Now, a "fat quarter" is when you cut the width in half and a yard-length in half as well...which gives you 22" x 18"...which is still a quarter of the basic yard, only "fatter". Apparently, quilters prefer fat quarters because they are able to cut bigger chunks of fabric for their purposes.
Etymology. The piece is made by folding a metre-square piece of fabric into quarters and cutting along the folds; it is fat in comparison with a quarter of a metre off the roll, which would be a long thin piece only 25 centimetres wide.
What is a fat quarter? In essence a Fat Quarter is a piece made by cutting half a metre of the full fabric width and then cutting this piece in half vertically (essentially cutting it by the width).
Although a traditional 1⁄4-yard cut and a fat-quarter cut contain the same amount of fabric, they differ in shape. A traditional 1⁄4-yard cut measures 9×42". A fat quarter is cut crosswise from a 1⁄2-yard piece of fabric-an 18×44" rectangle cut in half to yield an 18×21" "fat" 1⁄4-yard piece.
Quilt patterns frequently use fat quarters because their area allows you to cut many pieces. Lots of other sewing projects suggest using this pre-cut too.
In American sizing the term 'fat quarter' refers to a quarter of a yard of fabric, which generally equates to approximately 45 x 52 centimetres. In Australia, using the metric system, a fat quarter can also be referred to as a fat flat, which generally measures between 50 x 54 centimetres.
Is it cheaper to buy fat quarters? Generally, it is more expensive to buy a fat quarter than quilt fabric by the yard. This is likely due to the additional cost of cutting and packaging the fat quarters. However, buying precut fabrics can save you money by making it easier to only buy what you need for a small project.
Fat Quarters are an inexpensive way to build variety in your stash: If you are a new quilter, you may not have a variety of colors, patterns and solids to you stash. Purchasing a fat quarter gives you a generously-sized piece of fabric but it's more economical than purchasing a yard.
You can sew a 66” x 55” throw size quilt like mine with 10 fat quarters to make 30 blocks, or make any size you want – each FQ you pick is enough for 3 blocks that finish at 11”.
Just as important, you want to prewash because after being wet for the first time, different fabrics can shrink differently—some more, some less. You want to eliminate that shrinkage prior to cutting and sewing your pieces together so they all behave the same way when, again, the quilt is laundered.
What Is the Purpose of a Fat Quarter? Fat quarters are the most often used fabric size in quilting. Ideal for sampler quilts since the pieces are easier to cut and more evenly spaced than standard quarter-yard pieces.
The earliest reference to what we are talking about in terms of fabric was Margaret Boyles' Country Needlework in 1986 in which she explains the term well. ... a 'Quilter's Sample,' 'Fat Quarter' or various other names of their own devising.
The Fat Quarter Shop was founded in 2003 by Kimberly Jolly. An avid quilter, Kimberly began her shop as a side business while still working a corporate position, cutting, packing and shipping right out of her house during evenings and weekends.
You will get 18 squares from a regular quarter of a yard, but you will only get 16 squares from a FQ.
Sewing your own cloth napkins is a fun, inexpensive way to set the table. Plus it's eco-friendly — think about all the paper napkins you're not using. Do you know what else is great? You can make each napkin with just one fat quarter of fabric.
An easy way to visualize and understand what a fat quarter is and how it is cut is to think of a quarter yard of fabric that has been cut where the fold is into two 9″ x 21″ pieces. One of those pieces is then laid next to the other, creating an 18″ x 21″ piece of fabric, known as a fat quarter.
A bundle of 18 – 20 fat quarters would comfortably make a throw/small single size quilt with fabric to spare and this could include some half metre cuts instead of fat quarters. Additional fabric will be required for sashing and borders, especially if you want these to be solids or all the same fabric.
If you are making a quilt for a queen size you will need a minimum 35 fat quarters, possibly more if it is extra length. A double bed will take 30 fat quarters. For a twin bed you'll need 24. A throw will take 12.
Layer Cakes
They are available by collection and typically include 42 pieces of fabric, though the number may vary by collection.
Fat quarter: 50cm x 55cm (approximately 20in x 22in) Long quarter: 25cm x 110cm (approximately 10in x 44in) Half metre: 50cm x 110cm (approximately 20in x 44in) One metre: 100cm x 110cm (approximately 40in x 44in)
1950-D Washington Quarter (D over S)
The uncirculated grade 1950-D Washington quarter coin has a high value because of its rarity. These coins integrate a mint mark error of the letter 'D' appearing over 'S .' These rare gems' average value is $68, whereas best-mint state coins are worth $29,375.