Le me sing the praises of the fat quarter

[MaryD]

Have fat quarters changed in the last 30 years? I'd always avoided them - the colours were wishy washy or didn't work with each other. I assumed that the quilting shop just bunged their off cuts into a bundle to get rid of them.

I'm carving up a Kansas Troubles fat quarter and having trouble with my drooling. It's so lovely! And best of all I have a selvedge to work from so my cutting seems to be far more accurate than some of the jelly rolls and layer cakes I have been using lately.

I am hooked!

[bubba]

The Kansas City line is beautiful, color and fabric quality wise. I did the BOM this past year and I have to say the quality of the fabric surpassed any I've ever used. It's just so nice!

[songbird857]

There's just somethin' bout fat quarter bundles

[wlrquilts]

Fat Quarters are my favorite pre-cuts - can do so much with them. Also you buy them individually or in bundles.

[JCY]

I love FQs. Frequently I'll cut my yardage into FQs, just because the smaller size is so much easier to handle for cutting. When buying individual FQs, I always open them, hold them up to the light, look for flaws, or wonkiness. If the FQ has been on the shelf a long time & exposed to light, sometimes there will be a faded spot on the edge of the fold. Sometimes I find FQs for only $1.00--known as "orphans," which means there is no more yardage of that fabric. Whatever was left on the bolt was cut into FQs. There are so many patterns out there designed for FQ use.

[cyndiofthevortex]

I'm afraid I must dissent in one small way. I love FQs if buying precuts, but if I'm at a shop I prefer my fabric to be cut from yardage. I like having a longer piece that can be used for a border. If buying off the bolt, I like to get 1/3 yard.

[NanceeCee]

I just bought about 80 fat quarters from a discontinued line that I love and want to use in a spectacular quilt for my bed. I haven't found the "perfect" pattern yet, something traditional and challenging. I can't get started on it for a while, but am enjoying the hunt for the right design. I generally don't buy fat quarters unless for applique or small projects. As I re-read the last line I realized that may be it!! Applique!

[MRoy]

I'm with Cyndi on this but I also have stores available that sell nice fabric for $3 -$5 a yard. The same stores sell FQs for $1 - $2. Unless it's a fabric I absolutely must have, I'd rather get 1/2 yard cuts.

I'm afraid I must dissent in one small way. I love FQs if buying precuts, but if I'm at a shop I prefer my fabric to be cut from yardage. I like having a longer piece that can be used for a border. If buying off the bolt, I like to get 1/3 yard.

[FabStripper]

I just bought these one-third cuts and some extra yardage but am on the fence about how to use all of them in one quilt.https://www.etsy.com/listing/1750063...home_active_14