fat quarters
 

what are they?

A small piece of fabric about 18inches by 22 inches, I believe

If you cut a yard of fabric off the bolt, then cut 9", you have a quarter of a yard. If you take a yard of fabric, then cut it in half (18"), then cut that piece in half (20-22"), you have a fat quarter. The second number varies, because different fabrics have different widths on the bolt, anywhere from 40-44".

The reason many patterns call for fat quarters, and shops sell them, is that usually you have more design freedom with a quarter yard of fabric that measures 18" x 20-22" as compared with the same amount (a quarter of a yard) that measures 9" x width of fabric (WOF), or 40-44" depending upon the fabric.

It's what you feel you HAVE to buy at least one of when you go to a LQS (local quilt shop) during a shop hop...when you can't find anything to purchase there otherwise!!! Ha ha ha!

Or what you purchase instead of buying the whole bolt!!!

Here is a website with a picture of how a fat quarter is cut:
http://quilting.about.com/od/stepbys...t_quarters.htm
Hope this helps you out.

There are lots of patterns that are fat quarter friendly too.

a quarter yard is a cut of 9 inches by the width of fabric and is about 396 square inches, a fat quarter is 18 inches by 22 inches and is 396 square inches. The fat quarter has more cutting options than the 9 inch strip.

However, some may notice on the receipt that it may have been cheaper to buy a yard of the same fabric and cut 4 fat quarters themselves. Around here, 4 single fat quarter combined purchases averages $1.50-2.00 more than if purchasing a yard from the bolt.

A fat quarter is those neatly folded little rectangles, squares, or triangles of fabric that sit in cubbies or baskets near the bolts of fabric; already labeled, priced, and calling out 'take me home, take me home!'

Ditto this. There a many great uses for fat quarters.