What kind of "quarters" do you prefer?
 

What do you prefer, or find more useful?

Fat quarters (18" x 22") ?

Linear quarters (9" x 44") ?

Or the monetary kind? - Sorry, just *had* to include this choice too! :-)

Well I never really knew what to do with the fat quarters at first but now I have used a few for blankets and mug rugs. I like fat quarters for a smaller project, but hope to find more uses for them.

Definitely fat quarters unless there are many, many of the monetary kind...;) I think fat quarters give you many more possibilities when cutting. Besides, they fold up so well for storage!

I don't think I will be much help but...I have to say it depends what the project is - I have a couple quilts in mind that need the linear quarters- but most of them call for fat quarters. If I am just buying to have on hand I buy the fat quarters ... Told you I wouldn't be much help , sorry :(

I like fats for piecing. Maybe the skinnies would be useful for binding strips or sashing.

It really depends on the project. If I need long strips, the linear ones work the best, but needing a piece larger than 9" then the fat quarter works better.

Totally depends on what project I am going to do. At my fave LQS, they will cut a FQ of any fabric you want. I have found that as long as I don't need over 9" it is cheaper to get the "skinny quarter" than the FQ.

I would rather buy half yards or full yards ... it often happens that I don't have enough fabric from a fat quarter. Then, of course, I need the pocket quarters!

Agree it depends on the project

I agree with kathdavis.

I collect fat quarter squares like kids collect ball cards. Ha ha..But, if doing a strip quilt, then prefer the 9 inch , quarter yard. As my 5 year old Grandson says, "That doesn't make sense."

Same here. I like FQs LOTS but sometimes I also want to cut (for example) a 2.5" X width strip also & that doesn't work with a FQ. I really like half yards the best... then I can cut a FQ & the other (which is also a FQ) I can use for something else.

I sort of go back and forth between the two, but lately I find I'm starting to buy 1/2 or full yds.

Fat quarters are more convenient because they are precut and you don't have to wait to get your fabric cut. They are like candy, easy to grab a handful on impulse. However, you do pay for that convenience...they are marked up slightly compared to fabric off the bolt.

Some patterns require fabric cut the width of fabric, in which case you need regular 9x44 cuts. I usually buy at least 1/2 yd or more. If it is an especially beautiful fabric that I absolutely love, I have to have at least 3 yards.

Have not seen linear quarters but I'm sure they would be handy depending on the project.

The monetary quarters...then I can buy the kind of quarters I want/need at the time!

I mainly use Cheaper by the 1/2 Dozen quilt pattern that calls for fat quarters. But if I'm buying fabric from the bolt from Joann's or some place that doesn't sell fat quarters I want linear quarters. I had been buying 1/2 yards from Joann's but decided I it was so much better to buy 1/4 yards.

I like the 9 X WOF best. It seems like I have more waste working with regular fat 1/4s . But there are so many patterns geared toward the traditional fat 1/4's .

FQs are my fav ... IF they're cut right !
I don't buy as many as I used to, buy 1/2 yds more now ... can't stand to run short of a fabric !

I buy fat quarters all the time but I really like to buy more. I like half yards and yards of fabric. I have so many fat quarters but I don't really use them. I could make some fun quilts with them if I ever got around to it. I have a lot of fat quarter books.

IMO, generally speaking I get more fabric from a fat quarter. So many cutters are careless and I'd not even try to get a 1/4 yd WOF.

How do you get your quarter of a yard to be straight when you have it cut?

The cat and I prefer the "quarters" that go with shots of rum. :)

both- sometimes a fq is what is needed for what i am working on- other times a linear quarter is needed- it is totally dependant on the project at hand.

I never buy fat quarters when I can get a full quarter yard for the same price. For me fat quarters are not very cost effective.
peace

I seem to be collecting fat quarters. I like them because I can get a large variety for not too much money. It seems the quilts I have been making lately need a large variety of fabrics. I recently made 2 quilts in 2 different classes that used almost all my leftovers. They were very scrappy.
Sue

Depends on the project but sometimes you can get a quarter yd cut cheaper than a fat quarter. Go figure!

Depends on the project I am doing which type of quarter I use. However, I actually prefer the monetary kind! :-)

If you want me to choose, I would buy a large fat 18 x 22. Now, if I know what I need and am doing I will only by a 1/4 yard of fabric so I can get the project done because some stores only sell fabric that way.

Yeah, depends on the project, and I agree with "auntpiggylpn" on costs...but usually I'll buy a 1/2 yard > cut it in half to make 2 FQ > use one FQ for a project and add the extra to my stash. Our guild is always doing some project that uses/trades FQ's.

All of the above!

I never buy fat quarters of any size. I only buy yardage.

For me it's about the size of the scrap left. If you cut one 2.5 inch strip from a WOF quarter then you have a strip 6.5 left over. I can cut two strips 2.5 inches from a fat quarter to equal one WOF strip and still have a piece of fabric 13 inches wide. That's a lot more useful scrap size.

I have a friend that did art type quilts for a while and she pretty much only bought WOF quarters and when she quit doing art quilts I got a lot of her stash. It just isn't as useful and the scraps left from cutting squares is even less useful.

I think it depends. I like fats for a lot of stuff, particularly cutting squares, but I like linear if I am making a small quilt and want to make a narrow binding. Oh, and I love the jingle of the silver ones.

Anita in Northfield, MN

I agree, it depends on what you are doing. I am more prone/attracted to picture or art-type of quilts which the fat quarters are handier say to cut a little lady's dress to be appliqued, or a house, or odd shaped pieces of a background. If I do buy WOF, then I get 1/2 yd and essentially have 2 FQ's, then I can go either way. If it is just a neat fabric in a pre-cut FQ, then I will pick it up to add to my stash. Wmart sells the FQ's for 97 cents each, unless you buy a matched sequence, in which case it is $7.84 for 5 FQ pieces. And since their big remodel, even the pre-cuts seem better quality.

Mary

I love fat quarters. I use the skinny strips for dresden wedges when making plates. But FQ's give you more fabric to work with.

I like linear quarters for some things, but I use many, many fat quarters. I like to be able to stack and cut several layers at once. I do a lot of scrappy look quilts and fat quarters allow me to be so versatile.

Quarter of a pie, quarter of a cake, all of the pitcher of margaritas!

I like to use fat quarters,when the project allows it...there are so many different choices in a package, I like to cut them into sizes I need, Skinney are useful too, along with jellyrolls, gee now I am getting hungry....

It depends on what I am doing, cutting strips I usually like the 9x44 (watching girl carefully to see that it is 9 inches at both the selvage and the fold) I use the 18x22 if I am cuting squares or triangles.