If you’ve spent any time in quilting or fabric shops — online or in person — you’ve almost certainly come across fat quarters and fat quarter bundles. They’re one of the most popular and practical ways to purchase quilting fabric, and for good reason. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just starting out, understanding what a fat quarter is and how bundles work will help you make smarter fabric purchases and plan your projects with confidence.
What Is a Fat Quarter?
A fat quarter is a pre-cut piece of quilting fabric measuring approximately 18 inches × 22 inches (half a yard of fabric cut in half horizontally, rather than the standard quarter-yard cut of 9 inches × 44 inches). The name comes from the fact that it is a “fatter” — wider and more usable — shape than a standard quarter-yard cut off the bolt.
The fat quarter’s dimensions make it significantly more versatile than a standard quarter-yard strip for most sewing and quilting applications. The wider, more square shape allows you to cut larger blocks, yield more varied shapes, and work with printed fabric designs more effectively than a narrow strip allows.
What Is a Fat Quarter Bundle?
A fat quarter bundle is a curated collection of coordinating fat quarters — typically from the same fabric designer collection — sold together as a set. Bundles commonly contain anywhere from 5 to 40+ fat quarters, depending on the size of the fabric collection they represent.
Because the fat quarters in a bundle are selected by the fabric designer or manufacturer to work together harmoniously in terms of colour, scale, and print style, bundles take the guesswork out of fabric coordination — making them particularly popular with quilters who want a cohesive, professionally curated palette without needing to select and match individual fabrics themselves.
Fat quarter bundles are available from leading quilting fabric designers including Moda Fabrics, Riley Blake Designs, Art Gallery Fabrics, Ruby Star Society, Windham Fabrics, and many more — typically released with each new seasonal collection.
What Can You Make with a Fat Quarter Bundle?
Fat quarters are the workhorse of the quilting world, and a bundle of coordinating fat quarters opens up an enormous range of project possibilities:
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Quilts: The most popular use — fat quarter bundles provide enough fabric variety and volume to make a wide range of quilt sizes, from throw quilts to bed quilts, depending on the number of fat quarters in the bundle.
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Pillows & cushion covers: A handful of coordinating fat quarters is perfect for sewing pieced or patchwork cushion covers.
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Tote bags & zippered pouches: The 18”×22” dimensions are ideal for cutting bag panels, pockets, and exterior pieces.
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Table runners & placemats: Fat quarter bundles make beautifully coordinated table linen sets.
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Patchwork skirts & garments: Sewn together, coordinating fat quarters create unique patchwork fabric for skirts, blouses, and casual garments.
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Pot holders & oven mitts: Small, practical projects that use fat quarters efficiently.
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Baby quilts & accessories: A fat quarter bundle is often the perfect amount of fabric for a baby quilt — one of the most popular handmade baby gifts.
Advantages of Fat Quarter Bundles
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Perfectly coordinated fabrics: Bundles are curated by designers to work together beautifully — no colour-matching guesswork required.
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Variety in one purchase: A single bundle provides a wide range of prints, scales, and colour values from one collection, giving quilts visual depth and interest.
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Time-saving: Pre-cut to a consistent size, fat quarters are ready to use immediately without the need to cut from the bolt.
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Great value: Bundles are often priced more favourably per fat quarter than purchasing individual cuts, and they eliminate fabric waste by providing exactly the amounts you need.
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Ideal for beginners: The coordination is done for you, making it easy to start a project with confidence even without extensive colour theory knowledge.
Considerations When Buying a Fat Quarter Bundle
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Project planning: Before purchasing, calculate how many fat quarters your chosen pattern requires. Many quilt patterns specify the number of fat quarters needed, making it easy to match a bundle to a pattern.
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Colour palette: While bundles are curated to coordinate, review the individual fabrics in the bundle to ensure the colour palette suits your project and décor.
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Print scale variety: The best bundles for quilting include a mix of large-scale, medium-scale, and small-scale prints, as well as some near-solids or blenders — this variety creates visual interest and depth in the finished quilt.
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Pre-washing: As with all quilting cotton, pre-wash your fat quarters before cutting to account for any shrinkage.
How to Choose the Right Fat Quarter Bundle
With so many beautiful fabric collections available, choosing a bundle comes down to a few key considerations:
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Start with your project: Choose your quilt pattern first, then find a bundle that suits its style — whether that’s modern geometric, classic traditional, whimsical novelty, or elegant floral.
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Consider the colour story: Think about where the finished quilt or project will live and choose a bundle whose colours complement that space.
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Check the bundle size vs. your pattern requirements: Most fat quarter quilt patterns will specify how many fat quarters you need. Match this to the bundle count before purchasing.
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Look for designer collections: Designer fabric collections from trusted quilting brands are the most reliable source of beautifully coordinated, high-quality fat quarter bundles.
Shop Fat Quarter Bundles & Quilting Fabrics at My Fabric Villa
Explore our curated selection of premium quilting fabrics from leading designers at My Fabric Villa. Whether you’re shopping for a complete fat quarter bundle or selecting individual quilting cotton fabrics by the yard, we have everything you need to bring your next quilting project to life — with free US shipping on orders of $100 or more.
