Fat quarter quilt patterns
A fat quarter is 18" × 21", a quarter yard cut from a half yard so it is squarer than a quarter yard off the bolt. The counts below cut each fat quarter into strips 21" long across its width, then subcut the pieces.
16 free patterns below come out of fat quarters. For each bed size the table gives how many fat quarters the quilt takes, worked out from every piece in the cut list.
By Editorial Staff
Fat quarter patterns and how many each size takes
| Pattern | Crib | Throw | Twin | Full | Queen | King |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Log Cabin | 9 fat quarters48" × 58" | 15 fat quarters58" × 68" | 21 fat quarters68" × 88" | 32 fat quarters88" × 98" | 35 fat quarters88" × 108" | 44 fat quarters108" × 108" |
 Barn Raising Log Cabin | 14 fat quarters53" × 68" | 23 fat quarters68" × 83" | 28 fat quarters68" × 98" | 35 fat quarters83" × 98" | 49 fat quarters98" × 113" | 58 fat quarters113" × 113" |
 Straight Furrows Log Cabin | 9 fat quarters48" × 58" | 15 fat quarters58" × 68" | 21 fat quarters68" × 88" | 32 fat quarters88" × 98" | 35 fat quarters88" × 108" | 44 fat quarters108" × 108" |
 Courthouse Steps | 9 fat quarters48" × 58" | 14 fat quarters58" × 68" | 21 fat quarters68" × 88" | 32 fat quarters88" × 98" | 35 fat quarters88" × 108" | 44 fat quarters108" × 108" |
 Nine Patch | 3 fat quarters48" × 60" | 5 fat quarters60" × 72" | 7 fat quarters72" × 90" | 9 fat quarters84" × 96" | 11 fat quarters90" × 108" | 13 fat quarters108" × 108" |
 Disappearing Nine Patch | 9 fat quarters45" × 58" | 15 fat quarters58" × 71" | 23 fat quarters71" × 84" | 32 fat quarters84" × 97" | 36 fat quarters84" × 110" | 48 fat quarters110" × 110" |
 Flying Geese | 9 fat quarters46" × 62" | 14 fat quarters62" × 70" | 22 fat quarters70" × 94" | 28 fat quarters86" × 94" | 36 fat quarters94" × 110" | 43 fat quarters110" × 110" |
 Broken Dishes | 7 fat quarters48" × 64" | 11 fat quarters64" × 72" | 16 fat quarters72" × 88" | 21 fat quarters88" × 96" | 25 fat quarters88" × 112" | 33 fat quarters112" × 112" |
 Dutchman's Puzzle | 5 fat quarters48" × 58" | 8 fat quarters58" × 68" | 12 fat quarters68" × 88" | 18 fat quarters88" × 98" | 20 fat quarters88" × 108" | 25 fat quarters108" × 108" |
 Bow Tie | 6 fat quarters48" × 64" | 9 fat quarters64" × 72" | 13 fat quarters72" × 88" | 18 fat quarters88" × 96" | 21 fat quarters88" × 112" | 28 fat quarters112" × 112" |
 House | 3 fat quarters50" × 64" | 5 fat quarters64" × 78" | 6 fat quarters64" × 92" | 7 fat quarters78" × 92" | 9 fat quarters92" × 106" | 11 fat quarters106" × 106" |
 Easy Four Patch Baby | 4 fat quarters44" × 62" | 7 fat quarters62" × 74" | 10 fat quarters68" × 92" | 13 fat quarters86" × 98" | 16 fat quarters92" × 110" | 20 fat quarters110" × 110" |
 Modern Plus | 4 fat quarters44" × 62" | 7 fat quarters62" × 71" | 11 fat quarters71" × 89" | 14 fat quarters80" × 98" | 17 fat quarters89" × 107" | 21 fat quarters107" × 107" |
 Scrappy Star | 8 fat quarters48" × 64" | 12 fat quarters64" × 72" | 17 fat quarters72" × 88" | 23 fat quarters88" × 96" | 27 fat quarters88" × 112" | 35 fat quarters112" × 112" |
 Scrappy Sixteen Patch | 5 fat quarters48" × 64" | 8 fat quarters64" × 72" | 12 fat quarters72" × 88" | 16 fat quarters88" × 96" | 19 fat quarters88" × 112" | 25 fat quarters112" × 112" |
 Charm Square | 8 fat quarters44" × 62" | 14 fat quarters62" × 71" | 21 fat quarters71" × 89" | 29 fat quarters84.5" × 98" | 33 fat quarters89" × 107" | 41 fat quarters107" × 107" |
Counts are for the scrappy fabrics of each pattern. Background, sashing, borders and binding come from yardage and are listed on each pattern page.
What one fat quarter cuts into
| Pieces | From one 18" × 21" |
|---|---|
| 2½" squares | 56 |
| 4½" squares | 16 |
| 5" squares | 12 |
| 2½" × 4½" rectangles | 33 |
| 2½" × 6½" rectangles | 22 |
| 3⅞" squares, for 3" half-square triangles | 20 |
Sewing with fat quarters
- Each count is for the scrappy fabrics only: the pieces are planned onto 21" strips, and the strips are stacked into 18" of fat quarter. Background, sashing, borders and binding come from yardage and are in each pattern's fabric table.
- A fat quarter bundle is the easy way to buy a whole fabric line. If the bundle has fewer fat quarters than the pattern needs, repeat some prints rather than adding fabrics that don't go.
Other precuts: jelly roll quilt patterns, layer cake quilt patterns, charm pack quilt patterns. Sizes of every precut are on the precut sizes page, and how much material is in a fat quarter has a calculator for any piece.
Plan a quilt from the fat quarters you own
Quiltspiration draws the quilt in your own fabric and gives the cut list for any size.