I wanted to make another stack and slash quilt so I pulled out a stack of batik fat quarters. I rarely buy them. I was quilting for over 20 years when they were invented and I prefer full width fabrics to work with. What I have found out is that not all fat quarters are equal. Some are scissor cut very sloppily down the fold line and barely measure 21" wide. Others are torn, some are cut very neatly with a rotary cutter. I had to alter my cutting measurements slightly to get the pieces I needed from the fat quarters. I have 17 blocks sewn and now will go to my full width yardage shelves for the rest of the fabrics that I need.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Fat quarters.............
I wanted to make another stack and slash quilt so I pulled out a stack of batik fat quarters. I rarely buy them. I was quilting for over 20 years when they were invented and I prefer full width fabrics to work with. What I have found out is that not all fat quarters are equal. Some are scissor cut very sloppily down the fold line and barely measure 21" wide. Others are torn, some are cut very neatly with a rotary cutter. I had to alter my cutting measurements slightly to get the pieces I needed from the fat quarters. I have 17 blocks sewn and now will go to my full width yardage shelves for the rest of the fabrics that I need.
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14 comments:
I can tell already this is going to be beautiful! And I agree that all fat quarters are not created equally.
Although batik quilts don't 'go' in my house decorating scheme-I love them!
I find the inconsistency's of FQ sizes really annoying...although I do buy them I'm finding in the last few years I buy yardage more and more.
Waqnda, The other issue is the width of the fabric. Some is 40 inches all the way up to 45 inches. The blanks they print them on varies. Cutting can be an issue with any fabric anymore. Chris
So true. When I stack and whack, I always cut them the same size first. (and some have selvages and some don't)
I have also had precut strips and squares that were not cut straight..that is really annoying.
The variation in sizes is really annoying, especially for those patterns that use up the entire fat quarter.
We all need to be happy that we have NEW fabric to work with.
yes when buying fat quarters you learn quickly that they are not created equally. I do buy them as I do so many scrappy quilts that I like smaller pieces so I can have a large variety of color without a lot of left over pieces.
Karen
Lovely fabrics. I agree with you about the inconsistency of fat quarters; I only buy them from two places if they really need to be accurate.
I will be watching how you "slash" on these blocks. I don't buy many fat quarters anymore, for the above mentioned reasons. I tend to make them, however, out of the leftovers of full fabric pieces. I have two large dresser drawers of "fat quarter" pieces.
Amen and Amen . . . I prefer yardage now, too (FQs were a way to get started, but they do cause size issues when cutting).
I know what you mean, but it is still a convenient size for lots of things. And I have every confidence that you will turn all your beginnings into yet another beautiful quilt! Can't wait to see the progress.
That blue block you showed us today is so bluetiful ! You know I love blue.
J~MT
I have only bought fat quarters once, from the local Big Box Craft Store, and their sizes were not all the same!
Now I'm curious about how this project will grow...
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