Tell Me About Pre-Cuts: Day Six

You knew this was coming - Fat Quarters! I can remember when they first came on the market and it honestly didn't make sense to me. But, they have to be one of the most popular of fabric cuts - and, they are quite the impulse buy, right? Quick - I'll wait. Go count your dozens of fat quarter bundles.

Are you back? I counted mine and they're in the dozens. Then there are the ones that became quilts.

A fat quarter is one quarter of a yard of fabric. A yard of fabric is 36" x 42/44". A typical quarter yard is 9" x 42". A fat quarter is when you take the 36 x 44 piece and cut it into equal quarters. Hence, a "fat" quarter!

Let me show you some recent sets of fat quarters. The first is Gingham Play by Michael Miller. I keep coming back to them because their "print" is not only traditional but the colors are so fresh and bright and modern.

Gingham Play fat quarters by Michael Miller

I used these with Fairy Frost (again, just a set of fat quarters) to make some awesome English Paper Piecing blocks. I have 6 or 7 made. Still waiting on inspiration for a setting. I selected Fairy Frost fabrics that would play nicely with the ginghams.

Gingham Play and Fairy Frost

I've shared these blocks before. The large background squares (15" x 15") are also cut from fat quarters.

Grandmother's Flower Garden with Hearts, pinks

GFG in oranges

And some lovely fabrics called Cottage Joy to make a fun child's quilt.

Cottage Joy fat quarters

And the quilt. Note the borders make great use of the fat quarters. This is 38" x 38".

Big Block Stars quilt: 38" x 38". Center block is 30" x 30"

And one more creative way with a bundle of fat quarters. You saw this a few years ago when I wanted to rescue an orphan block. I used the Fantasy Collection by Windham. Go read the post.

And the quilt which is about 40" x 40". Of course, I have seams in those strips! But can you see them? I bet you didn't think fat quarters could do this?

Fantasy fabrics rescue my orphan block

That's enough for today and fat quarters. You know I have more coming! Have a great weekend.