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What are Pre Cuts ~ How to Use Them

Pre cuts are a stack of fabric, usually from one line cut to a specific size. The most popular include; fat quarter bundles, layer cakes, charm squares and jellyrolls. Perfect when you want to spend less time cutting and more time sewing up your next project.

Pre cut friendly patterns are readily available. So you won’t want for options when it comes to using these pretty packs. Let’s explore some options.

Fat Quarters

First fat quarter bundles contain a group of 18″ x 21″ cuts of fabric. This gives you a quarter yard that is wider allowing for more cutting options than a traditional 1/4 yard cut of fabric. Fat Quarter Shop has several FREE fat quarter friendly patterns. As well as many great fat quarter bundles to chose from. My fat quarter friendly quilt patterns can be found here.

Layer Cakes

Next, layer cakes are 10″ squares. Each bundle has about 42 squares. Depending on the line will determine how many duplicates you will receive. I like that you can get a scrappy feel for your quilt and you will only need one bundle to do so. I have a good collection of these. If you are looking to add a few to your collection. You may want to try Connecting Threads. If you are looking for patterns, check out this collection of books. I did a post a while ago on layer cake patterns. There you will find a few free patterns.

A Bushel & A Peck

Charms

Charm packs are like a mini layer cake. They are 5″ squares. In most cases you will need multiple charm packs to create a quilt. The great thing about this is you can add more variety to your quilt this way. And you know I love me some variety in my quilts. My free Simply Charming quilt pattern is a quick and easy make. Find it and other charm quilt patterns on this post.

Jellyrolls

Jellyrolls are 2 1/2″ strips. In addition to strip style quilts, I like to use these with my flying geese ruler. That way I can create squares, rectangles, half square triangles and quarter square triangles all from the same strip. And they fit together oh so nicely together.

Linked

Less common pre cuts include, honey buns (1 1/2″ strips) mini charms (2 1/2″ squares) and fat eighths. Have fun collecting and sew all these pre cut bundles.

Less common

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