Quilt Patterns by Precut: Jelly Roll, Layer Cake, Charm Pack

Start from what is on your table

You have	Make this	Finished size	Also needs
1 jelly roll	Jelly roll race quilt	about 49 × 64 in	Binding and backing only
1 jelly roll	Coin quilt, throw	56 × 68 in	1 yd for the border
1 layer cake	Layer cake quilt	64 × 73 in	1⅛ yd for the border
1 charm pack	Pinwheel baby quilt	38 × 46 in	¾ yd cream, ⅝ yd border
2 charm packs	Charm pack zigzag	56 × 64 in	1¾ yd cream, ⅞ yd border
3 charm packs	Disappearing nine-patch	62 × 75 in	1¾ yd light fabric, border
8 fat quarters	Easy baby quilt	36 × 48 in	Binding fabric
14 fat quarters	Fat quarter brick quilt	56 × 64 in	½ yd binding

Every count comes from the cutting chart on the pattern’s own page. The sizes were worked out by calculation and cross-checked on each page; they have not been sewn here.

How many pieces are in a precut

The counts above assume the usual ones: 40 strips in a jelly roll and 42 squares in a layer cake or charm pack. Fat Quarter Shop lists a jelly roll as typically 40 strips and a layer cake as typically 42 pieces, and says charm pack counts follow the fabric collection. Bear Creek Quilting Company gives 40 to 42 for layer cakes and charm packs and notes that names, sizes and quantities vary by manufacturer. Count yours when it arrives. The precut fabric guide explains each type and shows them to scale.

The common precuts hold about the same amount of fabric. A layer cake is 42 squares of 100 square inches, which is 4,200. Four charm packs are 4 × 42 squares of 25 square inches, also 4,200. A jelly roll of 40 strips, each 2½ inches by a 42-inch width, is 4,200 as well. So one roll, one layer cake and four charm packs cover the same area, and the shape of the pieces is what decides the pattern. Strips of 44 inches add a little, and trimming pinked edges and selvages takes a little away.

Finished quilt sizes drawn to one scale in four rows: jelly roll, layer cake, charm pack and fat quarters, each quilt labeled with its size and precut count — Our precut quilts drawn to one scale, with the finished size and the number of rolls, squares, packs or fat quarters under each. “1 roll + 2”ldquo;1 roll+2“1 roll + 2”rdquo; means one roll and two extra strips.

Jelly roll patterns

A jelly roll gives you 2½ inch strips, already the width these patterns use.

Pattern	Size	Finished	Jelly roll
Jelly roll race quilt	Lap	about 49 × 64 in	1 roll, all 40 strips
Coin quilt	Baby	44 × 48 in	½ roll, 20 strips
	Throw	56 × 68 in	1 roll, 40 strips
	Twin	78 × 86 in	2 rolls, 80 strips
Rail fence quilt	Baby	40 × 46 in	15 strips (5 sets of 3)
	Throw	58 × 70 in	1 roll and 2 extra strips (14 sets of 3)
	Twin	70 × 94 in	2 rolls (72 strips, 24 sets)

The race quilt and the coin quilt both use a whole roll for a top of similar size. The race quilt is one long seam folded back on itself and is the faster of the two. The coin quilt gives an exact size and lets you place each color, and the coin quilt page explains when to choose which. Rail fence is the one to pick when you want a zigzag from three strips per block. Leftover strips also suit the postage stamp quilt.

Layer cake patterns

One pattern covers every layer cake size: the layer cake quilt trims each 10-inch square to 9½ and sews them in rows.

Squares used	Layer cakes to buy	Finished
20	1 (22 left over)	44 × 53 in, baby or lap
42	1	64 × 73 in, throw
63	2 (21 left over)	73 × 91 in, twin
81	2 (3 left over)	93 × 93 in, queen

If your layer cake has 40 squares, the pattern page shows the change for the 42-square quilt. The 20-square size leaves 22 squares unused from one bundle, so for a small quilt the 42-square pattern may be the better buy.

Charm pack patterns

A charm square is 5 inches. These three patterns take charm squares, and the number of squares decides how many packs to buy.

Pattern	Charm squares	Packs of 42	Finished
Pinwheel baby quilt	24	1	30 × 38 in, doll or stroller
	40	1	38 × 46 in, crib
	84	2	54 × 62 in, throw
Charm pack zigzag	84	2	56 × 64 in, throw
Disappearing nine-patch	100	3 (26 left over)	62 × 75 in, throw

With packs of 40, the 84-square quilts need a third pack, or you cut four more 5-inch squares from a coordinating print, as the zigzag page suggests. Charm squares work for pinwheels and zigzags because every triangle is trimmed after sewing, so pinked edges do not matter.

Fat quarter patterns

A fat quarter is about 18 × 21 inches. How many you need depends on the piece size, so the table on each pattern page matters more than a single number.

Pattern	Fat quarters	Finished
Easy baby quilt	5	30 × 36 in, small baby
	8	36 × 48 in, crib
	11	42 × 54 in, toddler
	14	48 × 60 in, throw
Fat quarter brick quilt	8	40 × 48 in, baby
	14	56 × 64 in, throw
	23	64 × 88 in, twin
Lap quilt	5	40 × 45 in
Lap quilt	8	40 × 65 in, hospice size
Easy table runner	4	16 × 72 in
Modern plus quilt	6 (for the pluses)	60 × 72 in
Patchwork tree skirt	9	42 in across

Fourteen fat quarters make either a 48 × 60 inch easy baby throw or the 56 × 64 inch brick quilt. Pick the baby quilt for big squares that show a whole print, and the brick quilt for a bigger finished size with no seams to match. The fat quarter guide has a cutting chart for one piece.

Choosing between two patterns for the same precut

You want the fewest seams: choose the jelly roll race quilt. The easy patterns ranked by seam count lists the rest in order.
You want large prints shown whole: choose the layer cake quilt or the easy baby quilt.
You want a little piecing: choose the pinwheel baby quilt (half-square triangles) or the disappearing nine-patch.
You are making a quilt for a veteran: the 62 × 75 inch nine-patch fits the size range on our Quilts of Valor patterns page, and so does the 56 × 68 inch coin throw, though that one is only an inch over the minimum width. Read that page first.

If you do not own a precut yet, you can cut the same pieces from yardage, and the fabric yield calculator works out how much. All of our patterns are in the list of free quilt patterns.

Quilt patterns by precut: start from what is on your table