36
CHAPTER PREPARING AND CUTTING FABRIC
Common Quilting Measurements
In the United States, quilting fabrics are sold by the yard, in 42- and 44-inch (106.7 cm and 111.8 cm)
widths. Outside of the United States, fabrics may be less than 42 inches (106.7 cm) wide. Quilt backing
fabric is available in wider widths that help eliminate the need to piece your quilt back.
When you purchase fabric, you can have it cut
into full yards, or fractions of a yard (such as a
half yard). This table shows how many inches of
fabric you will get for each fraction of a yard. A
half-yard of fabric, for example, will yield a piece
that’s 18×42 inches or 18×44 inches, depending on
the width of the fabric (wof).
Common U.S. Yardage Cuts
Yardage Inches Centimeters
1/8 4
1
⁄
2
11.4
1/4 9 23
1/3 12 30.5
3/8 13
1
⁄
2
34.25
1/2 18 45.75
5/8 22
1
⁄
2
57
2/3 24 61
3/4 27 68.5
7/8 31
1
⁄
2
80
1 36 91.5
Make your own precuts by cutting
1
1
⁄
2
-inch (3.8 cm) or 2
1
⁄
2
-inch (6.4 cm)
strips, or 5-inch (12.7 cm) or 10-inch
(25.4 cm) squares from fabric left over
after you finish a quilt project.
Fabric Line Precuts
Quilting fabric is sometimes packaged in convenient
sizes, oen in collections of coordinated fabrics called
a fabric line. These precut sizes (or simply “precuts”)
have fun names such as Fat Eighths and Jelly Rolls. Us-
ing precuts saves you the time and trouble of cutting
fabrics for a quilt yourself. Take the time to measure
a few of the precuts, however, because they may vary
slightly in size (measure from the inner points of any
pinked edges). You do not need to cut the pinked edg-
es off your precuts before using them. Do not prewash
precut fabrics or they will ravel.
37
COMMON QUILTING MEASUREMENTS
Common Quilting Fabric Precuts
Name of Precut Width and Length
Fat Eighth Piece of fabric 9×22 inches (22.86×55.88 cm) or 18×11 inches (45.72×27.94 cm)
Fat Quarter Piece of fabric 18×22 inches (45.72×55.88 cm)
Layer Cake Collection of fabrics, each cut 10×10 inches (25.4×25.4 cm). A typical Layer Cake contains
42 squares, one square from each fabric in the fabric line.
Charm Pack Collection of fabrics, each cut 5×5 inches (12.7×12.7 cm). A typical Charm pack contains 42
squares, one square from each fabric in the fabric line.
Mini Charm Pack Collection of fabrics, each cut 2
1
⁄
2
×2
1
⁄
2
inches (6.35×6.35 cm).
Jelly Roll Collection of fabrics, each cut 2
1
⁄
2
inches (6.35 cm) by width of fabric (wof). A typical Jelly
Roll contains 40 strips, one strip from each fabric in the fabric line.
Honey Bun Collection of fabrics, each cut 1
1
⁄
2
inches (3.81 cm) by width of fabric (wof)
Dessert Roll Collection of fabrics, each cut 5 inches (12.7 cm) by width of fabric (wof)
Twice the Charms Collection of fabrics, each cut 5
1
⁄
2
×21–22 inches (13.7×53.34–55.88 cm)
Honey Combs Collection of fabrics, each cut into 6 inches (15.24 cm) hexagons
Turnovers Collection of fabrics, each cut into 6 inches (15.24 cm) triangles
Fat Quarters
Layer Cake
Charm pack
Mini Charm
pack
Jelly Roll
38
CHAPTER PREPARING AND CUTTING FABRIC
Common Quilt Sizes
Quilts are oen designed to be used on beds of a particular size, but that doesn’t mean your quilt needs to
match these sizes exactly to look beautiful. This table shows common mattress sizes and quilt sizes in the United
States Quilt battings come in roughly these same sizes.
Common Quilt Sizes
Size U.S. Mattress Size Quilt Sizes
King 76×80 inches (193×203 cm) 106×108 inches (270×274 cm)
Queen 60×80 inches (152×203 cm) 90×94 inches (229×239 cm)
Full 54×75 inches (137×191 cm) 82×88 inches (208×224 cm)
Twin 39×75 inches (99×191 cm) 68×86 inches (173×218 cm)
Twin X-Long 39×80 inches (99×203 cm) 68×96 inches (173×244 cm)
Lap 60×72 inches (152×183 cm)
Toddler 46×60 inches (117×152 cm)
Crib 27
1
⁄
2
×52 inches (70×132 cm) 36×48 inches (91×122 cm)
Using Precuts
With some quilt patterns, you can use precuts rather than yardage. This table provides the number of precuts
you need for quilts of various sizes. Consider substituting precuts whenever a pattern calls for cutting squares,
rectangles, or triangles of a common width, such as 2
1
⁄
2
inches (6.4 cm) or 5 inches (12.7 cm).
Approximate Number of Precuts Needed for Quilt Size
Precut Crib Quilt Lap Quilt Twin Quilt Queen Quilt King Quilt
Fat Quarters 6–8 12–18 16–21 25–33 30–45
Charm pack 2 4–7 6–10 8–11 11–13
Layer Cake
1
⁄
2
–2 1–3 1
1
⁄
2
–5 2
1
⁄
2
–6 3–7
Jelly Roll
1
⁄
2
–1 2 2 2
1
⁄
2
–3 3–3
1
⁄
2
Using Fat Quarters
If you plan to buy fabric for your quilt in Fat Quarters, you need to calculate how many pieces you can cut
from each one. The minimum number listed here assumes you are using almost the entire Fat Quarter. Look for
patterns that are marked “Fat Quarter friendly,” which means they use up most of the Fat Quarter in cutting the
required pieces.
Squares in a Fat Quarter
Size of Square (Unfinished Size) Number in One Fat Quarter
1
1
⁄
2
×1
1
⁄
2
inches (3.8×3.8 cm) 168
2
1
⁄
2
×2
1
⁄
2
inches (6.4×6.4 cm) 56
3
1
⁄
2
×3
1
⁄
2
inches (8.9×8.9 cm) 30
4
1
⁄
2
×4
1
⁄
2
inches (11.4×11.4 cm) 16
5×5 inches (12.7×12.7 cm) 12
5
1
⁄
2
×5
1
⁄
2
inches (14×14 cm) 12
6
1
⁄
2
×6
1
⁄
2
inches (16.5×16.5 cm) 6
7
1
⁄
2
×7
1
⁄
2
inches (19×19 cm) 4
8
1
⁄
2
×8
1
⁄
2
inches (21.6×21.6 cm) 4
COMMON QUILTING MEASUREMENTS
39
If you like a fabric line, consider buying several dierent precuts be-
cause patterns often use them together, such as one Charm Pack and
one Layer Cake. If you didn’t buy enough, you can alternate blocks
with solid squares, or add sashings and borders.
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