​
​Hi, Reader!

You know how some people bake their own cakes instead of buying them? Well… quilters can do that too. 😉 Layer Cakes, that is.

The best part? No oven mitts, no dishes to wash, and you can absolutely lick the rotary cutter—
​
…KIDDING. Please don’t do that. 🙃

This week, I’m showing you how to turn yardage (or your fabric stash) into perfect 10" squares without overspending — and then, just to sweeten the deal, I’m pointing you to one of my favorite Layer Cake–friendly quilts: the Carpenter Star.

💞 FEATURED THIS WEEK

DIY Layer Cakes From Yardage

I love precut fabrics because they save time and spare me from one of my least favorite quilting tasks: cutting.

But — they can get expensive.

Sometimes it’s more cost-effective (and stash-busting!) to cut your own squares, especially if you need a lot of the same color.

Here’s instructions and a little quilt math to help you figure out how to cut your own layer cakes!

Instructions: Cut the yardage into 10” Width of Fabric strips. Subcut each strip into (4) 10” squares. One yard of fabric will give you (12) 10” squares. ​

- To cut 1 layer cake (42 10” squares), you’ll need 3 1/8 yards of fabric.

- To cut 2 layer cakes (84 10” squares), you’ll need 5 7/8 yards of fabric.

You can learn more about how many squares (.5" squares up to 15" squares) you can cut from 1 yard of fabric in this blog post.

---

💞 A QUILTING RESOURCE YOU'LL LOVE

Squares in a Yard Cheat Sheet

My free Squares in a Yard cheat sheet shows exactly how many squares you can cut from 1 yard of fabric — for multiple square sizes. It’s perfect for stash management and budget-friendly quilt planning.

👉 Download the cheat sheet​

---

🎬 WATCH & QUILT ALONG

Carpenter Star Quilt Pattern

Want to put those freshly cut Layer Cakes to work right away? The Carpenter Star quilt is a gorgeous, high-impact design that’s layer cake–friendly. Big blocks + bold star points = maximum wow factor with minimal fuss.

👉 Watch the Video​
👉 Grab the Pattern​

---

🙋‍♀️ GOT A QUESTION?

Ask Hailey! (NEW)

Every week, I’ll answer one of your quilting questions here — and yes, you can send me yours right now!

👉 Submit your question

This week’s question: "How much fabric should I buy if I don’t have a pattern in mind for the fabric?"

Here’s what I recommend:

• Solids or blenders you know you’ll use often — buy at least 2–3 yards. That’s enough for borders, backgrounds, or multiple small projects.
• Prints you love but don’t have a plan for — 1 yard is a safe bet.
• Large-scale prints or backing fabrics — 3–4 yards ensures you have enough for bigger quilt pieces without scrambling later.
• And if you love the entire collection? I recommend buying a layer cake or fat quarter bundle!

Think of it like stocking your pantry — it’s easier to “cook” when you’ve got the ingredients ready.

---

🗓️ SALE ALERT: BUNDLE BONANZA IS COMING!

Between balancing my 4-month-old and my toddler, I need a few more days to pull this together… but it’ll be worth it. 😉

Mark your calendar: Monday, August 25th. That’s when the Bundle Bonanza kicks off — and trust me, you won’t want to miss the deals. I'll send you more details soon!

Talk soon & warm stitches,
Hailey

Hailey Young Quilter, Content Creator & Owner of Hailey Stitches