of fabric I purchased met the criteria.
That said, the fabric I got is beautiful and a bargain! But now that I have a decent fabric stash (my husband says our home is turning into a depot), more discipline in fabric shopping is needed. To that end, I'm laying down the following ground rules:
- Never buy more material than needed for a single project - no matter how much you love it or how good the bargain is (Note: this rule does not apply to solid coloured black, white, gray, navy, forest green or burgundy cotton knits).
- Organize the projects currently on the drawing board in order of priority. Never shop for more than three projects at a time.
- Determine the kind of material you want for each project. Don't deviate from the planned materials, subject to the exceptions below.
- If the fabric is soft, decent quality, in a solid colour you'd wear and $4 or less, buy it.
- If the fabric is soft, in a colour or smaller print you'd wear, and $3 or less, buy it.
- If the fabric is $2 or less, and you like it at first glance, buy it.
