Clearing Up Precut Confusion

Has anyone else noticed the variety of names given to different precuts? You think that it must be something new and different, yet to find it's the same exact bundle as something else...

Well, I started researching and looking and sorting and I came up with a little chart to share with all of you to ease the confusion:

What I did here was take the three most popular precuts (5" squares, 10" squares and 2 1/2" strips) and listed what each manufacturer names each precut.

Now, there is a reason each manufacturer may have a different name. It basically all comes down to trademarks and licensing and such. Plus it gives each company an identity for their products in this mass sea of precuts available. Not many quilt shops only carry one manufacturer's products, so each fabric brand needs to stand out and make a statement how they can. Just on this chart alone, 2 1/2" strips have 11 different names between 13 different fabric brands!

I started noticing this confusion when I was teaching classes. Some people would come up to me and say, "I don't have a Charm Pack but I have this stack of 5" squares, will this work?" It's one of those situations where when it happened once, no biggie, but after a few times, I felt there had to be an easier way.

Plus, with the release of Seems Like Scrappy coming up in the near future, I didn't want anyone to have the same confusion and feel they couldn't make a quilt because they don't have a jelly roll that the pattern calls for when they have a Bali Pop sitting on their shelf... It's the same thing...

Now, here's the disclaimer part of this post and it's also clearly stated at the top of the printable:

Not every quantity is the same between precuts... Let me say that again:

Not every quantity is the same between precuts

Most precuts are made with either a manufacturer standard of pieces or they are dependent on how many fabrics were in the particular line of fabrics. Each bundle should be marked with the amount of pieces it contains. Double check before you begin that you will have the correct amount of pieces needed for your project.

To get the printable chart, click here.

I've had some questions in the past of how to save or print these files. When you open the pdf, there will be a series of icons at the top of the screen (they may not show until you move the cursor over them).

Please pardon the grainy look, I took an actual picture of my screen.

If you just want to print this chart now, the first icon on the left is to print (the one that looks like a printer).

If you'd like to save this pdf file to print again and again at your leisure, the icon with the downward arrow is to download the file and save it.

I hope you enjoy and can use this chart because I know how confusing it can be at times. Feel free to share this with your quilting pals and keep it handy.

Last disclaimer, this information was collected and compiled all by my little lonesome. This is an ever changing industry and the names and precuts available are subject to change at the will of the manufacturers. This information is current as of this date, but I'm sure it can and will change in time. If needed, I will reissue an update in the future, but be sure to print out this handy little chart and keep it near your precut stash!

Speaking of precuts... come on back to the blog on Monday (and every Monday for a couple months) to see previews of each new quilt in Seems Like Scrappy, my newest book due out in May! I've already posted a couple quilts, you can see them here and here. Just think, with this new chart in hand and inspiration brought to you each Monday, by the time the book is released you'll be all set and ready to create a new quilt or two! There are 14 quilts in this new book and I've already made duplicates of some... Just remember Monday... I'll bring you a little creative colorful moment to make Mondays not so mundane, alright? See you then!

Wedding Quilt Recap

I'm shocked. Baffled really. At myself. When I was making the wedding quilt for my S-I-L, I thought I took photos... Then after the wedding I was looking through my camera and realized that I told myself at each step, "I'll get pictures later." Well, later was the wedding and no really good photos...

In my defense, life has been crazy and I got the fabric and picked out the pattern the Saturday before the wedding. Meaning like 7 days beforehand... I immediately went home and started cutting. It took the next couple of days to complete the top. Then I feverishly quilted it and put on the binding stitching as much as I could each night in the few days I had left.

Well, I finished with just enough time to jump in the shower and head off to the wedding, so I never did get a full finished shot of the quilt, but I can assure you it's gorgeous. Even the bride has told me several times :)

When the newlyweds are back from their honeymoon and life has settled into a "normal" state, I'll see if I can get a picture of them and the quilt. For now, here's a shot I took while I was laying out the blocks and checking the color placement:

Now, I wanted to share the pattern with you too and let you know how I altered it if you would like to make one too. I went to the trusty Moda Bake Shop and looked up Jelly Roll patterns because I had a Bali Pop that seemed like the perfect colors for the couple and that's where I wanted to start. Knowing I had a tight deadline and not knowing the future of the couple (I'll explain in a minute), I wanted something simple yet effective and large.

What I found was the Boxes of Colour Quilt by Andrea from Urban Quiltworks and I knew it was the pattern I needed. Then I started reading the instructions and it only called for about half of a jelly roll and the quilt finished at only 48" square... that wasn't nearly big enough, but I paused and did some math and left the store with everything I needed.

I contacted Andrea and asked if I could share how I altered the quilt and what you'd need and she was more than gracious! So, the original pattern is found here on the Moda Bake Shop, you'll need that first.

My version of this quilt finished at 80" x 96". To make this size I used:

1 Wild Berry Bali Pop (40 strips 2 1/2" wide)

20 extra Blue/Teal/Green 2 1/2" wide strips

4 3/4 yards of background fabric

7/8 yard binding

6 yards backing

Meg & Drew met in Egypt while they were both working there so I used the Wild Berry Bali Pop as my jumping off point and added in some blues and teals and greens to make it not so purple, yet give it an oasis type feel. Meg chose purple and blue tones for the wedding so I knew I wanted to incorporate those and I found an amazing hydrangea print for the backing. I chose a light pinkish tan (Tortilla by Hoffman I think...) for the background and it worked quite well. 

I wanted this quilt to be versatile since the couple may stay here, they may move back to Egypt, and let's face it - they're newlyweds - who knows what life has in store for them so this pattern was perfect. 

Alright, back to the pattern. I separated all of the jelly roll & extra strips into lights and darks as the pattern called for. Cut those just as Andrea calls for. 

For the background, I cut 8 strips 2 1/2" wide, 4 strips 4 1/2" wide, 8 strips 6 1/2" wide and 8 strips 8 1/2" wide. Then I cut each of these strips into 2 1/2" wide segments. These will be all of the background pieces you'll need. 

I made 60 of each block and laid them out very similar to Andrea's sample. The only thing I switched up was that I kept all of the 'B' Blocks paired with matching fabrics and made the 'A' Blocks random. I actually made a larger block with the two matching 'B' Blocks and two random 'A' Blocks which made layout and piecing the top much easier. 

I hope you try out this pattern because it's not only quick, it's awesome! Thanks again to Andrea for letting me share my changes. Either way, if you make this quilt, please visit Andrea at Urban Quiltworks and show her what you've created!