Cheater fabric
 

What is "cheater fabric" or a cheater's panel?

I think it means fabric printed with a design that looks like patchwork.

I like it for backing as most I have come 108".

or it could be a panel with a printed design so that if you quilt around the design, it looks like you made an appliqued quilt.

I made one out of cheater cloth from walmart. It had small stars all over it and I hand quilted it . Turned out beautiful. My MIL was a quilter and she couldn't tell from a short distance that it was cheater.

And they're great to embellish for a front door hanging for the holidays.

They make quick and easy gifts!

i am going to jump right in here & be CRABBY! what a HORRIBLE- NEGATIVE term to apply to a wonderful useful piece of fabric!
i have never understood the whole (negative- CHEATER) reference some people place on panals- I have made some absolutely beautiful- expensive quilts using panal fabrics- i did not CHEAT- i worked hard- and created a beautiful item- which took many hours- it is no different than using any other piece of printed fabric- in my mind-anyone who considers a panal a cheater- should not be using anything except solids- ever- they should not even look at a print fabric.
there is no reason to place something so negative on a valuable resource....and panals can become fabulous quilts and other items- just like the other fabrics we use-
ok- off my soap-box for today-

Here are a bunch of "cheater clothes" so you can see what they are.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006XLIB5G/...SIN=B006XLIB5G

Another source of 'cheater' fabric can be your scanner/computer/printer. I did a king size variation on 54-40 where I scanned my first block (with a white center block), reduced it down to the size of my center square, and then printed up a bunch of reduced blocks and I used as them as part of the center squares on all the blocks in the quilt. When I machine quilted it, I stitched along where the seam lines would have been on the center block.

(in the photo, the printed fabric is lighter than in real life)

I usually buy a "cheater" panel for baby quilts....so fast when you need to get a gift ready. I also quilt them for wall hangings.
Thanks for the site.

Cheater is a very old term and when they were first introduced into the market it would be natural to call them just what they are being that it is not pieced but printed. It is not a derogatory term. Look at it as cheating time, if you don't have alot of it, you can still make a cheater and have a great quilt.

Only the quilting police would consider this in bad taste in todays world.

I have made several cheaters and they were a lot of fun to do. It was good practice to create designs and balance in the quilting.

Keepsake Quilting has whole cloth quilt tops that are printed with beautiful designs . These are considered cheaters too. But I bet they are gorgous when quilted.

peace

EDIT: Just to add to the conversation, Are panels the same as cheaters? I think of an actual printed quilt pattern when I think of cheaters, not printed panels.???

"Cheater panels/fabric" have been around for a long time...sometimes, a person wants to do all the piecing themselves, and sometimes, it can be easier to let the fabric do the work. I don't know how it got the name cheater, but it isn't really cheating, it is just using fabric that has a design already printed. Either way, they will be used in a quilt, and loved.

I,m with you. AMEN!!!

Hey, thanks ladies, you just gave me an excellent idea! I checked them out on ebay, and they do have 108 inch panels, cut to Queen and King sized. Great for backing! Pieced top and panel backing - a reversible quilt:)

Awesome use of technology..the quilt is fabulous...

The first thing I quilted when we got our APQS Millenium was a "cheater" baby quilt. It now proudly decorates one of my studio walls. A cute pattern with a Giraffe and other animals. Don't think I'd call it cheating with the price I saw one preprinted panels at LQS.

Thanks all. Being new to the quilting world, I has no idea of whatpeople mean when they say 'was it a cheater panel, was it cheater fabric" My education grow thru your knowledge every day. THANK YOU

Here's a site that sells lots of them. I personally don't see a thing wrong with them. When I was first learning to hand quilt, I used several & then donated them to kids' charities.

http://www.pre-printed-quilt-tops.com/

Very interesting information. Now I know what a cheaters panel is!

I bought these fabrics to practice with my new long-arm. I never thought about them as backing but I love that idea. Thanks for the suggestions and the websites.

As a handquilter I love "cheater's cloth". It is so much easier to do fine quilting without all of those messy seams. I have two queen size "whole cloth" quilts I completed several years ago that would stand up to anyone's work. When you work with a preprinted or marked piece you don't have to worry about seams or inconsistences in the grain or quality of the fabric. In the world of quilting, "patchwork" is a recent trend developed by woman who couldn't afford to use good fabric to make bedding for their families. Clothing items were quilted for warmth hundreds of years before they were common as bed coverings.

Wow...what a big selection that site has. I bet once you quilted them it would be hard to tell the difference. Great site !

I've wanted to say this for years. I don't see any difference between using panels and fussy cutting to get the print you want. Moreover, I have made some lovely quilts and bedspreads from 108 inch fabric that was perfect for what I needed. Right on, ckcowl. I'm on your side. froggyintexas

To me it's just patchwork printed fabric.

I have an acquaintance who makes what she calls "cheater quilts". She purchased fabric with the design printed, then sews all together by sewing machine and pays someone to quilt it. She says she's a quilter. Hey, whatever works!

Omgoodness didn't know there was a term for that one .. I have quilted quite a few of them then and not even knew the term for it. Learn something new every day for sure !!

Thanks, great site! The prices are very reasonable for 90inch wide!
Has anyone tried them, how is the quality of the cotton?

My GD has a beautful quilt from "cheater blocks".

I don't consider panels to be cheater fabric, to me they are something different.
Cheater fabrics are fabrics printed with a look to make them look like pieced or applique blocks.


They are a fabulous way to learn to quilt- not having to worry about ruining something you spent so much time piecing.

I often use panels (or parts of them) along with other techniques. I know there are people who look down their noses at so-called "cheaters" but I especially like them for practicing techniques like FMQ and embellishing and for holiday decor. I always have one or two on hand for those times when I want to do a project that doesn't involve a lot of cutting of piecing. It IS an unfortunate term, however.

I have a print of a Monet painting hanging in my bedroom that I really like -- since I don't own the original, I guess it's a "cheater" painting!

I understand what you are saying. I work in a fabric store and we have ladies that come in and want to do something but do not have time it takes to cut and sew up a "normal" quilt. We also have ladies that come in and think that cutting all the little pieces and then sewing them back together is weird. So the panels and some yardage that looks like a quilt works for them. We have several pillow panels that have been turned into quilts.

First, I agree completely with those who do not consider panels in the category of cheater fabric. I don't know who nor when they started getting lumped into that area but it is a misnomer. They are panels... that's all.
I also think "cheater" is kind of a bad rap for what can be some lovely and useful fabrics. One of my favorite things to use them for is bordering squares when I make t-shirt quilts.

I made a really cute crib quilt for my GD out of a panel of toys. I hand quilted around all the toys and block lines. She absolutely loves it! It is so cute!

The term "cheater" has been around for about35 years when hand quilters were miffed that folks were taking short cuts to produce quilts. Thus the term. It in no way denigrates the work any of us do. I finished 1 cheater DWR which was gorgeous and I still have another one to do. I also have many wall hangings, seasonal hangings for the front door, etc. Don't be offended; just know what the term means and do you own thing.

http://www.nustylequilting.com

Click on their fabric panel & cheater fabrics...they have quite a few.

A cheater fabric is, for example, a double wedding ring quilt printed onto fabric. All you have to do is add the batting, backing & quilt it

I still have several yards of cheater fabric in my stash that I bought in the 90's when I made my first quilt. My very first one has it as a backing. Back then, I didn't know it was "cheating", just that it was pretty and complemented the lone star that I had pieced for the front. After I hand quilted it, it was prettier! :)

You know, to each their own, but the thing I don't get is pre quilted panels. (not pre quilted fabric you might use in a purse, but a panel).

They are advertised as "just finish the edge to make a gorgeous blanket". Are there people who really like to just bind? That seems so odd to have that be the only part you do.

it is just a word to describe a panel....I do not see it as a bad term...