Moda pre-cut fabric - a complete guide
Pre-cut fabric bundles make it easy to get started with a quilt without spending hours cutting. Here's everything you need to know about what's in each pack, how much fabric you get, and what size quilt you can make.
The pre-cut packs we stock
Each Moda pre-cut contains at least one piece of every fabric in a collection, so you get a beautifully coordinated mix. Quilt sizes below are approximate and based on joining pieces in a 6×5 grid with ¼" seam allowances, with no borders added.
Layer cake
10" × 10" squares
Layer cakes are generous 10" squares - the largest of the square pre-cuts. They're brilliant for big, bold quilt blocks and give you enough fabric to sub-cut into smaller shapes if needed.
Charm pack
5" × 5" squares
Charm packs are the classic quilter's pre-cut - neat 5" squares that are incredibly versatile. Sew them together for a scrappy patchwork quilt, or use them as the starting point for half-square triangles and pinwheels.
Mini charm pack
2.5" × 2.5" squares
Mini charms are tiny but mighty - 2.5" squares perfect for intricate patchwork, doll quilts and adding detailed variety to larger projects. A great way to sample a collection without the commitment.
Jelly roll
2.5" × 42" strips
Jelly rolls are 2.5"-wide strips running the full width of the fabric. Perfect for strip quilts, log cabin blocks and the ever-popular jelly roll race quilt. Leftover strips are also ideal for binding.
Honey bun
1.5" × 42" strips
Honey buns are the narrower sibling of the jelly roll - 1.5"-wide strips that produce more delicate, finely pieced results. Wonderful for intricate strip quilts, sashing and heirloom-style quilts.
Fat quarter bundles
18" × 22" pieces
Fat quarters are 18" × 22" pieces of fabric - far more useful than a standard quarter yard cut. Each fat quarter gives you approximately 0.5 m of fabric and is wonderfully versatile for blocks, appliqué and backing pieces.
How much fabric do you need for each quilt size?
Use this as a rough guide when planning your project. All figures are approximate and will vary depending on your pattern, block size and construction method.
Important - seam allowances and pattern variations
All fabric quantities below assume a standard ¼" seam allowance and a simple block construction with no borders, sashing or backing included. Always check your specific pattern requirements and add at least 10–15% extra for safety, cutting errors and any borders or binding you plan to add. Backing fabric will require additional metres on top of these estimates.
| Quilt size | Approx. finished size | Layer cakes | Charm packs | Jelly rolls | Fabric (metres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cot / baby | approx. 60 × 90 cm | 1 pack | 2–3 packs | 1 pack | 1–1.5 m |
| Lap / throw | approx. 130 × 150 cm | 2 packs | 4–5 packs | 2 packs | 2.5–3.5 m |
| Single | approx. 140 × 200 cm | 2–3 packs | 5–6 packs | 2–3 packs | 3.5–4.5 m |
| Double | approx. 200 × 200 cm | 3–4 packs | 7–9 packs | 3–4 packs | 5–6 m |
| King | approx. 230 × 220 cm | 4–5 packs | 9–11 packs | 4–5 packs | 6–7.5 m |
| Super king | approx. 260 × 220 cm | 5–6 packs | 11–13 packs | 5–6 packs | 7.5–9 m |
Fabric in metres refers to yardage needed if buying off the bolt rather than pre-cuts. These figures cover the quilt top only — backing fabric will require additional metres, typically the same again or slightly more.
Common questions
A few things customers often ask about pre-cuts.
Can I mix pre-cuts from different collections?
Yes, mixing pre-cuts from different but complementary collections is a great way to add variety. Just bear in mind that fabrics from different collections may vary slightly in weight or print scale. It's always worth laying them out together before you start cutting and sewing.
Do I need to wash pre-cuts before using them?
We generally recommend against pre-washing pre-cuts. Because the pieces are already cut to a precise size, any shrinkage (even a small amount) will leave you with pieces that are slightly smaller than expected, which can affect how your blocks go together. Our advice is to make up your quilt top first, then wash the finished top if you wish to. That said, it's ultimately a personal choice and some quilters do pre-wash - if you do, use a gentle cycle with a colour catcher and handle the pieces carefully to avoid fraying, particularly with smaller cuts like mini charms.
How do layer cakes, charm packs and mini charms relate to each other?
They're all square pre-cuts, just at different sizes. A layer cake (10") can be cut into four 5" charm squares, or sixteen 2.5" mini charm squares. A charm pack square (5") can be cut into four mini charms. This means they work beautifully together in the same project.
What's the difference between a jelly roll and a honey bun?
Both are bundles of strips running the full width of the fabric, but a jelly roll strip is 2.5" wide while a honey bun strip is 1.5" wide. Jelly rolls produce a bolder, more graphic result. Honey buns create finer, more delicate piecing and are particularly popular for log cabin, vintage and heirloom-style quilts.
Are the quilt size estimates accurate?
They're a rough guide only. The actual size of your finished quilt will depend on your chosen pattern, block layout, seam allowances, any borders or sashing you add, and how much the fabric shrinks during washing. Always check your specific pattern requirements and we'd suggest buying at least 10–15% more than you think you need.
Not sure where to start?
Our team are happy to help you choose the right pre-cut for your project - just give us a call or send a message.
Was this article helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Sorry this article didn't help. Tell us what's missing and we'll improve it.
