Fat Quarter Sets

A fat quarter is a pre-cut piece of fabric that measures approximately 18" x 22". It's taken from a half-yard of fabric cut in half vertically, giving you a larger, more versatile piece than a traditional quarter yard.

A quarter yard is cut perpendicular to the selvege, all the way across the fabric. It measures approximately 9" x 43".

A fat quarter is a half yard (measuring approximately 18" x 43") cut in half resulting in a wider, shorter rectangle measuring approximately 18" x 21".

The dimensions of a fat quarter make them ideal for appliqué shapes that are larger than the standard 1/4 yd which is 9" x 44". For example, if you want to make a Valentine quilt with a large 14" x 14" applique shape,  if you had a regular 1/4 yard of fabric, that shape could not fit resulting in having to purchase additional yardage. But if you had an 18" x 22" fat quarter, the heart shape would fit thereby avoiding the need to purchase additional fabric. 

Fat quarter bundles offer perfectly coordinated fabrics curated by designers or manufacturers. They save time, ensure a cohesive look, and let you sample an entire fabric collection without purchasing full yardage. Most fabric manufacturers produce Fat Quarter Sets only one time for designer collections making them rare and special. 

Using a standard quilting seam of 1/4" and allowing 2" for selvage, you'd need 35 fat quarters to make a queen size quilt measuring approximately 90" x 90". A king size quilt would require about 56 fat quarters and a twin size quilt would require 24 fat quarters. For smaller projects, like a throw quilt (50" x 60") or a baby blanket (45" x 60"), you'd need 12 and 9 fat quarters, respectively.

The best project to begin with to learn how to quilt is a quilt block. There are many ways to use a quilt block in a project when you're finished; You can make a pillow, wall hanging, or make more to stitch together into a larger quilt. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination! We recommend using a pattern to start but there are lots of ways for you to add your own personal touches. Be sure to check out our Learn to Quilt video series to follow along with Jen as she walks you through making your very first quilt with helpful tutorials, tips, and tricks!