I collected fruit fabric to make a log cabin - used fat quarters. I cut strips the length of the fabric, I don't cut the strips to size. If you sew carefully you won't have any issues. When the quilt was done I only had about 2 fat quarters I didn't use - they had too much white in them. Wish I would have kept track of how many I used. The light side was white with black. Also don't remember how long I collected the fabric before I made the quilt this year. Good luck -you will love your quilt when it is done.