Babs “So, why is it called a fat quarter? What’s so ‘fat’ about it??”
Mary “It’s all to do with the way in which the fabric is cut…. I think…..”
Until recently the term “fat quarter” was unknown to me. I wouldn’t have had a clue what you were on about if you were to bring it up in any kind of conversation, let alone a fabric one…. in fact I would probably have thought it referred to an old style sweet shop bag of sherbert pips or something.
A Fat Quarter is in fact a term used for a particular size of fabric. Traditionally, it would be a half of a half yard, but rather than cutting it lengthways, ending up as a rather narrow strip of fabric, which would limit its uses, the fabric is cut widthways making it squarer. Typically, this would mean you end up with a piece of fabric 18 ins x 22 ins (45.5 cm x 56 cm).
So in essence it is a quarter of a yard, just cut in a way to make it much more usable.
Babs “Hmm, OK. Bit rude though isn’t it? Calling it fat.”
Mary “Well you could always call it a sizeably challenged quarter, if you really like.”
Babs “No, that would just be silly!”
photo credit: Warm ‘n Fuzzy via photo pin cc
