What is a Fat Quarter?-Quilting 101
Good Morning, Quilters!
Today from my notebook: Quilting 101 , What is a fat quarter? This post was requested by my daughters, Faye and Nora, who are just learning to quilt. Understanding the terminology of quilting is one of the details that experienced quilters take for granted, but cause confusion for new quilters.
Fabric on a Bolt
To understand a fat quarter, begin by looking at a typical bolt of fabric. Fabric on a bolt is folded in half. The typical width of fabric is around 44-45 inches, so when it is folded in half, the bolt reveals about 22 inches.
Regular Quarter Yard of Fabric
When you take the bolt to the counter to be cut, most often you will receive a regular quarter yard of fabric. One yard of fabric is 36 inches long, so a quarter yard is 9 inches long.
Width of Fabric (WOF)
A regular quarter yard of fabric is 9 inches by the width of fabric (WOF). Usually, the WOF is 44-45 inches, though it can be more or less. So when you purchase a regular quarter yard of fabric, you will receive a long strip of fabric.
Twice as Wide
A fat quarter is cut differently. The fabric is cut on the 18 inch line first and then again along the fold line
This produces TWO quarter yard pieces of fabric call fat quarters. Each piece of fabric is 18 inches wide and 22 inches long.
Regular vs. Fat Quarter Yard of Fabric
A regular quarter yard of fabric is 9 x 44″ (or WOF)
While a fat quarter is 18 x 22″ (or 1/2 WOF).
They are both the same amount of fabric!
For many quilts, it doesn’t matter which quarter yard you purchase, but for some patterns and uses, the fat quarter may be more convenient. I LOVE quarter yards of solid fabric (Fat Quarter Shop) to make mini whole cloth quilts. I usually buy fat quarter bundles to get a wide variety of colors. The square size is perfect! I just ordered this Tula Pink collection.
How Much Should YOU Pay?
Some quilt stores will cut a fat quarter for you if you ask, but don’t expect them to because they are left with a piece of fabric separated from the bolt. Also, it is more time-consuming to cut a fat quarter. They have to make two cuts and then they have to re-package and label the leftover fabric.
Many stores have fat quarter bins where you can find a variety of fabrics. Be a little cautious about price. Multiply the bin price by 4 and ask yourself, ” Would I pay that for a yard of this fabric?” For example, if the fat quarter price is $3.50, that means you are paying $14/yard for the fabric. It may be worth the convenience, but you may prefer to buy a 1/3 yard for almost the same price. I have found pre-cut, fat quarter prices vary from $2-$3.50.
The Notebook Series
How to Choose the Right Sewing Machine Needle
What about YOU?
Do YOU buy pre-cuts?
Does YOUR local quilt shop cut fat quarters as a courtesy?
Do YOU make whole cloth quilts?
Do YOU have any questions for our Quilting 101 Series?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Happy Stitching!
Lori
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PPS…All images, illustrations and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to Lori Kennedy Quilts. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thanks!
Thank you for this explanation–it was clear and easy to understand–much appreciated!
Now I know!!
I enjoyed your explanation. A perfect way to explain a fat quarter. I always do the math before purchasing.
Also, think of the quality of the fabric – Am I looking for good fabric or a quick, cheap fabric? i.e. just to practice quilting stitches and pitch (send to the group that makes pet beds).
I love having fat quarters in my stash, especially since I like to make miniature quilts. Many times they come in a nice little bundles of coordinating fabrics. However, I find myself buying 1/2 yard cuts or pre-cuts more frequently, since I also like to make small wall-hangings and a 1/2 yard cut is usually just the amount I need for outside borders plus the binding.
I buy precuts when they are on sale. I buy half yards in order to keep my fabric monster in check.
Great explanation and awesome illustrations. I appreciated the suggestion of 1/4 yard for solids and fat quarters for color.
PS I love your little rainy bird!! I walked this morning in the rain… (it wasn’t supposed to…)
Wow! I frequently buy FQs but rarely spend $3.50 on them. Maybe my brain already figured out that it would be cheaper to buy 1/3 yd and get 2 FQ with left overs or 1FQ and 2 layer cake pieces for the same price! Nice to have it spelled out and validated.
I love precuts!! My interest in them is I frequently want the whole line of a certain one so buying precuts gives me a bit of each one. I also like fat quarters for variety. I especially like FQ bundles.
I buy less and less yardage these days. I’m addicted to those precuts 🙂
Lori, I love your new site!
I know what you mean! Love getting the entire collection!
I love your posts, but I got two emails announcing your post again! I thought last time I got 2 it was a glitch and it was fixed. Could you please fix again?.. ;-)….I’m also wondering about the question below the area for posting this comment: what’s the difference between being notified of new comments and being notified of new posts?
Thanks, Brenda
Same comment here. 2 posts every day. What is the difference in the comments section?
Thanks for letting me know! We changed something in the back end and it made the double email issue happen again. I think we’ve fixed it going forward though.
Hey Lori., Yes, please explain the difference between comments and posts.?? I always check both so I won’t miss anything but have no idea what they mean compared to each other. Thank you…
Posts are the articles I write. Comments are reader responses to articles. Does that help?
Yes M’am ! Mystery solved… thank you so much!
Thanks for a great explanation! Another thing I like about “Fat Quarters” is you can get a larger design repeat of the fabric! You might have to explain that to your daughters, worth the explanation though.
Love FQ’s and have way too many on hand. Is that possible? LOL I also am getting two emails at a time.
I buy my share of fat quarters, but for prints I go with 1/2 yards. With a fat quarter I had less “fussy cut” pieces.
Thank You! for sharing this information on Fat Quarters. It is very helpful.
Lovely graphics, Lori! I especially like your comment on how much a fat quarter can cost compared to purchasing yardage. On the technical side, I’m not getting double emails, but the sender listed has been truncated to either ‘The’ or simply ‘Lori’; it used to be The Inbox Jaunt.
Two emails of this one…. I buy fat quarters if it is a color or design I like. My cost has to be $2 or less. My accountant husband figured out the by-the-yard prices for me couple years ago. However, currently I have a fat quarter I’d love to use. It is perfect for the situation… But I find I need another half of a fat quarter.. So sad !! LOL. I bought it long time ago and who knows where. Going to have to buy something new or compromise my idea. Guess from now on if I loooove it , I will buy 2 and hope I won’t need a whole yard! LOL
For the newbies, you need to explain WOF and LOF while you’re at it.