What Is A Fat Quarter Vs. A Quarter Yard Of Fabric? | NQC

When it comes to buying fabric there are many options. You can purchase any length of fabric you want from off a bolt or you can buy pre-cut pieces or bundles of fabric. One of the more popular pre-cut pieces of fabric available today is a fat quarter. But should you get a quarter yard or a fat quarter? Let's go over what a fat quarter is, exactly how much fabric it contains, and how it's different from a quarter yard.

Understand Fabric Yardage

Quilting fabric can be purchased off of a bolt in lengths of anything from a few inches to a few yards. While the length of the fabric you purchase can differ drastically the width is generally consistent — typically between 42 and 44 inches. Fabric is folded when it is stored on a bolt so when it's being cut the width of fabric you see is around 21 inches, folded in half. A quarter yard of fabric is 9 inches, making the total dimensions of a quarter yard purchase 9 inches × the fabric width, typically 42 to 44 inches. So, what is a fat quarter? Fat quarters measure approximately 18 inches x 21 inches. An easy way to visualize how a fat quarter is cut is to imagine a quarter yard of fabric that has been divided along the fold into two 9-inch × 21-inch pieces. One of these pieces is then placed next to the other, creating an 18-inch × 21-inch fabric piece—known as a fat quarter.

Buying Fabric Tips to Get the Right Amount

Understanding what a fat quarter is makes it more useful when planning a quilt. While most quilters don't generally need extra reasons to buy more fabric, fat quarters are handy to have in every fabric stash. Check out the above video to hear her explain when and why you might want to buy a fat quarter over a quarter yard of fabric, or vice versa.

A fat quarter is just one type of pre-cut fabric. To learn more about jelly rolls, charm packs, and more, you can read Colleen Tauke's article What Is a Precut?

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