1/2 yard = 2 fat quarters.
i'll bet the half yard is less expensive than 2 FQ.
i've been cutting and sewing together strips for a quilt. it's easier to get straight strips from FQ than from full width. it's easier to get them sewn and pressed straight, too.
get the half yard, then cut it into FQ. whether you prewash or not, make sure you spray the fabric with either water or starch (starch is best because it makes the strips more stable) and iron them at the highest setting your fabric can tolerate. why? because different fabrics react differently to moisture and heat, regardless of content and pretreatment. your strips might get a little wacky if you sew first then press.
don't ask me how i know. i do NOT want to admit how i know. :shock:
just trust me. :wink: