Fat Quarters, Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Other Quilting Terms That Sound Like a Bakery Menu

One of the more confusing parts of learning to quilt is discovering that quilters apparently do their fabric shopping at a bakery.

Layer cakes.

Jelly rolls.

Honey buns.

Fat quarters.

Fat eighths.

For the longest time, I assumed somebody in the quilting industry got hungry during a marketing meeting and things just escalated from there.

As it turns out, these terms actually make sense once you understand what they are and why they exist.

So let's decode some quilting language.

First, What Is a Fabric Collection?

Before we talk about precuts, we need to talk about fabric collections, sometimes called fabric lines.

A fabric collection is a group of coordinating fabrics designed to work together.

Think of it as a family.

The designer creates multiple prints using the same color palette and theme.

You might have:

• Large floral prints

• Small floral prints

• Geometric prints

• Dots

• Stripes

• Tone-on-tone prints

• Background fabrics

All designed to coordinate beautifully.

When you see a collection displayed in a quilt shop, that's why everything seems to match so effortlessly.

Someone already did the color planning for you.

Many collections also include:

• Light fabrics

• Medium-value fabrics

• Dark fabrics

This balance helps quilters create contrast and visual interest in a quilt.

What Is a Fabric "Print"?

A print simply refers to an individual fabric design within the collection.

For example, a collection will often contain anywhere from 8-20 different prints, with most full-sized collections coming in with around 10-15 unique designs made into two or three different colorways. 

This becomes important when we start talking about precuts.

Because many precuts contain one piece from every print in the collection.

What Is a Fat Quarter?

A fat quarter is probably the most common precut in quilting.

A regular quarter-yard of fabric is cut like this:

9" × 44"

While technically a quarter yard, it's long and skinny.

A fat quarter is cut differently:

Approximately 18" × 22"

Same amount of fabric.

Different shape.

Why does this matter?

Because an 18" × 22" piece is far more useful for quilting.

You can cut larger blocks, applique shapes, bag pieces, borders, and countless other project components from a fat quarter.

This is why quilters often buy fat quarters when they love a fabric but don't necessarily need a full yard.

Or two yards.

Or five yards.

Not that anyone would do that.

What Is a Fat Eighth?

A fat eighth is exactly what it sounds like.

It's half of a fat quarter.

Approximately:

9" × 22"

Many fabric collections are now available as fat eighth bundles.

These are wonderful when:

• You want a lot of variety

• You're making scrappy quilts

• You don't need large pieces

• You have limited storage space

Although if you're a quilter, "limited storage space" eventually becomes a relative term.

What Is a Layer Cake?

A layer cake consists of pre-cut squares.

Most commonly:

10" × 10"

A typical layer cake contains one or more squares from each print in a fabric collection.

Often around 42 squares.

The beauty of a layer cake is convenience.

No cutting.

No measuring.

No wondering if your square is actually square.

You simply open the package and start sewing.

Many quilt patterns are specifically designed around layer cakes.

What Is a Jelly Roll?

A jelly roll contains pre-cut strips (40-42).

Most commonly:

2½" × Width of Fabric

(Width of fabric is usually about 42-44 inches.)

Like layer cakes, jelly rolls often include one or more strips from every print in a collection.

Jelly rolls are popular because strips are incredibly versatile.

You can use them for:

• Strip quilts

• Log cabin blocks

• Borders

• Binding

• Rail fence quilts

• Bargello quilts

They're also a wonderful way to enjoy an entire collection without purchasing yards of every print.

What Is a Honey Bun?

A honey bun is essentially a narrower jelly roll.

The strips are:

1½" wide

Instead of 2½" wide.

has 40-42 stips per roll.

Honey buns are perfect for:

• Small piecing

• Borders

• Table runners

• Decorative projects

• Mini quilts

They're less common than jelly rolls but incredibly useful for certain projects.

Other Common Precuts

You may also encounter:

Charm Packs

Contain 42 pre-cut squares that are:

5" × 5"

Like most precuts, charm packs typically contain one square from each print in a fabric collection.

Charm packs are incredibly popular because they're affordable, easy to store, and work beautifully for many quilt patterns.

They're often a beginner's first introduction to precuts because they offer a lot of variety without requiring a large investment.

Charm packs are commonly used for:

• Baby quilts

• Lap quilts

• Table runners

• Tote bags

• Scrappy projects

• Quilt blocks that feature many different fabrics

If you've ever admired a quilt that seems to contain dozens of coordinating fabrics, there's a good chance a charm pack was involved somewhere along the way.

Mini Charm Packs

Contain 42 tiny squares that measure 2½" × 2½"

They're essentially the quilting equivalent of snack-sized candy.

Small. Cute. Difficult to stop collecting.

Mini charms are wonderful for:

• Doll quilts

• Mug rugs

• Small wall hangings

• Decorative accents

• Tiny patchwork projects

They can also be combined to create larger blocks and more complex designs.

Just know that the smaller the pieces become, the more important accuracy becomes.Some quilters absolutely love tiny piecing.Others discover very quickly that their happiness lives somewhere north of a 5-inch square.Both positions are completely reasonable.

Dessert Rolls

Typically twenty (20) 5" strips

Not as common but occasionally available.

Because apparently we hadn't exhausted the bakery theme yet.

Let's Talk About Panels

Many fabric collections also include a panel.

A panel is a large printed piece of fabric designed as a focal point.

Instead of repeating prints across the fabric, the panel contains specific images or scenes.

Examples include:

• Christmas scenes

• Farm animals

• Children's themes

• Wildlife

• Patriotic designs

• Vintage trucks

• Seasonal artwork

Some panels contain a single large image.

Others contain multiple smaller blocks that can be cut apart.

Panels are fantastic for:

• Baby quilts

• Children's quilts

• Wall hangings

• Quick gifts

• Table toppers

• Pillows

• Tote bags

They're also wonderful when you need a project finished before next Christmas rather than the Christmas three years from now.

Why Quilters Love Precuts

The biggest advantage is simple:

The work is already done.

The manufacturer has:

• Coordinated the colors

• Cut the pieces

• Packaged the collection

This allows quilters to focus on designing and sewing.

Precuts are particularly helpful for beginners because they remove much of the stress involved in selecting coordinating fabrics.

You can purchase an entire collection in one bundle and know everything will work together.

My Advice for Beginners

If you're standing in a quilt shop looking completely overwhelmed, start with a precut bundle.

Pick a collection that makes you smile.

Don't overthink it.

A layer cake, jelly roll, charm pack, or fat quarter bundle is a wonderful way to learn color, fabric coordination, and quilt construction.

Before long, you'll find yourself saying things like:

"I only went in for one fat quarter."

And every experienced quilter within earshot will immediately know that's not how the story ended.

In future posts we'll dive deeper into how to choose fabrics that work well together, how to understand color value in quilts, and why some quilts seem to glow while others fall a little flat.

Spoiler alert: it's usually not the fabric's fault.

~Chris

Quick Reference Guide

Precut Size

Fat Eighth 9" × 22"

Fat Quarter 18" × 22"

Mini Charm 2½" × 2½"

Charm Pack 5" × 5"

Layer Cake 10" × 10"

Jelly Roll 2½" × Width of Fabric

Honey Bun1½" × Width of Fabric

~Chris