Size of a Fat Eighth

A fat eighth usually is half the width of a fat quarter, i.e. 9" x 10 or 11 " depending on how wide the original fabric was.

Betty in CT

a fat eight is 1/8th yard cut in half at the fold so the long edge is the salvage edge.

-- Kathy in CA Quilting Stuff:

It's half of a fat quarter, but there isn't a standard as to which way you cut the FQ in half. (Okay, well, diagonally would probably be non-standard!)

Since a FQ is generally supposed to be 18" x 22", a FE could be 18" x 11" or

9" x 22".

Hope that helps!

A fat quarter is 18 X about 22. A skinny quarter would be 9 x 44. (36/4 =

9). Imagine the yardage opened up so that one side is 36 inches (one yard) measured along the salvage, and the measurement in the other direction is about 44 inches. (The fabric width) To get a "fat" quarter, you cut your piece of yardage in half from salvage to salvage at the 18" point, and then cut the resulting piece in half going the other direction at the 22 inch point. The resulting piece is one quarter of the whole.

A fat eight is a little different, because it is one half of a fat quarter. It is not 9 X 11, although this is a common misconception. 9 X 11 is one quarter of a fat quarter, and is therefore a fat sixteenth. A fat eight is either 9 x 22, or 11 x 18, depending on whether you cut the fat quarter apart at the 9 mark of the 18 inch side, or at the 11 mark of the 22 inch side. (Notice that both 9 x 22, and 11 x 18 will give you 198 sq inches, which is one eighth of the total area of the yardage, which is 1584.) A skinny eight, of course, would be 4.5" X 44 inches. (36/8 + 4.5). It will be easier to understand the numbers if you draw out a simple sketch.

Becky

Are you sure? Your figures have halved both the width AND the length. Surely it should be 9" x 22" or 18" x 11" ?

earthmagic in oz

If a fat quarter is a half yard cut in half at the fold, making 2 fat quarters (18" by 20-22.5") then a fat eighth is a quarter of a yard cut in half at the fold, making 2 fat eighths (9" by 20-22.5").

If I purchased a "fat eighth" at a quilt shop and it wasn't roughly 9"x20", I would not be happy (unless it was larger, of course! )

-- Teresa > > Can anyone tell me the size of a Fat Eighth? Also, does the longer

I've wondered the same thing. I assume it is an FQ cut in half--but which way?

Howdy! Depending on the quilter, cutter, or quilt shop, well, it depends. I say that the word "Fat" is operative, and the surgery should be done so the piece is a FAT eighth,

18"x11". 9"x22" is long and skinny. Not fat. Often there is no selvedge on a Fat Eighth. If I'm swapping, I don't include that selvedge in the measurement. Ragmop/Sandy

Hmm, you got me thinking... so I checked out various websites. From

Answer: Easy .... half of a fat quarter... (9" X 22") From If you cut a half-yard of fabric (18" x 42") in half along the fold, you end up with two pieces, each 18" x 21. Voila! A Fat Quarter! And if you cut one of these fat quarters in half again, you have a piece 18" x 10 1/2" -- a Fat Eighth! From We cut horizontal fat eighths which are approximately 9-12" x 18" with the long side parallel to the selvedge. The exact size of the short side depends on the original width of the fabric, i.e., 38" wide up to 45" wide. And, finally, a page from Australia, that has a picture! So, the determining factor seems to be whether you START the 'surgery' with a half-yard or a quarter. If you start with a quarter yard, you will get the 'skinnier' fat eighth, with the longer edge perpendicular to the selvedge. If you start with a half-yard, you will end up with a 'fatter' eighth -- 18 inches long and anywhere from 9-10 1/2 wide depending on the width of the fabric, with the longer side parallel to the selvedge.

Howdy! If that works for you, Lisa, go with it. For me, fat is fat and skinny is skinny. As I said, it depends on who's doing the cutting. Many of the quilt shops are going along w/ an industry standard and cutting skinny eighths and calling them "fat." I tend to be more literal; as I don't reference any of the sources you cite, I'll stick w/ my preference for fat fats. ;-D As long as it's fabric, es no importa. It's just fabric. Ragmop/Sandy-- "It's just quilting"--M.E. Hopkins

Not very fat, is it?