A simple guide to understanding the information in a quilt pattern before you start cutting.

If you're new to quilting, opening a quilt pattern for the first time can feel a little overwhelming.

There are fabric requirements, cutting instructions, abbreviations, diagrams, measurements, and sometimes several pages of information before you even get to the part where you actually make a block.

The good news? You don't need to understand every quilting term before you can follow a pattern.

Once you know what information to look for and where to find it, most quilt patterns become much easier to navigate.

In this guide, we'll walk through the most important parts of a quilt pattern, including fabric requirements, cutting instructions, common abbreviations, and a few things to check before you make your first cut.

Start With the Fabric Requirements

Before you start cutting anything, find the section of your pattern that lists the fabric requirements.

This is where the pattern tells you how much fabric you'll need for the quilt you're making.

You might see something like:

• 1 yard of Fabric A
• ¾ yard of Fabric B
• ½ yard of Fabric C
• 4 fat quarters
• 5 yards of backing fabric

The exact format will vary from pattern to pattern, but the purpose is the same: this is your shopping list.

Pay attention to whether the pattern specifies a particular type of cut. If it calls for fat quarters, for example, don't automatically assume that the same amount of yardage can be substituted.

The shape and size of the fabric you're starting with can affect what you can cut from it.

If you're still getting familiar with fabric cuts, you might want to read What Is a Fat Quarter? And When Should You Use One? before you start shopping.

Understand What the Fabric Labels Mean

Many patterns assign a letter, number, or name to each fabric.

For example:

• Fabric A: 1½ yards
• Fabric B: ¾ yard
• Fabric C: ½ yard
• Fabric D: 1 fat quarter

Then those same labels will appear throughout the cutting and assembly instructions.

This can be especially helpful when you're working with several fabrics that look similar.

If a pattern calls something "Fabric A," it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be a particular color. The designer is usually just using that label to keep track of where each fabric is used.

Some patterns will instead call fabrics things like Background, Main, Accent, or Binding.

The important thing is to keep track of which fabric you've assigned to each role.

A simple tip

If you're making a quilt with several fabrics, write the fabric name or a little description next to the pattern's fabric label.

For example:

Fabric A = blue floral
Fabric B = green blender
Fabric C = cream solid

That little bit of organization can save you a lot of head-scratching later.

Find the Cutting Instructions

Once you've purchased your fabric, the next section you'll want to find is the cutting instructions.

This is where the pattern tells you what shapes and sizes to cut from each fabric.

You might see instructions such as:

Cut 4 — 3½" × 6½" rectangles.

That means you need to cut four rectangles, each measuring 3½ inches by 6½ inches.

You might also see:

Cut 8 — 4½" squares.

That means eight squares measuring 4½" × 4½".

The numbers can look intimidating at first, but there's usually a simple pattern:

How many pieces → what shape → what size

Once you recognize that structure, cutting instructions become much easier to read.

Don't Skip the Abbreviations

Quilt patterns often use abbreviations to save space.

You don't need to memorize all of them, but there are a few you'll see fairly often.

WOF = Width of Fabric

WOF usually means the usable width of the fabric from selvage to selvage.

You'll often see instructions such as:

Cut 2 WOF strips, 2½" wide.

That means you'll cut strips 2½ inches wide across the width of the fabric.

RST = Right Sides Together

This tells you to place two pieces with their printed sides facing each other before sewing.

HST = Half-Square Triangle

An HST is a square made from two triangles, each originally cut from a square.

You'll see this abbreviation frequently in quilt patterns.

QST = Quarter-Square Triangle

A QST is a unit made from four triangles.

Not every pattern uses all of these abbreviations, and some designers use different terminology. Your pattern should include a glossary if it relies on less-common abbreviations or techniques.

When in doubt, check the pattern's instructions rather than assuming.

Understand the Difference Between Cutting and Assembly

One thing that can be confusing when you're new to quilting is that a pattern usually has two different kinds of instructions.

Cutting instructions tell you what pieces to make.

For example:

• Cut 8 squares
• Cut 4 rectangles
• Cut 16 triangles

Assembly instructions tell you what to do with those pieces.

For example:

• Sew two squares together.
• Join the units into a row.
• Sew the rows together to make the block.

Think of it like cooking:

Cutting is your preparation. Assembly is putting everything together.

You don't necessarily need to understand the entire assembly process before you start cutting. But it can help to look through the pattern once so you have a general idea of where all those pieces are going.

Pay Attention to the Diagrams

Many quilt patterns include diagrams showing blocks, units, or the finished quilt.

Don't skip them!

A diagram can sometimes make an instruction much easier to understand than a paragraph of text.

Pay particular attention to:

• The direction of prints
• The orientation of pieces
• Which fabrics are next to each other
• The placement and diagonal direction of half-square triangles
• The order in which units are assembled

This is especially important when you're working with directional fabrics or a block that looks different when rotated.

And remember: the diagram is part of the instructions.

If something in the written instructions doesn't seem to make sense, compare it with the diagram before you start sewing.

Check the Finished Quilt Size

Before you start buying fabric, take a look at the finished quilt dimensions.

A pattern might list several sizes, such as:

• Baby
• Throw
• Twin
• Queen

The fabric requirements will usually change depending on which size you're making.

Make sure you're looking at the requirements for your specific quilt size.

This sounds obvious, but it's an easy mistake to make when a pattern includes several options.

And if you're making a smaller quilt than the pattern's main example, don't assume you can simply buy a smaller percentage of every fabric. The cutting requirements may not scale evenly.

What About Backing and Binding?

Don't stop reading the pattern once you've figured out the fabric for the quilt top.

You'll also need to account for backing and binding.

Some patterns include separate requirements for both. Others may give general recommendations or leave backing calculations up to you.

The same goes for batting. Depending on the pattern, batting may or may not be included in the supply list.

Before you start shopping, make sure you've accounted for everything you'll need:

• Quilt top fabric
• Backing fabric
• Binding fabric
• Batting
• Thread
• Any specialty materials or notions called for by the pattern

This is one reason I recommend reading through the entire pattern before buying fabric. You don't want to get halfway through your project and realize there was something important on page six.

What Does "Subcut" Mean?

Here's one quilting term that can make cutting instructions look more complicated than they really are.

Subcut simply means cutting a larger piece into smaller pieces.

For example, a pattern might tell you to:

Cut 2 strips at 4½" × WOF. Subcut into 4½" squares.

First, you cut the strips from your yardage.

Then you cut those strips into individual squares.

You're essentially breaking the cutting process into steps.

Once you understand that, "subcut" becomes much less mysterious.

What If My Fabric Doesn't Match the Pattern Exactly?

This is where things get fun.

A quilt pattern might show a specific fabric collection or a particular color palette, but that doesn't mean you have to reproduce it exactly.

You can substitute fabrics as long as you pay attention to the role the fabric plays and the amount required.

For example, a designer might use:

• A bold floral as the feature print
• Several smaller prints
• A solid
• A blender

You can create your own version using completely different fabrics.

If you're not sure how to make different fabrics work together, we've talked more about that in How to Mix Prints, Solids, and Wovens in a Quilt.

And if you're using a blender to add a little color or texture without competing with your stronger prints, What Is a Blender Fabric? is a good place to start.

 

Before You Make Your First Cut

Before the rotary cutter comes out, take a few minutes to check your pattern one more time.

Your pre-cut checklist:

☐ Am I making the correct quilt size?

☐ Do I have the required amount of each fabric?

☐ Have I identified which fabric is A, B, C, etc.?

☐ Have I read through the cutting instructions?

☐ Do I understand any abbreviations I need?

☐ Have I checked the diagrams?

☐ Do I know which pieces need to be cut first?

☐ Have I accounted for backing, binding, and batting?

Those few minutes of preparation can make the rest of the project feel much less overwhelming.

You Don't Have to Understand Everything at Once

The first quilt pattern you read may still feel a little confusing.

That's okay.

You don't need to memorize every abbreviation or understand every step before you begin. Start by finding the fabric requirements, identify your fabrics, work through the cutting instructions one step at a time, and use the diagrams when you need a visual reference.

The more quilts you make, the more familiar all of this will become.

And remember: the pattern is there to do the math and give you a roadmap. You don't have to figure out the entire quilt yourself.

Once you've learned how to find the information you need, even a pattern that looks intimidating at first starts to feel much more manageable.

 

Ready to Start Your Next Quilt?

Once you know what your pattern is asking for, the fun part begins: choosing your fabrics.

Browse North Star's curated selection of modern quilting fabrics and find the fabrics that make you excited to start your next project.

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