1/4 yard usually cut as 1/2 of 1/2yd cut down the middle, ending up with a piece 18" by 1/2 the width of the bolt. They can be used for anything where you need a piece longer than a regular 1/4 yd across the bolt. Lots of kits come in fat quarters. Fat quarter packets can be put together many ways....lights, darks, mediums. Varying shades of one color..light to dark. The colors needed for a project.

Lots of fabric stores sell fq's. The trick is to watch the quality of the fabric. JoAnne's might have them on sale for $.99. A good quality quilt store might have them for $2.99. It like everything else, check the quality.

They are great for a variety of projects because of the size.

Thanks for the information. What kind of projects would they be good for?

Any thing that you can get your pattern pieces from that amount of material. Applique, check book covers, change purses...small stuff.