Precuts to Yardage -- Yardage to Precuts

You have precuts, but the pattern you want to use lists yardage in the materials list. Or maybe you have yardage and the materials list is written for precuts. Just remember these equivalents.

One fat quarter (18" x 21") contains the same amount of usable fabric as 1/4 yard (9" by fabric width).

One fat eighth (9" x 21") contains the same amount of usable fabric as 1/8 yard (4 1/2" by fabric width).

Remember that 5" and 10" square and 2 1/2" by fabric width bundles are all composed of a wide variety of complimentary fabrics. In order to have a similar variety when using yardage, you will need to divide the total yardage among several fabrics.

5" Squares

You can cut eight 5" squares from one 5" by fabric width strip. To figure yardage, divide the number of 5" squares required by 8, multiply by 5" and divide by 36". To figure how many 5" squares you can cut from a yardage amount, divide the yardage by 5" and multiply by 8.

10" Squares

You can cut four 10" squares from one 10" by fabric width strip. To figure yardage, divide the number of 10" squares required by 4, multiply by 10" and divide by 36". To figure how many 10" squares you can cut from a yardage amount, divide the yardage by 10" and multiply by 4.

2 1/2" by Fabric Width Strips

You can cut one 2 1/2" by fabric width strip from 1/8 yard. Decide how many different fabrics you will be using, multiply the number of strips you will be cutting from each fabric by 21/2", and then round up to the nearest yardage amount. If you need 20 strips and have decided to use 20 different fabrics you will need 1/8 yard of each. If you decide that you only want to use five fabrics, you will need to cut four strips (a total of 10" by fabric width) from each fabric and will need at least 3/8 yard of each fabric.

If you have yardage and want to know how many 2 1/2" by fabric width strips you can cut from that amount, divide the total yardage inches by 2 1/2". To find the number of strips you can cut from 1/2 yard, divide 18" by 2 1/2". You can cut seven strips from 1/2 yard.