Fat quarters, fat quarters - oh what do you do with your fat quarters?

[homesteadmamma]

Okay ladies, so many of you have got fat quarters - what do you do with them now?

- Do you hide them from dh?
- Do you tell dh/so how many you have?
- Do you fondle them?
- Do you drool over them?
- Do you have them all lined up in rows?
- Do you wash them right away?
- Do you cut them when needing material?

Tell us about your fat quarters!!!

[mylittle4]

I set and think about what other ones I can go get.

[Michelle]

I drool over mine. I don't know why, but I like to just look at them most of all LOL...I don't wash them until I need them, but I do sort them by color

CJ, tell us about *your* fat quarters

[mom2matty]

I am a newbie in the world of fat quarters and I keep mine where I can see them!!!!!! My dh and dks know that they are not allowed to touch, I have radar and can tell when they are near them and if they touch them!

[heaven]

I would love to drool over some of these fat quarters i have but i don't think the next one on the train would like my drool on their quarters. LOL so i have refrained from doing so. I do wonder what they will look when they are together. I dream over these though. I hear them telling me they need friends they are so lonely all by themselves. poor things. hear them.

[homesteadmamma]

Chelle - here is my story.

- dh never knows how many I have.
- I've hid them often.
- I never wash mine either until I'm ready to use them.
- They call my name at every corner and I've been known to make dh come to a screeching halt in the vehicle when I see a quilting shop.
- I have mine color co-ordinated in my sewing room.
- I use mine for almost every quilt I make.
- it doesn't matter the cost, if I like I get!!!
- I've trained dd to have an eye for them too and she often beats me to the "last" one in the bunch at the store.
- I drool over them.
- I fondle them.
- I've often thought of members who might like the one I've just picked. Funny who comes to mind when I see a particular one.
- I dream of fat quarter trains and wake up thinking about where it is.

Okay, thats my story about fat quarters. Now don't anyone dare ask how many I have, because I'm not telling!!!

[MJsLady]

I have....7 I am new to this obssesion. I just hold them and look at them. DH knows about them and has seen them, was with me when I bought 2 of them.

[mrscornbread]

I went to Joanns and wasn't sure which ones to get. How does one know when making a quilt. I want to start on that January tutorial and I have no idea if I will ned 10 of each kind, one of each kind etc. I want to drool over some too, but not sure what to get HELP!!!

[heaven]

mine are safely put away also so that they can't get dirty!!!! god forbid if that happens. I spent alot *i thought* on them but i know who they are going to and i thought that she would like them and that she totally deserved what i found. There was one more i almost bought for her. but i was good and kept it at 5. NOW i am going to go buy me some. Probably not just like them but oh they had so many pretty ones.

[captclearance]

I want to feel Fat Quarter Lust too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
I just don't know what the difference is in the FQ and bolt fabric except the size , what is the advantage (besides them being so LUSTY) .........I know I am unworthy.....teach me, make me worthy !!!!!!!!!!

[homesteadmamma]

Okay for everyone doing the tutorial.

If you have 10 fat quarters, you'll have enough to make the blocks. The sashing and backing for the quilt can be purchased later.

Here is the suggestion for colors:

- Get 5 light and 5 dark
- Have them contrasting each other. So if you pick a light blue one, you'll probably want to have a dark blue to contrast or another color that would contrast with the light blue. Or if you find a dark blue one you really like, then pick one that contrasts with that.

Always remember that colors in quilts are amazing things. You'll think it doesn't go together, but once in a quilt, you'll find out it does.

- Purchase 1 yellow fat quarter (it doesn't matter if its solid or has a print). I'm not telling you why right now.


Lori - in regards to fat quarters and bolts. Fat quarters are so much fun to have and most of my quilts are made from fat quarters. First, I can't afford to purchase a bolt of material. If I find a piece of material I really like, I purchase 2 metres, no less/no more and I always do that because when I go back to get some, its gone!!! Also if you purchase only a couple of bolts of material, (for me anyways) I would get awfully bored with the color.

With fat quarters, you have much more of a variety to use in quilting. Thats what I love about them. I love scrappy quilts and I LOVE color, so I really like to put lots of different colors in my quilts. If you look at the 3 that I've posted in quilting, you'll see lots of color.

When I purchase 2 metres, I often don't even know what I'm going to use it for (in which quilt). I purchase it only because I know someday I will. I'm glad I've done that because now with finances as they are, I don't have to give up my quilting. I have lots. But I always come out of quilting stores with no less than 10 fat quarters per visit!!! Again, I'm glad I've done that because I have lots and lots and lots of fat quarters to use.

So Lori - here are my instructions for you!!!!! Go and get some fat quarters.

[captclearance]

I can buy fat quarters for about $1.69 each and get 100% cotton the bolt for $1.00 a yard at Walmart.......

[mylittle4]

Lori, last week Joann's had 100% cotton calico for $ .99/yd so I purchased 1/2 of a yd of the ones I like and came home and cut in on the fold then trimmed the sides with my rotary cutter to make it 18"x22". Walah (sp?) I had 2 FQ for $ .50. Instead of $1.29. At Joann's you can buy the exact same material on the bolt as a FQ, but it is normally $2.99. You would still save because when you buy of the bolt it is doubled.

[homesteadmamma]

Lori, thats what is so neat about quilting. Each quilter can pick and choose what types of material to purchase, whether they want to get it in bolts, yards, metres or fat quarters. They can also decide where they want to get their material/fat quarters from.

For me, I purchase ALL my material from quilting shops. Thats MY preferance and my preferance is to have tons of fat quarters. I do have lots and lots of material also, but I find I go more and more to my fat quarters.

Again though, its up to each quilters preferance. Its exactly the same when it comes to hand quilting or machine quilting. Each quilter does it different. The same when it comes to patterns, each quilter likes different ones. The same when it comes to applique, hand quilting your whole quilt or using your machine. We all have different preferances and thats what makes the quilting world such a diverse hobby.

Heck, there are many quilters who use old clothes to make wonderful and beautiful quilts. For me, I'm not into taking clothes apart to make quilts BUT that may change in the years to come. I've recently purchased some aprons with stunning material and I've looked at them and thought, hmmmmmmm now that would make good quilting material. I haven't cut them up yet because I LOVE aprons, but I just might do one or two.

So its up to you what you feel most comfortable with, what your budget can afford and what you like the best in material.

Does that help?

btw - when it comes to quilting for me, frugality seems to go out the window. I cut back in other areas in order to be able to purchase the best because I spend hours and hours quilting. As our finances have come to a screeching halt with no employment, that may have to change, but for now I have so much material in my sewing room, I won't have to worry about that until another 10 years or so.

[mylittle4]

Now that's what I would drool over a sewing room. In 9 years the first kid leaves home. HMMMMMM