I'm not absolutely sure but I think a fat eighth is a 1/4 yard of fabric that has been cut along the fold line to make 2 fat eighths
:idea:

That was a funny story about the spaghetti :mrgreen: I wonder if she was newlywed and still learning about such things...lol!

If this is a quiz, I'll say two fat eights or 2 times 9 in.x22 in.

I figure I am never to OLD to learn, and the saying "live and learn," thanks for the info.

The problem I see with cutting your fat quarter -by folding the selvage to selvage & cutting - is that fabrics are 45" wide most fabics have a 1/2" white selvage telling you the fabric info-
Unless you cut off the selvage before you cut your fabric in half - The FQ with selvage, is going to be a "want to be FQ"

When I first started quilting, a friend took me to a quilt store and told me I should buy several fat quarters. I didn't put much thought into why they were called fat quarters. I just thought that was what they were called. Lucky for me, I was pretty naive because it never occurred to me that they were quarter yard fabrics.

I LOVE this! Where'd you get it?? :) I am getting SEW enlightened by this topic. I always found it funny that I love to quilt but hate math.

Got it years ago at a shop, but haven't seen one since. Wish I would since it is wearing out. :thumbdown:

Just remember - a "fat quarter" is not a body part. (Quote from my husband.)

What I get from this post is to always buy 1/2 yard then you will have 2 fat quarters one to use and one to stash or trade. Am I correct in this thinking? I never understood what the difference was so glad this was brought up today. (I am a newby) Take care.
Linda

you learn something new everyday!

So true so true... I could not figure out why the called them Fat...I found out... hehhehehehe... I was with ya too... still lots I do not know about all the language...

Well, put like that it makes sense. Thanks

got it... thank you for that.. so simple...

No more fat quarter confusion!
Thanks for sharing!

I think I need that shirt. :wink:

I learned that about fat quarters when I went to beginners class a few years back. I also have a shirt that says The Queen of unfinished Projects, that's me.

Cookie

I guess for as long as I've been sewing/quilting, I never knew this! Wow! I guess you are never too old to learn. Thanks for the info - wow!

welcome to the OMG club....i keep learning all these new "rules" everyday i sew......at least you were able to use the 1/4 yard for the table runner........good job!!!!!

Thanks to all of you because I didn't know the difference. I just retired so am doing the quilting I've always wanted to do but never found the time. All of you have become my sewing friend's and I love it.

Katesnana, I love the quilt in your avatar! Can you send an enlarged picture to me at [email protected]. It looks as though it's a nine patch with alternating squares and that you got the diagonal lines by putting a pink as your center on each nine patch. Did I get that right?

Katesnana, I love the quilt in your avatar! Can you send an enlarged picture to me at [email protected]. It looks as though it's a nine patch with alternating squares and that you got the diagonal lines by putting a pink as your center on each nine patch. Did I get that right?

ROFL!!! :thumbup:

Well, I never knew the difference in a fat quarter and a 1/4 yard of fabric, so I learned something today too. I do not buy fat quarters, jelly rolls, etc., due to the abundance of fabric that I already have. I just use what I have on hand. Thanks for all the information. This board is just a great learning site. Take care, Mary

L O L....i just love this board! I just learnt a new thing today too! But the comments posted here are funny....ya'll have a great week....

Oops! It's the pits you had to learn the hard way. Look at it this way now when you teach your class you will be able point that out to your students.

I love Becky's story about the spahetti. Back in the day when hospitals were getting into this HIPPA thing, I had a co-worker who came back from a smoke break all excited because she had finally found out why admin had put shredders on all the units and insisted all things paper be shredded. "It's to prevent back injuries...the paper weighs less when it's shredded!" As I live and breathe this is a true story. I spent a lot of time trying to convince her a pound of paper was a pound of paper was a pound of paper, shredding it just increased the volume and dispersed it into more bags. It was of no use, that's the story she was hearing and that's the way it was.

well if it makes you feel better I didn't know it either.
But let me see if I got this right..( since I don't get right answer in math most of time)
a 1/4 yard of fabric ....9 inches by 44 inches
a fat quarter ....is 18 in by 22 in.....
now I know why mine never turned out right either....
thanks all of you Char

I have actually read each posting in this thread and have to say I truly was surprised at the number of ladies who didn't know what a FQ was. Now, please don't take that as a criticism, just a comment about my own naitivity. The important point is that we take this as a lesson not to assume anything when teaching somebody a new skill, quilting or otherwise. If I was writing instructions for a quilted item I would probably have used the term FQ when referring to needed supplies and I would have assumed that anyone who bought the pattern would know exactly what that meant. I mean, the market place is flooded with FQs and FQ-friendly patterns and books. And I would have been wrong. See me hanging my head in shame.

Years ago, didn't realize till I opened one up, as it turned out I needed the full width. oops!:)

Maybe this drawing will make it clearer?

The length of a fat quarter yard (FQ) should always be at least 18 inches.

Not all fabrics are 45 inches wide - some are as narrow as only 40 inches - so the width of the FQ will only be half of the width of the fabric - so may vary from 20 to 22.5 inches.

A "regular" or "skinny" quarter (1/4) yard should always be at least 9 inches long - and the width of the fabric.

This is the stuff I like about this site. everyone seems so ready to help you and not look at u like your to dumb to help.
I have made some baby quilts and I make purses and doll clothes all the time ...........But I love quilts, and have made up my mine I am going to make one...if it is just a four patch or nine patch.....
all the quilts on here make me so green with jelousy.

AWESOME! Thanks for taking the time to do the visual!

I can't wait to see your quilt! :thumbup:

Hehehe... live and learn. We all have holes in our knowledge store. :) That's why this board is so fantastic. YOU all fill in my blank places.

no matter the size or shape, they sure are fun to collect!

Didn't know 'til I knew. When I heard the terminology the first time, I wondered why they needed such a name. Didn't know 'til I knew! :oops:

Some patterns show the fat quarter layed out,in a diagram.
and show you how to cut it,

it will not work with a 1/4 yard. one pattern that comes to mind,right away, it the "Turning Twenty" pattern. (calling for twenty fat quarters)

ALL "connecting threads" quilt patterns show the FQ layed out,in a cutting diagram. and they show all the 1/4,1/2 yard cuts too!

those that are seasoned veterans, and know how many pieces they can get out of any cut of fabric..it is good for them. They are way ahead of the game, but it just doesn't work that way for me. lol

in our little quilt group, for the new girls, the "Turning Twenty" pattern was not only a pretty quilt, but an exercise in following instructions, and cutting the FQ's correctly.

it has been a fun thread!

by the way..a story you have already heard before..but my quilter friend..thought that if she had her 1/4" foot on, she would have a 1/4" seam allowance. when in reality, your needle needs to move to the left or right, to get a 1/4" . she was so frustrated when her quilts were not turning out, seams not lining up..i couldn't figure it out either..i just assumed she knew she had to "find" the 1/4" on her machine first..i felt so bad..i had not realized that she just didn't know!
she also assumed she should change the needle,when it broke!
i was so blessed to have taken a beginners quilt class, on the basics at Joanns, first. so i learned how to press, not iron. use a rotary cutter,a ruler,following a pattern..etc.

The only silly question, is the one never asked!

And for Your information:

From one fat quarter of fabric, which measures approximately (18” x 22”)

99…..2” squares
56…..2 ½” squares
42…..3” squares
30…..3 ½” squares
20…..4” squares
16…..4 ½” squares
12…..5”squares
9…..6” squares
6…..6 ½” squares
4……7” squares
4……8” squares
4……9” squares

And if you have fabric that is only 36" wide (remember when, lol) the fat qtr. is still 18X22, right??? Just curious! Mary

LOL....in the olden days before fat quarters life was easier. You didn't buy a fabric as a FQ only to discover later that you REALLY need 24" of it....now you have to decide which you want and hope you guess correctly for an upcoming project that you haven't even thought about yet!!!!

Just think of it as adding one more bit of very important and useful knowledge in your noggin! :D BTW: You NOT an idiot!!! :wink: At least you discovered it before you did the class!!! :shock: