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Definitely pick your pattern first. You may need fat quarters but whichever pattern you pick will tell you how much of each fabric and you can buy at that time. Some patterns are made to use a variety of fabrics that don't necessarily coordinate perfectly.

Do you have a JoAnn fabric store near you, or one you can make a little trip to? They have great sales and really good prices on some of their basic quilting fabrics.

Good luck! I really enjoy quilting but these days, any project takes me forever too

@Silva: I still think you could look for a pattern! There are lots of simple ones out there, and it will give you an idea of what it might look like. I have a hard time seeing how different fabrics will come together too. I would recommend going to your library and looking through a quilting magazine - if you have a local library with a subscription. They have patterns for all levels, and often have made a couple different versions of the quilt so it gives you an idea of how it looks with different colors, etc. I'm sure there are resources online too, just haven't looked

Absolutely look for a pattern! I find that patterns are actually easier than squares because squares have to be so *perfectly* cut and sewn to look good. My favorite pattern for an "easy" quilt is a honeycomb - looks very cute but isn't hard and doesn't require lots of different shapes (it's all straight edges).

As for fat quarters, they aren't usually cheaper, but they can provide a great base if you are going for a mismatched vintage look because they all go together. I would buy a couple of bundles and then add to those fabrics with others you like. In my experience, you want some "out there" fabrics that you don't necessarily love on their own - they help pull the whole thing together. If that makes any sense.

Where at you located? I have a ton of fabric that - let's be honest - I am never going to do anything with. I'm happy to share!

i just want to say that i highly recommend a cutting wheel thing and the mat for it. It has saved me tons of time.

I made a bubble quilt but i do NOT recommend it for a bed. what a PITA that would be.

@Silva: well, I am happy to share! Once you have a color palette, let me know (you can wall me) and I'll send you some pictures. If you want any of it, I am happy to ship it to you!

I made this quilt as a guestbook for our wedding (people signed the white parts) http://www.etsy.com/listing/87539955/quilt-pattern-five-sizes-baby-to-king

I'm always nervous about getting prints that "go," so to make it, I bought two layer cakes of moda fabric from the same line so that everything already matched. http://orangepetaldesigns.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/helloluscious-bundle-450.jpg

It might not have been the cheapest way to go, but I liked not having to work so hard at picking out the fabrics.

Another option might be to see what patterns JoAnn has available in their store. I did that once and made a beautiful twin quilt for my niece. They usually have a rack of free patterns near the quilting fabric and have some that are pretty simple patterns.

@silva, I wish I had a bigger one, especially if i was going to make something BIG

@blackbird: @Silva: not to brag, but I bought the giant craft table and mat from joanns after using my moms.. and it's freaking amazing if you have the space!

http://www.sew4home.com/tips-resources/fabric-color-texture/lesson-pre-cut-bundles-common-names-sizes-and-shapes

I just saw this article linked today and thought you might be interested in it since you asked about fat quarters

I heard of a few of these pre-cut options, but not all of them.

Great - this thread is inspiring me to get a new quilt started

@MediaNaranja: Cool, thanks! I need to get started on one for DS2. I just finished my older DS baby quilt about 3 mos ago (shortly before he turned 2, ha). Luckily it is still way too big for his crib so he doesn't sleep with it anyway.