Quilting Fabric Manufacturers Unite - What's It Mean To You?

And Why Are They Food Names?

I am always amazed when the quilting fabric manufacturers come up with a new name of pre-cut fabric. Seems like they all jumped on the band wagon for the these new names of pre-cut fabric bundles.

When I first started quilting I quickly learned all about fat quarters and fat eighths. I was pretty happy with them, I have made some wonderful quilts using just the fat quarters. In fact, the fabric requirements in many patterns today call for fat quarters or fat eighths.

Then the fabric charm pack hits the scene and again, great patterns abound for this pre-cut fabric.

Then the fabric manufacturers - Moda in particular, started it all with the fabric jelly rolls. Sounds so yummy. Since then we have honey buns, fabric layer cakes, turnovers and fabric towers.

So what exactly are the quilting fabric manufacturers up to? Creating food or fantastic pre-cut fabric?

Description

Fat Eighths - 1/8 of a yard. Approximately 9" inches by 22" inches.

Fabric Charm Pack - either a 4" inch or 5" inch square package of a fabric designers line. It is usually a good portion of the line and usually not many duplicates.

Fabric Jelly Rolls - 2 1/2" inch strips by the width of the fabric. Usually the entire fabric line of a designer.

Honey Bun - 1 1/2" inch strips by the width of the fabric. Usually the entire fabric line of a designer.

Fabric Layer Cakes - 10" inches square of a fabric line from a designer, not necessarily the entire line.

Turnovers - A 6" inch square cut in 1/2 to create a triangle. Can or cannot be an entire fabric line.

Fabric towers - Fat quarters folded and stacked into a tower, usually has a great representation of a fabric line.

Personally I can't wait to see what quilting fabric manufacturers come up with next. I just worry about my waistline...can you get fat reading about fattening foods? Hmmm

If you would like to check out a couple of quilting fabric manufacturers, you can check out Robert Kaufman Fabrics and Michael Miller to name a couple. You will not be able to purchase fabric on their sites, but you can find free patterns, great newsletters and all sorts of other great things. So research away and have fun.

When you find a fabric designer you like in your quilt shop, get the name and Google them - you will find all sorts of great information even if you cannot buy the fabric on their site.