When it comes to quilting, smart choices start with smart cuts—and few cuts offer more versatility and value than the humble half-yard. For Gudrun Erla, half-yard bundles are more than just a preference; they’re a game-changing approach rooted in experience, efficiency, and creativity.

A Quilter's Journey From Iceland ❄️

Gudrun’s love of quilting began in Iceland, where fabric variety was limited and extremely expensive. There was no room for waste—every inch of fabric had to count. That early experience shaped her practical, no-nonsense approach to quilting, influencing not only her design style but her deep appreciation for efficient cutting. It’s this philosophy that makes her a passionate advocate for half-yard bundles.

In Gudrun’s world, efficiency is everything—and half-yards deliver.

🧵 Half-Yard vs. Fat Quarter: A Cut Above

Fat quarters have long had their moment in the quilting spotlight, but Gudrun Erla champions the half-yard as the more strategic choice. Why?

Unlike fat quarters, half-yards maintain the full width of fabric—usually 42 to 44 inches. That means you can cut full-width strips and borders with ease. It’s perfect for quilt patterns that call for longer, uninterrupted pieces and allows for more design flexibility.

✂️ A Half-Yard’s Hidden Superpowers

One half-yard may look unassuming, but don’t let its modest size fool you—it’s a powerhouse of possibility. With careful cutting, a single half-yard can yield:

• 2 fat quarters
  
  

• 4 ten-inch squares
  
  

• 24 five-inch squares
  
  

• 7 strips of 2½" (jelly roll size)
  
  

• 9 strips of 2"
  
  

• 12 strips of 1½"
  
  

And the best part? Those strips can be sub-cut even further. Whether you’re working on a bold modern quilt or a scrappy masterpiece, half-yards offer the ultimate flexibility.

📘 Designed for Gudrun’s Patterns

Gudrun’s curated half-yard bundles are color-coordinated, thoughtfully arranged, and sized just right to jump straight into almost any of her patterns. One 12 piece bundle is enough to make one or even two full quilts, depending on the design. It’s an ideal option for quilters who want beautiful results without the guesswork of coordinating fabrics.

🪡 Cut It All—Waste Nothing

Gudrun encourages quilters to cut their entire half-yard up front. Why? It eliminates waste, prevents wrinkles, and keeps your stash neatly organized. No more pulling out wrinkled fabric and measuring on the fly—just grab the pre-cut pieces you need and start sewing.

This method also speaks to Gudrun’s Icelandic roots, where every scrap mattered. It’s quilting with intention—and zero guilt.

📏 Stripology & Strategic Cutting

In her book Stripology Mixology 3, Gudrun takes half-yard efficiency even further. The book includes optimized cutting strategies for a variety of precuts, and how you can utilize your fabric to the fullest to make two quilts from one 12 piece half yard bundle.

Whether you’re looking to maximize your 2½" strips or start with 10" squares, the formulas in this resource show how to make the most of every inch.

🔢 Let’s Talk Fabric Math

Here’s what a 12 piece half-yard can deliver with Stripology-style precision:

• 48 ten-inch squares
  
  

• 96 five-inch squares
  
  

• 192 2½" squares
  
  

That’s more than a typical pre-cut pack, making half-yard bundles a value-packed, stash-enhancing win.

And with a 12-piece bundle, you can easily yield 48 ten-inch squares for a 6x8 quilt layout, plus plenty of strips to build borders, sashing, or entire quilt tops.

🧵 Final Thread

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned stitcher or just building your fabric stash, half-yard bundles are a smart, stylish, and strategic way to quilt. With insights from Gudrun Erla and the cutting power of Stripology, you can plan better, cut cleaner, and create more—while wasting less.

So next time you’re fabric shopping, think like Gudrun: choose the cut that works harder, stretches farther, and honors every inch—choose the half-yard.

For more information on how to make the most out of half yards, watch Gudrun here.