If you're new to quilting, terms like fat quarters, jelly rolls, and charm packs can seem confusing. Rest assured — the names don't mean what they sound like! This guide breaks down every common precut size so you can shop with confidence and start your quilting projects faster.
What Are Precut Fabrics?
When fabric manufacturers release a new collection, they often offer the prints pre-cut and bundled together in coordinated sets. Instead of buying multiple yards of individual prints, you can buy one bundle and get a variety of coordinating fabrics ready to sew. Each bundle type is cut to a standard size, making pattern-following much easier.
As for popularity — every precut size has its fans. The best size depends on your project, not a universal ranking.
Fat Quarter
A fat quarter is a quarter-yard of fabric cut to approximately 18" × 22". It's called "fat" because it's wider and squarer than a standard quarter-yard cut (9" × 44") — both yield the same square footage, but the fat quarter's shape is far more versatile for quilting, bags, and home goods. Bundle widths vary slightly (some are 18" × 20", others 18" × 22") depending on the fabric's width-of-fabric, so check product descriptions before buying.
Fat Eighth
A fat eighth is an eighth-yard cut measuring approximately 9" × 22" — wider than a standard 4.5" × 44" eighth-yard strip. It's an affordable way to collect a wide variety of prints without committing to larger quantities. Fat eighths are ideal for scrappy projects and small accents.
Charm Pack
A charm pack is a bundle of 5" × 5" squares, typically one square from each print in a collection (though some bundles include duplicates depending on collection size). Moda Fabrics charm packs contain 42 squares. Mini charm packs use 2.5" × 2.5" squares — perfect for small projects and mini quilts. Charm packs are great for pillow covers, quilts, and patchwork.
Jelly Roll
A jelly roll is a bundle of 2.5"-wide strips cut the full width of the fabric (~44"), rolled up and tied with a ribbon. Most contain 40 strips. They're perfect for strip quilts, table runners, bindings, and bags — and because they're pre-cut, they save significant prep time.
Layer Cake
A layer cake is a bundle of 10" × 10" squares — typically 42 per bundle — coordinated by color or pattern. Layer cakes are especially popular for quilts because the larger square size works with many patterns and reduces piecing complexity.
Half-Yard Cuts
A half-yard measures 18" × the width of fabric (~44"). It's a generous cut that works well when you need more of a single print — ideal for backgrounds, borders, and feature fabrics within a larger quilt project.
Why Quilters Love Precut Fabrics
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Coordinated collections: Every print in the bundle is designed to work together
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Time-saving: No cutting required — just open and sew
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Cost-effective: Buy a variety without purchasing full yardage of each print
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Less waste: You get exactly what you need in each bundle
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Beautiful results: Color-coordinated bundles make any project look intentional and polished
Shop All Precut Fabrics at My Fabric Villa
Browse our full range of precut fabric bundles at My Fabric Villa — fat quarters, jelly rolls, layer cakes, charm packs, and more from top brands. Not sure which size is right for your project? Contact us — we're happy to help.
