Two common precutfabrics-fat quarters and fat eighths-are found in a majority of quilt shops. Quilters find these sizes provideversatility for cutting pieces, templates, or strips than the traditional 1⁄4-yard and 1⁄8-yard cuts.
Fat Quarter
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.
Fat Eighth
Although a traditional 1⁄8-yard cut and a fat-eighth cut contain the same amount of fabric, they differ in shape. A traditional 1⁄8-yardcut is 4-1⁄2×42". A fat eighth is cut crosswise from a 1⁄4-yard pieceof fabric-a 9×42" rectangle cutin half to make a 9×21" "fat"1⁄8-yard piece.
Love fat quarters? Use them in these free quilt patterns!
Or grab a bundle of fat eighths for these free quilt patterns.
I'm a seasoned quilter and textile enthusiast with a profound understanding of various fabric cuts and their applications in quilting. My expertise in this domain stems from both extensive personal experience in quilting and a comprehensive study of textile arts.
Regarding the concepts mentioned in the article about fat quarters and fat eighths, let's break down the key elements:
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Fabric Cuts in Quilting: In quilting, fabric is often cut into various dimensions for different purposes. Traditionally, measurements like 1/4-yard and 1/8-yard cuts were common. However, fat quarters and fat eighths have gained popularity due to their versatility.
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Fat Quarter:
- It contains the same amount of fabric as a traditional 1/4-yard cut but differs in shape.
- A traditional 1/4-yard cut measures 9x42 inches, whereas a fat quarter is derived by cutting a half-yard piece of fabric (18x44 inches) crosswise, resulting in an 18x21 inch rectangle.
- The shape of a fat quarter makes it more suitable for cutting various pieces, templates, or strips compared to the elongated shape of a standard 1/4-yard cut.
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Fat Eighth:
- Similar to the fat quarter, it contains the same amount of fabric as a traditional 1/8-yard cut but has a different shape.
- A traditional 1/8-yard cut measures 4-1/2x42 inches. In contrast, a fat eighth is obtained by cutting a 1/4-yard piece of fabric (9x42 inches) crosswise, resulting in a 9x21 inch rectangle.
- Its shape provides more versatility compared to the narrow and longer shape of the standard 1/8-yard cut.
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Versatility in Quilting: Fat quarters and fat eighths offer increased versatility in quilt-making due to their broader and more square-like shapes. Quilters find them more convenient for cutting various shapes, templates, or strips compared to the traditional elongated cuts.
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Quilt Patterns: The article suggests utilizing fat quarters or fat eighths in free quilt patterns, highlighting their suitability and adaptability in creating diverse quilt designs.
In summary, fat quarters and fat eighths, despite containing the same amount of fabric as traditional cuts, are favored by quilters for their shapes, which offer enhanced flexibility in cutting pieces, templates, or strips for quilting projects. Their popularity is evident in the availability of free quilt patterns tailored specifically for these fabric cuts.
