I'm really, really frustrated...I bought some fat quarters from a chain fabric retailer that ended up only being 16.5 to 17 by 20 to 21. Just enough short so that I can't get all the blocks that I normally do out of a fat quarter. Even worse, I got the last of these particular FQs. Argh.

They should be 18" long and 1/2 whatever the width of the fabric was.
Width of fabric can range from 40" wide to 45" wide.
But they should ALWAYS be 18" in one direction.

Have you noticed that some fabrics are only 42 inches wide now? That is one reason for them being smaller... :D:D:D

Yes noticed that last week :roll:

Did you take them back? I would have.

They don't take fabric back. The 19-20 would have been fine. It is that they weren't 18 the other direction that cost me 4-5 blocks per quarter.

Ive noticed this lately too, the new stuff seems to be 42 wide now...

I recently laid out 14 fat quarters and pressed them, there were no two alike, some 20x22 some 18x20. All different. What is going on? With books written for fat quarters, we need them all to be the same. I guess I will have to start buying 1/2 yd just to be sure.

individual stores won't take them back, maybe, but call or write to the president's office 9I mean store president, not US president!) and explain the situation and ask for your money back and see what happens. If we complain and don't take action, stores will never change...and I don't mean we have to be mean,,,just assertive.

When I worked at Joann's, there were nation-wide complaints that the FQs were smaller than listed on the label and they totally clearanced them out - changing vendors after that I think. Maybe you got one of the old ones, if it was Joanns. Whoever it is, call Corporate and get your money back! This is not right, especially if it messed up your plans.

Well, if they were packaged as FQs, then they should take them back if they are short. Too bad....well, who was it so we all know not to buy FQs there. Thanks.

Even though fabric WIDTHS vary, there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for them being only 16-17" long. A yard is 36" and half of that is 18" and always will be! Multiply that inch or 2 shorted by all the thousands of fat quarters sold and what do you have?? A whole lot LESS FABRIC for our $$. IMO this is THEFT or FRAUD, if it is an ongoing practice by the manuf & retailers.

Walmart and Joann's have let me take material back IF I have original receipt and not cut any off of it. But who takes back material. FQ should be that way to unless reduced.

Yes, recently purchasing some fabrics on the bolt, I found that they were considerably shorter than the 44". I think this is a new trend that's going to be happening. :( But I wish I had known after purchasing up to the very last inch that was needed.

I have found that if fabric is 42", that is good! Usually it is less. I always calculate on 40 usable inches.

I do the same, calculate on 40", and I even leave wiggle room there, to allow for trims, so really, I'm calculating on 38"ish, to be safe. I'd rather buy way too much than be one inch too shot, kwim?

As for the fq's...did you wash them? that might speak for shrinkage, though I never wash fq's...if not, i'd be calling corporate, assuming you haven't cut into them yet.

a fat quarter is cut by taking a bolt of fabric, cut off a 1/2 yard piece, open that 1/2 yard and cut at the fold. not every bolt of fabric is 40-42" wide...some is only 36" wide which would give you a fat quarter that measured 18" x 18". so it depends on the width of the original fabric, but one measurement should always measure 18"...the second measurement can vary. and i have seen a couple shops that sold pre-washed fat quarters, so those did not measure up either because they had been cut then washed, so some shrinkage happened.

I have purchased 1/2 yards of material and was sent material measuring 20-22"L x 36"w instead of 44L" x 18w"

I have a "sort of" LQS near me. When I buy a FQ, I pay for a quarter metre but get a quarter yard. THAT ticks me off!
really couldn't she just give her customers the 20" and make us feel good? Bummer!

I know. It's just like the cookies you now buy at the grocery store...they are getting smaller and smaller and the prices are going up!

I agree w/Mariposa, I always calculate fabric on 40" wide. Guess we have to measure those fat 1/4's before leaving the store tho'.

I think we have the right to go the person who is at the cutting table and have she/he measure each one for size before we purchase them. Tell ehtem about the occuring problem and they should oblige us.

I'm sorry Heidi. That is so frustrating when you've planned what you need and are disappointed with what you receive.

Last year on Black Friday I purchased several bolts of fabric and thought they were all 42". When I went to use some of them I discovered the fabric was 40". After checking the end of the bolt I found it said "40-42". What a ripoff.

Buyer beware.. we've had to learn that sad lesson over and over.. now it's all over the quilting world too..

You should be able to take them back and exchange them. After all you are not asking for your money back. Let them know you are short because of their measurements. I know you said you got all of what they had. See if they will exchange for something else. If they aren't workable then it's not worth supporting their store-sad to say.