Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (not OT)

Sunny, if the fabric is 44 in. wide then the FQs will be 18X22. Many fabrics are only 40 wide- that makes the FQ 18X20. The 18 in. measurement is the half yard cut, so that shouldn't vary... but width of fabric can vary by a few inches from bolt to bolt and even one manufacturer will have several inches of variance in their different fabric widths. I wonder about patterns that assume all FQs would be 18X22???

It's safest for me- when planning a quilt and calculating the fabric requirements- to use 40 inches. If I get more I feel lucky.

I'm so sorry this has messed you up.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

You know, somehow I just doubt that everything from Moda to Kaffe Fassett to Alexander Henry all happened to have 40 inch bolts. I have, pretty insanely I know, gone in with a measuring stick and started checking out my FQs. I'm getting way more than 90 percent at 22 or within an honest 1/4 inch of it. I can't imagine why a store would, as a matter of course, cut FQs two inches or so short. It just wouldn't save -- anything really. I'm still not happy.

Sunny who seems to be in a malcontentive mood lately

but the bit you are short is not in the direction of the measured cut the 18 inch is the measured bit, then you'd cut down the fold line of the fabric. I suppose at that point they could cut a strip off - which in my mind would be fraud and it's very hard to imagine that a whole store would be cut like that, they'd get a bad reputation very fast. I don't have a good explanation for what's happened, unless there was one naughty employee who cut all the FQs and fancied making a quilt from

Anne

Well, no, you are very correct in that. At least a few of those should have varied. I'm stumped- I have nooooo idea what is going on with this. But the store *should* at least post a sign that all their FQs are trimmed to that size. A buyer needs to be aware of it for when they are planning to use a pattern such as yours. I didn't realize you had such a vast array of different fabrics.

Sorry.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

The shop isn't cutting the 22" side.

They cut the fabric off the bolt 18". Then they slit it along the fold to get the second measurement. A fat quarter is 18" by half the width of fabric.

Yes, most fabrics are now 40". It's quite rare to find them 44" and I've been seeing batiks around 39".

There is absolutely no reason for a shop to cut it 18" and then cut a 2" wide piece off the fold end. What in the world would they do with that?

I'm sorry you're not happy. It's understandable to be frustrated when the pattern doesn't work as it should. With prices rising it's hard when stores won't give an extra thread width - but those extra inches are getting harder for shops to give away cost wise.

It's ok to feel bad, but I really don't think the shop shorted you at all if your fat quarters are 18" wide.

marcella

Is it possible the FQs are die cut where some machine cuts all FQ pieces to an exact 18X20 off a long piece of each yardage or even off the bolts.... or something like that???

Leslie & The Furbabies >> You know, somehow I just doubt that everything from Moda to Kaffe

This is a real pet peeve for me. I collected FQs from various sources over time and finally decided to use them in a quilt -- with a pattern that used practically every thread of an 18x22 FQ. I wasn't far into the project when I realized it just wasn't going to work. About half of the FQs were WAY short. I chalked it up to overzealous prewashing/drying and I'd somehow shrunk them. I'll never buy another pattern that absolutely depends on having 18x22 inch FQ. My second pet peeve is coming home with yardage and finding that

Sherry

Sherry

Leslie, I'm like Sherry -- collecting an embarrassing amount of FQs. I bet I have (now don't squawk at me too much) over 100. Last summer I went nuts at that store. Spent too much money, but it was vacation. I bought 36 FQs and several pieces a yard in size. Sherry, I agree that no more patterns that call for every stitch of FQs, depending on them being 18 x 22. I didn't ever stop to consider that such a pattern might not work. I have always just depended on my FQs to be a static size. I know it doesn't make sense for a store to cut the long end of a FQ short, but that's what seems to be, whether it's just bad luck in the size of the bolt or whatever.

I'm in a foul mood the past few days. Everything feels wrong and out of sorts and out of kilter. I've been cutting down seams in tee-shirts I'm wearing because they're rubbing too much when they touch me. Nothing is right with the world right now. i suspect it's physical, but instead of feeling cowed and feeble like I usually do when things flare up, I'm angry and just not ready to be accommodating, including of fabric that doesn't fit. (LOL don't I sound like a big old baby)

Well, now I have seven FQs cut into four inch squares and 2.5 x 6 inch strips and ....... it's sort of a mess. Not even nice long strips that I can use for kid crazy quilts to give away. So I think I'll just start stitching them together and see where it goes. Hah! a long strip of fabric pieces sort of like the chains that I sometimes crochet just so I can play with a pretty yarn.

Sorry to have been such a patootie, but I'm a prickly bear and the world just isn't right these days.

Sunny

STRING Quilt comin up.You can make some pretty awesome quilts using strings. Cut into diamonds and make into a star is the first that comes to mind. Having the Center color the same on each--note --doesn't have to be the SAME fabric--just the same color-way____or use the same design (i.e. dots) for the center.or maybe the 3rd, 4th strip out....GO CRAZY

Hey, how about a Crazy Quilt? They don't have to match at all......

Or a ONE piece pattern--tumbling glasses, apple core, & pyramid all come to mind. (This is where all those unplanned for FQ's come in handy....altho, mine usually end up in I Spy's for babys and or Big girl/boy's first beds)

Don't feel bad about having an off Day or Week or Month. I just blame it on the 'crazy bod' and let it go or it would drive me whack-o.

Some days are better than others but why does the Lord send them in bunches. That is one question I plan on asking Him when I get up there.

Butterfly (Who can't blame hers on hormones any more--or can I?)

Hey Sunny - look at this as an opportunity? Redesign the pattern!!!

Musicmaker

Hi Sunny, I sympathize with your frustration. Iwould call or write them an email and let them know how disappointed your are in their product. Emphasize that the did not treat this purchase with integrity and you will not buy from them again and will tell "everyone" about it. Be polite, but firm. I hate the feeling of being gipped.

Nana2B