Precut Size Chart and Calculator

What each precut is

A mini charm pack holds squares of 2 1/2 in, a charm pack holds squares of 5 in, and a layer cake holds squares of 10 in. These are all cut from the same collection, usually with one piece of each print. A jelly roll holds strips of 2 1/2 in cut across the fabric width, about 42 to 44 in long. A honey bun holds narrower strips of 1 1/2 in. Larger cuts, such as fat quarters and fat eighths, are often sold in bundles too, and those are measured differently.

Moda Fabrics made these food-inspired names popular, and other makers use their own names for the same cuts. You may see strips called roll-ups or strip packs, and squares called stackers or ten squares. The sizes are nearly always the same, so you can usually swap one brand for another, though the number of pieces may be different. Always read the label, since a pack with 40 pieces will not cover what a pack with 42 will.

Equal yardage for each precut

A precut pack holds less fabric than many people assume. A charm pack is about 1,050 square inches, which is the same as about 3/4 yard of 42 in fabric. A layer cake and a jelly roll each come to roughly 2 7/8 yards. A mini charm pack is only about 1/4 yard, and a honey bun is about 1 3/4 yards. The chart shows these with the cut rounded up.

That figure is the fabric itself, before anything is lost to seams. When you sew precut squares edge to edge, each 5 in square finishes at 4 1/2 in, so about one fifth of its area goes into the seam allowances. Smaller pieces lose more this way. A mini charm finishes at 2 in, so you lose more than a third of the fabric to its seams. Bear this in mind when a pattern seems to need more packs than you expected.

How big a quilt can a precut make?

Sewn edge to edge in a simple grid of 6 by 7, one charm pack makes a piece of about 27 x 31 1/2 in, which suits a doll quilt, a wall hanging or a pillow. One layer cake sewn the same way makes about 57 x 66 1/2 in, a generous throw. One jelly roll has about 3,360 square inches once sewn, which is about the size of a 50 x 67 in quilt, and that is the size of the popular strip-pieced race quilt.

Patterns often stretch those numbers by adding background fabric, sashing or borders. A pattern that alternates precut blocks with solid fabric can double the size of the quilt. So if a pattern calls for one layer cake and promises a bed quilt, check the requirements for added yardage. Enter the size you want in the tool, and it tells you how many packs it would take with precuts alone.

Choosing the right precut for your project

Pick by the size of the pieces in your pattern. A layer cake is the most flexible, since a 10 in square can be cut into four 5 in charm squares or into sixteen 2 1/2 in mini charms. That makes it a good buy if you are not sure what you will make. Charm packs suit quick patchwork and scrappy blocks, and they are easy to mix with fabric from your stash. Jelly rolls suit strip piecing, log cabin blocks and sashing.

You do not need to use up a pack in one project either. A few charm squares make a good scrappy border, and a handful of jelly roll strips can become binding. If your pattern needs half square triangles or flying geese, check that your squares are large enough. Our half square triangle calculator tells you the size to cut, and a 5 in charm square makes two HSTs that finish at about 4 in.

Tips for sewing with precuts

Precuts are often cut with pinked edges, which leaves a zigzag. Measure from the tips of the points if your pattern gives no direction, and stay consistent throughout the quilt. Your seam will look less straight along that zigzag, so line up the outside points with the edge of your 1/4 in foot, and sew a test piece first. Then measure the sewn result, since this is the quickest way to find out if your seam needs adjusting.

Avoid prewashing precuts, as small pieces fray and shrink out of shape. If you are worried about a dark or red print running, use a color catcher sheet when you wash the finished quilt. Press carefully as well, and use a light touch with steam, since precuts can stretch along the bias. Open the pack gently, because small pieces shed a few threads and the pinked edges can catch on each other.

Common precut mistakes to avoid

The most frequent mistake is assuming that a pack contains the same number of pieces as your pattern. Counts vary by collection, and some packs include duplicates or have fewer prints. Count your pieces before you start. The second mistake is using the wrong measurement for pinked edges. Some quilters measure from the tip of the zigzag and some from the valley, and the choice changes your seam by about 1/16 in. That does not sound like much, but it adds up across a row of many pieces.

Prints can catch you out too. Because a pack contains one or two pieces of each fabric, directional prints may not all face the same way, and you may not have a second piece to fix one. Sort the pack before you sew, and lay out the whole design on a table or the floor. It is also easy to buy too few packs, since seam allowances use more fabric than expected. If your project depends on one collection, buy what you need at the start, as a fabric line may not stay in print for long.