Fabric is sold in many different cut sizes, so what are they and how much do I actually get? You could be forgiven for thinking that fabric has a weight problem – there seems to be a fat everything. And what about different widths, minimum cuts, yards vs. metres and all the rest?

Fat sizes
Whether it’s a fat quarter, eighth, or 16th, the principle is the same. A fat quarter is half a metre cut in half along the length, so it measures 50cm by half the fabric width – about 56cm in most cases. In the same way, a fat eighth is 25cm, and a fat 16th is 12.5cm by half the fabric width. These fat pieces have obvious advantages, and also limitations – don’t buy them for cutting long border strips for example. Working in imperial measurements, a fat quarter is 18in long, a fat eighth is 9in long and a fat 16th is 4 1/2in long – and all of them are a little less than their metric counterparts.

Simply charming
Charm squares are pre-cut pieces of multiple fabrics – great for getting a rich, scrappy palette of colours without buying a huge stash. Sometimes you can choose a particular style or colour, such
as country plaids or pink prints. Typical sizes may include 2in, 4in, 5in, 6in, 8in and 10in squares, but be aware that they may not be exactly accurate or perfectly on grain so buy them a little larger than you require. If you want to prewash them, put them in a laundry bag so they don’t get lost or fray too much.

At the minimum
The smallest amount or increment you can buy varies between stores and even between fabrics in one store – discounted materials might have a minimum cut of 20-30cm. Likewise, fabrics in the upper price ranges may be available in 10cm increments, rather than the more typical 20cm. While it is annoying to have to buy extra fabric in some cases, it can be false economy to buy exactly what you think you need. This could just be the fabric that shrinks more than usual, or that is cut slightly off-grain and needs to be straightened before use, losing a few vital centimetres.