Layer Cake fabrics
 

How many different fabrics are usually in a layer cake? I'm going to make a quilt that calls for layer cake squares but I find the sets very expensive.

Let me know if you have any idea.

Thanks,
Susan

It's usually written in the description of the layer cake. Normally it's 42 squares, 2-3 of each fabric, depending on the size of the collection.

I think Cathy 77 is correct but check each collection. The one I had only had one of each square.

I think the Hoffman cracker I bought recently also had 1 print from the collection too.

You can always just cut your own 10x10 squares from yardage. Saves a lot of money, particularly if you're making a large quilt. Plus you have absolute control of what fabrics you get; sometimes there's an "ugly" or two in the collection and that's just a waste of your money.

That's what I do, I cut my own. I sometimes cut six of each, and that tends to please me. :)

Dina

I love layer cakes. I haven't found many quilt patterns that can't be made from a 10" square. If you want a whole collection precuts are about the only way to get it. Very few shops carry a whole line of a collection in yardage. The average price for a layer cake of 42 pieces is about $35, some more some less. I find I have too many scrap pieces when I cut 10" squares from a yard of fabric.

Some layer cakes come with only 40 squares - I think it was a Moda collection that I'm remembering. You can always add a couple of home-cut squares that blend in.

I have purchased 3 layer cakes, all Moda. Each one has had 42 squares, 2 of 21 different fabrics.

I agree that precuts are expensive and often have a fabric (or two) that I do not like. I have also found that precuts very often are not cut accurately.

I tend to cut my own. That doesn't seem to make a dent in my stash. MSQC usually has some excellent pricing on their deal of the day, which is sometimes a layer cake.

I just cut my own, too many large cuts of fabrics to buy precut squares.

I bought a layer cake that had only 10 different fabrics out of 40. Should have read the label. Also some layer cakes are not 10" square. Each layer cake has only the fabrics that they design in that line, some of them have only 10 or 15 fabrics and some have 40 different fabrics. Each are different.

I always find that precuts need solids added in. Often every fabric is a pattern and it gets very busy when not diluted with simple colors.

Good way to get rid of scraps by cutting your own 10" squares.

I've purchased only one layer cake, which had some great fabrics for a wall hanging I'm making. There were some pieces I didn't want, but may use someday. The one thing I really, really disliked was that they were pinked and I felt like I had to cut off the edges all around to get the nice straight edge I wanted. I guess if I found one with just the right fabrics I'd buy another, but still don't like pinked edges.

I agree, I love layer cakes. I can usually find them on sale but my problem is finding a pattern.

This is what I find, as well. The pieces I don't like usually go in swaps, but I always feel badly giving something I don't like. I usually cut my own, unless it's a great deal AND I actually love the patterns.

I buy mine from Missouri Star and there are 42 in the pack. The quality is also very good..