ADHD Quilter’s Guide: Part 1 - Pre-Cuts

Hello and welcome! My name is Christine and you’ve probably seen me at Sew With Vision or around town as Kip and Beans Quilts and Crafts. If we’ve had a chat, you probably know I have ADHD and chronic migraines, which often leads to the question: how do I do… this? And the answer is time, learning from more experienced quilters, mistakes, and support. Which is why we’re here, so I can give you the benefit of my experience and mistakes. Over 20 years, I’ve made a few, and will likely make more. But it’s ok. It’s just fabric, my friends. So, let's dig into my first topic:  Pre-Cuts!

Let it be known - I LOVE a pre-cut. Pre-cuts are fabrics from collections that have either been cut by the supplier or store to set sizes and are available for purchase. The most common are Charm Packs, Layer Cakes, Jelly Rolls, and Fat Quarters, though Mini Charms are gaining popularity. Fat Eighths were once very popular, but they’re becoming harder to find. Let’s go through these and some of their common uses.

Charm Packs, Layer Cakes, Jelly Rolls, and Mini Charms are all packaged by the supplier to set sizes and quantities. Each of these terms are actually trademarked, but have become like Kleenex or Band-Aid, so are used by pattern designers and quilt shops as a shorthand. Usually Charms, Layers, and Mini Charms will include 42 pieces, while Jelly Rolls will include 40, but verify any of your pre-cuts by looking at the packaging to confirm.

Charms, Layers, Mini Charms, and Jelly Rolls are all designed to give a quilter or sewist a sampling of a specific collection or a means of boosting their stash. Charms are 5" squares and give a great cohesive selection from a collection, and usually include blenders. Layer Cakes and Mini Charms usually include all the same fabrics as the Charm Packs but in different sizes. Mini Charms are 2.5” squares and Layer Cakes are 10” squares. Jelly Rolls are a bit different. They are 40 2.5” x WoF (width-of-fabric) strips, but again a cohesive selection of fabrics from a collection.

Fat Quarters and Fat Eighths can be cut from the supplier and organized into collections, or they can be cut at shop level. This can get a little bit confusing for Canadians. Anything cut and assembled in the United States is based on the yard. So for Fat Quarters the fabric is cut in half yards, and then cut in half parallel to the selvedges creating an 18" x 21” Fat Quarter. In Canada the cutting is the same, but based on the metre, so the end result is 20” x 21”. It is the same process for Fat Eighths, except the original cut is based on a ¼ yard or metre so an American Fat Eighth is 9” x 21” and a Canadian one is 10” x 21”. 

Now, how do we use these? SO MANY WAYS! The most amazing thing about pre-cuts is that they have already created a cohesive pallet, which is perfect for anyone suffering decision fatigue. Add a solid or blender and a quilt is born! 

Mini Charms are ideal for pouches and bags. Jelly Rolls work really well as a Jelly Roll Rug or as a Tote or with any number of Jelly Roll specific patterns. Charms work really well for simple patchwork or half square triangles. Layers can be used for the incredibly versatile 8-at-a-time Half Square Triangle (HST) method or a number of bags and pouches. Fat Quarters are perhaps the most versatile size of pre-cut and work well with almost any pattern or as a stash builder.

In conclusion - if you love a collection, don’t be afraid to pick up some pre-cuts, you’ll get a beautiful selection thoughtfully curated for you.

TLDR:

Mini Charms 2.5” x 2.5”, Charms 5” x 5”, Layers 10” x 10”, Jelly Roll 2.5”x WoF, Fat Quarters (USA) 18” x 21”, Fat Quarters (Canada) 20” x 21”

Perfect for: Decision fatigue, Quilts, Stash building, Bags, Pouches