Thread: How to cut a fat Quarter

Hi,

Can all you experienced ladies out there please confirm if I am right here? To cut a fat quarter, I measure width ways 18 then cut lengthway to 22 inches then I cut the piece off where the fold is and that is 2 fat quarters? Many thanks

A fat quarter is 18" x 22". If I understand how you are cutting that piece correctly, you'll be making a fat eighth.

You cut a half yard off the bolt and cut it in half along the fold. A fat quarter always measures 18 inches along the selvedge. The other measurement is half the width of the fabric.

To get four fat quarters from one yard, cut along the fold line, you get two pieces of fabric. Cut each of the two pieces in half width wise and you now have four perfectly cut fat quarters.

Originally Posted by Scissor Queen

You cut a half yard off the bolt and cut it in half along the fold. A fat quarter always measures 18 inches along the selvedge. The other measurement is half the width of the fabric.

Yep... the 22" measurement can vary as not all fabrics are 44" wide, I am finding more lately that are closer to 42"

You also do not cut off the selvedges, leaving them on is normal :D:D:D

Originally Posted by amma

Originally Posted by Scissor Queen

You cut a half yard off the bolt and cut it in half along the fold. A fat quarter always measures 18 inches along the selvedge. The other measurement is half the width of the fabric.

Yep... the 22" measurement can vary as not all fabrics are 44" wide, I am finding more lately that are closer to 42"

You also do not cut off the selvedges, leaving them on is normal :D:D:D

Important to remember this about the width. Some have complained that they have been shorted if it isn't 22 inches. A FQ is 18 inches by 1/2 the WOF.

in the quilt shop we start with cutting 1/2 yards (18") then cut at the fold= 1 fq
fabric widths vary anywhere from 40"-45" wide so that can make a fq anywhere from 18" x 20"---up to 18"x 22 1/2"
the 18" is just the 1/2 yard--that is consistant

Good to have info....bookmarked this..Thanks :!:

Originally Posted by ckcowl

in the quilt shop we start with cutting 1/2 yards (18") then cut at the fold= 1 fq
fabric widths vary anywhere from 40"-45" wide so that can make a fq anywhere from 18" x 20"---up to 18"x 22 1/2"
the 18" is just the 1/2 yard--that is consistant

Yes and thank you I was thinking this was how you do it but was just a bit unsure. Thanks for clarifying :-D

Originally Posted by Grace173

Originally Posted by ckcowl

in the quilt shop we start with cutting 1/2 yards (18") then cut at the fold= 1 fq
fabric widths vary anywhere from 40"-45" wide so that can make a fq anywhere from 18" x 20"---up to 18"x 22 1/2"
the 18" is just the 1/2 yard--that is consistant

Yes and thank you I was thinking this was how you do it but was just a bit unsure. Thanks for clarifying :-D

I'd just add to this that when cutting FQ's, we only cut at the fold if the fabric is perfectly folded in half during the double-and-roll operation. We often see fabrics that are improperly rolled by the distributor, as much as an inch or two off on one side or the other.

After making a few disparaging remarks about the drug addicts working on the double and roll machines :mrgreen:, what we do is to make sure the fabric is square and even before cutting the half-yard in two. This can involve re-folding and even pressing. In some cases it can involve cutting the initial half-yard long and then squaring and trimming before making the second cut.