How to Cut a Fat Eighth into Squares and Strips

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Out of all of the precut fabric available to quilters, fat eighths may be one of the most underrated options. Fat eighths are 9″ x 21″ strips of fabric. The small size of a fat eighth is perfect for scrappy quilt patterns and for quilters that want to build up a fabric stash.

Fat eighths are sold in curated fat eighth bundles, which means you can easily get coordinating fabrics in a quantity that works for all different types of quilt patterns and sizes.

You may find yourself with a fat eighth bundle wondering exactly how to cut a fat eighth in a way that makes sense, or wondering how many fat eighths you need to make a quilt.

Well, I’ve done the quilt math for you! In this post, I’ll share exactly how many squares and strips you can cut from one fat eighth.

How Many Squares Are in a Fat Eighth?

Instead of having to do the math yourself every time you’re cutting up your fabric, use this table to help you figure out how many squares you can cut from one fat eighth.

These measurements are based on one 9″ x 21″ fat eighth.

Download the free Squares and Strips in a Fat Eighth Cheat Sheet to save this information for later!

How Many Quilt Squares Can I Get From 1 Fat Eighth?

There are many ways you can cut up one fat eighth and turn it into smaller pieces to use in your quilt. Use the table above to reference how many squares you can get from one fat eighth.

I’ll go into more depth with each of the most popular quilting square and strip sizes below.

How Many 2 1/2 Inch Squares Are in a Fat Eighth?

You can cut 24 2.5″ squares from one fat eighth.

Pre-cut 2.5” squares are called Mini Charm Squares or Mini Charm Packs. They are typically sold in packs of 42 squares.

You can make your own Mini Charm Pack from two fat eighths.

How Many 5 Inch Squares Are in a Fat Eighth?

You can cut 4 5” squares from one fat eighth.

Pre-cut 5” squares are called Charm Squares or Charm Packs. They are typically sold in packs of 42 squares.

If you want to make your own Charm Pack, you’ll need to cut a total of 42 squares. In that case, you’ll need 11 fat eighths.

Looking for a quilt pattern for 5″ squares? Check out my free quilt pattern called Charming Sawtooth. It uses 1 charm pack and 1 yard of fabric!

How Many Strips Are in a Fat Eighth?

Strips are a staple in quilting and a great way to use up your fat eighths. These measurements are based on cutting the fat eighth by the width of the fabric. In other words, the strips will be 21″ long.

These measurements are based on one 9″ x 21″ fat eighth.

How Many Quilt Strips Can I Get from 1 Fat Eighth?

The number of strips you can get from a fat eighth depends on the width of the strip you need. I’ll go into detail about the most common strip sizes below.

How Many 1 1/2 Inch Strips Are in a Fat Eighth?

You can cut 6 1.5″ strips from one fat eighth.

1.5″ strips are a common size for sashing between blocks and braided quilt designs.

Packs of 1.5″ strips are called Honey Buns and if you want to make your own, you’ll need roughly 14 fat eighths.

How Many 2 1/2 Inch Strips Are in a Fat Eighth?

You can cut 3 2.5” strips from one fat eighth.

2 1/2″ strips are great for sashing and can be used for jelly roll friendly quilt patterns.

Keep in mind the length is only 21″, so you’ll need roughly 27 fat eighths to equal 1 jelly roll.

I hope this math breakdown and the cutting diagrams are helpful to you! Be sure to download the fat eighth cheat sheet to save this information for later!

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