A fat quarter is a quarter of a yard of fabric. They cut the yard in half and in half again making *fat* squares as opposed to cutting across the width of the fabric and making long, skinny quarter of a yard. You usually find these fat squares rolled up and tied in the quilt stores. JoAnn's folds theirs. Sometimes you can buy a group of fat quarters that 'go together'. It's just another way for us to spend our $$ and add to the stash! Me I want the WHOLE yard! :lol: