Precut Fabric Reference
Quick reference for precut fabric bundles and calculate exactly how many packs you need for your quilt project.
Precut Fabric Reference
Quick reference for precut bundles and pack calculator
Charm Pack
Pre-cut 5" squares from a coordinated fabric collection, perfect for quick charm square quilts
Mini Charm Pack
Tiny 2.5" squares, perfect for miniature quilts and detailed scrappy projects
Jelly Roll
Width-of-fabric 2.5" strips rolled up, ideal for strip piecing and rail fence quilts
Layer Cake
Large 10" squares stacked like a layer cake, perfect for quick large-block quilts
Fat Quarter
Quarter yard cut width-wise instead of lengthwise, more versatile than regular 1/4 yard
Fat Eighth
Half of a fat quarter, great for small projects and appliqué pieces
Honey Bun
Narrow 1.5" strips perfect for miniature projects and narrow borders
Turnover / Triangle
Pre-cut half-square triangles from 6" squares, saves cutting time
10" Stacker
Same as Layer Cake - 10" squares from coordinated collection
| Precut Name | Size | Count | Yardage ≈ | Typical Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charm Pack | 5" × 5" | 42 | 0.73 yd | $10-15 | Pre-cut 5" squares from a coordinated fabric collection, perfect for quick charm square quilts |
| Mini Charm Pack | 2.5" × 2.5" | 42 | 0.18 yd | $6-10 | Tiny 2.5" squares, perfect for miniature quilts and detailed scrappy projects |
| Jelly Roll | 2.5" × 42" | 40 | 2.92 yd | $40-50 | Width-of-fabric 2.5" strips rolled up, ideal for strip piecing and rail fence quilts |
| Layer Cake | 10" × 10" | 42 | 2.92 yd | $40-50 | Large 10" squares stacked like a layer cake, perfect for quick large-block quilts |
| Fat Quarter | 18" × 21" | 1 | 0.25 yd | $3-6 | Quarter yard cut width-wise instead of lengthwise, more versatile than regular 1/4 yard |
| Fat Eighth | 9" × 21" | 1 | 0.125 yd | $2-4 | Half of a fat quarter, great for small projects and appliqué pieces |
| Honey Bun | 1.5" × 42" | 40 | 1.75 yd | $25-35 | Narrow 1.5" strips perfect for miniature projects and narrow borders |
| Turnover / Triangle | 6" × 6" triangle | 40 | 0.5 yd | $12-18 | Pre-cut half-square triangles from 6" squares, saves cutting time |
| 10" Stacker | 10" × 10" | 42 | 2.92 yd | $40-50 | Same as Layer Cake - 10" squares from coordinated collection |
About Precut Fabrics
What are Precuts? Precut fabrics are collections of fabric pieces cut to specific sizes by the manufacturer. They typically feature coordinated prints from a single fabric line, making it easy to create beautiful quilts without choosing individual fabrics.
Why Use Precuts? Save time on cutting, enjoy pre-coordinated color palettes, sample new fabric lines affordably, and start sewing immediately. Perfect for scrappy quilts and quick projects.
Cost Consideration: Precuts typically cost more per yard than buying full yardage, but they offer convenience, variety, and time savings. Our calculator helps you compare costs.
Click any precut name in the table above to automatically use it in the Pack Calculator.
Complete Guide to Quilting Precuts
What Are Precut Fabrics?
Precut fabrics are collections of fabric pieces that have been cut by the manufacturer into specific sizes and packaged as bundles. They typically feature coordinated prints from a single fabric collection or designer line, making it incredibly easy to create beautiful, harmonious quilts without the challenge of selecting individual fabrics that work well together.
Instead of buying yards of fabric and spending hours cutting pieces, you can open a precut bundle and start sewing immediately. Each type of precut (charm packs, jelly rolls, layer cakes, etc.) is designed for specific quilting techniques and project types, offering convenience and inspiration in one package.
Popular Types of Precut Bundles
Charm Pack (5" squares)
42 coordinating 5"×5" squares, perfect for I Spy quilts, postage stamp patterns, and quick baby quilts. One of the most popular and versatile precuts.
≈ 0.73 yards | $10-15 per pack
Jelly Roll (2.5" strips)
40 strips measuring 2.5" × 42" (width of fabric), rolled up like a jelly roll. Ideal for strip piecing, rail fence quilts, and bargello patterns.
≈ 2.92 yards | $40-50 per roll
Layer Cake (10" squares)
42 large 10"×10" squares stacked like a layer cake. Perfect for quick large-block quilts, modern designs, and projects where you want big impact fast.
≈ 2.92 yards | $40-50 per stack
Fat Quarter (18" × 21")
A quarter yard cut width-wise instead of lengthwise, giving you more usable dimensions. More versatile than a regular quarter yard for blocks and appliqué.
0.25 yards | $3-6 each
Mini Charm Pack (2.5" squares)
42 tiny 2.5"×2.5" squares, perfect for miniature quilts, detailed postage stamp patterns, and doll-sized projects.
≈ 0.18 yards | $6-10 per pack
Honey Bun (1.5" strips)
40 narrow 1.5" × 42" strips, ideal for miniature projects, narrow borders, and string quilts. The little sister to a Jelly Roll.
≈ 1.75 yards | $25-35 per bundle
Advantages of Using Precut Fabrics
Convenience & Time Savings:
- No cutting required - start sewing immediately
- Save hours of rotary cutting and measuring
- Perfect for quick weekend projects
- Ideal for classes and retreats (less to pack)
Design & Variety:
- Pre-coordinated color palettes by professional designers
- Sample entire fabric collections affordably
- Perfect variety for scrappy quilts (40+ different prints)
- Eliminates decision fatigue when choosing fabrics
Cost Analysis: Precuts vs. Yardage
Understanding the cost trade-offs helps you make informed decisions for your quilting budget:
The Premium: Precuts typically cost 20-40% more per square inch than buying full yardage. For example, a Charm Pack costs about $12 for 0.73 yards equivalent, while buying 0.73 yards of fabric costs around $7-8.
The Value: You're paying for variety (42 different coordinated prints), convenience (no cutting time), and inspiration (pre-designed collections). For many quilters, this premium is worth it.
When Precuts Make Financial Sense:
- Scrappy quilts where you need many different prints
- Small projects where buying full yards would leave too much waste
- Testing a new fabric line before committing to yardage
- When your time is valuable and cutting time matters
When Yardage Makes More Sense:
- Large quilts requiring significant fabric
- Projects using just 2-5 fabrics (not scrappy)
- When you need larger pieces than precuts offer
- Background/border fabric (usually better by the yard)
Understanding Pattern Requirements
Many quilt patterns now specify whether they're "precut friendly" and which type of precut they require:
"Charm Pack Friendly"
The pattern is designed around 5" squares. You may need 1-3 Charm Packs depending on quilt size, plus additional yardage for sashing, borders, and backing.
"Jelly Roll Quilt"
Designed specifically for 2.5" strips. Often requires 1-2 Jelly Rolls. These patterns typically use strip piecing techniques for quick assembly.
"Layer Cake Quilt"
Built around 10" squares. Usually requires 1 Layer Cake for a lap quilt, 2 for a twin, plus yardage for borders/backing. Fast to make with dramatic results.
Important: Not all patterns work well with precuts. Patterns requiring large pieces, fussy cutting, or directional prints are better suited to yardage. Always check pattern requirements before purchasing.
How to Use the Pack Calculator
- Select your precut type from the dropdown or click any precut in the Reference Table
- Enter your quilt dimensions - use presets or enter custom measurements
- Set your block size if working with blocks (5" for charm squares, 10" for layer cakes, etc.)
- Adjust the waste factor - 10% for simple designs, 15-25% for complex patterns
- Review the results - see how many packs you need and cost comparison with yardage
Pro Tip: The calculator shows both the number of packs needed and a cost comparison with buying yardage. Use this to make informed decisions about your fabric purchases. Remember that precuts offer variety and convenience that pure yardage doesn't provide.
Smart Shopping Tips for Precuts
- Buy extras when possible: Fabric collections are discontinued regularly. Buy an extra pack if your budget allows
- Watch for sales: Many shops discount precuts 20-30% during sales events
- Mix and match: Combine precuts from the same designer or color family for larger projects
- Check piece counts: Not all manufacturers include the same count (some packs have 40 pieces, others 42)
- Inspect duplicates: Some precuts include 2 of each print, others have unique prints - check if this matters for your project
- Consider fabric weight: Precuts are great for sampling fabric lines before buying yardage for a big project
- Join bundles: Some fabric clubs and subscriptions send curated precut bundles monthly at good prices
- Storage: Keep precuts in their original packaging or clear containers labeled with collection name and purchase date
Popular Precut Project Ideas
For Charm Packs:
I Spy quilts (perfect for kids), disappearing nine-patch, simple checkerboard baby quilts, postage stamp quilts, table runners, mug rugs, and pillow covers.
For Jelly Rolls:
Rail fence quilts, bargello patterns, strip quilts, coin quilts, log cabin variations, braided quilts, and chevron patterns. Perfect for beginners learning strip piecing.
For Layer Cakes:
Quick lap quilts, modern patchwork, disappearing blocks, cut-and-shuffle designs, big block quilts, and speedy baby quilts. Great for instant gratification projects.
For Fat Quarters:
Appliqué projects, small block sampler quilts, scrappy binding, large-scale blocks, bag making, and any project requiring medium-sized pieces. Most versatile precut option.
Common Precut Mistakes to Avoid
- Not checking pattern requirements: Verify the pattern is actually precut-friendly before purchasing
- Forgetting additional yardage: Precut packs rarely include enough for borders, sashing, and backing - plan accordingly
- Ignoring seam allowances: That 5" charm square becomes 4.5" after seaming - account for this in block design
- Mixing fabric widths: Not all precuts are cut from 44" fabric - some may be narrower, affecting strip piecing calculations
- Not ordering enough: Running short on a discontinued collection is frustrating - buy extras if possible
- Skipping pre-washing: If you pre-wash fabric, be aware that precuts may fray and distort - many quilters don't pre-wash precuts
- Assuming all packs are identical: Piece counts and print distribution can vary between manufacturers
- Overlooking selvage edges: Some precuts (especially Jelly Rolls) include selvage edges - trim these before sewing