Sew, What's Up

Sew What’s Up Presents

The Sew What’s New Archive

This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: Mariellen
Date: 05-21-2006, 10:48 PM (1 of 7)
I am hoping someone can help me out with this. I am making my daughter in law a king size quilt for Christmas and she picked out the pattern that she likes. The directions were for a lap size quilt but with my Quilt Calculator I was able to size it up to a king as far as # of blocks, etc etc. Where I am stuck is the amount of fabric. There are 5 different fabrics in the pattern. Can anyone tell me how to figure out how much of each fabric I would need for the king size quilt.
I would really appreciate any assistance on this. Thanks in advance.
If I had known that grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first!!
User: Mariellen
Member since: 02-16-2006
Total posts: 58
From: Hogmami
Date: 05-22-2006, 12:20 AM (2 of 7)
It is real hard to tell you how much fabric you would need. We need to know what block it is and how large the block is, how many blocks you will be making. Does this block have a background fabric? What size borders are you using?

I would need more information to answer.
Carolyn
Michigan
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004
Total posts: 800
From: CodyGramma
Date: 05-22-2006, 02:35 PM (3 of 7)
Here is a site that may be of some help to you.

http://search.quiltshops.com/calculator/calculator.htm
Fabric Calculator
User: CodyGramma
Member since: 04-22-2005
Total posts: 133
From: Mariellen
Date: 05-22-2006, 03:21 PM (4 of 7)
Codygramma...thanks for the info but I have the fabric calculator but not sure how to figure out how much on it.
Here is all the info I have: The name of the quilt is Ribbons from the book "Your First Quilt Book...or it should be". The original quilt is a 39 1/2" square. The size of the blocks are 9" and it is a nine-patch qrid. The inner border is 1 1/2:" and the outer border is 4 1/2". It also has 6" corner squares.
I will be doing 10 squares across and 12 squares down which will be 90" x 108" before borders and, if I calculated it right, the finished size will be 99" x 116".
I will be using 4 lavender prints and 1 sage green.
As I said before, any help or guidance will be greatly appreciated.
If I had known that grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first!!
User: Mariellen
Member since: 02-16-2006
Total posts: 58
From: Laurie H
Date: 05-23-2006, 09:42 AM (5 of 7)
I don't know if this will help you or not, but this is how I figure out fabric amounts. Please keep in mind that the way I tend to work out a math problem is often confusing to others.

Anyway, to make things simple, let's say I need 1 yard each of 4 fabrics to make 20 blocks. I want to enlarge the quilt and in doing so, I will now have 60 blocks. First, I figure if I need 1 yard of each for 20 blocks, then for 60, or 3 times that many blocks, I'll obviously need 3 yards of each fabric.

So basically, if I know how much of each fabric is needed for a given number of blocks, then I simply multiply the amount of fabric by the increased number of blocks. Not very scientific, but it gives a pretty good calculation and you shouldn't run out of fabric, because most patterns allow more fabric than you need in the first place.

I know, this might not be what you where really asking, but I guess that's how I read your question. I hope it helps.
User: Laurie H
Member since: 05-07-2006
Total posts: 40
From: joannequilts
Date: 05-23-2006, 01:41 PM (6 of 7)
This will tell you exactly the amount you will need of each color.

http://search.quiltshops.com/calculator/calculator_ext.htm
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000
Total posts: 3070
From: Mariellen
Date: 05-23-2006, 06:25 PM (7 of 7)
Thank you all so much for all your help. Joanne, I have the fabric calculator...guess I should have read further in the manual huh? LOL
Again, I thank you all. I have to get moving on this if she is going to have it for Christmas of this year! :bolt:
If I had known that grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first!!
User: Mariellen
Member since: 02-16-2006
Total posts: 58
Sew, What's Up
Search the “Sew What’s New” Archive:
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-19184.html