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Hi,
I am rather new at all this quilt stuff and am having
kind of a hard time judging how much fabric I will
need when I want to make a quilt larger than what the
directions call for. Is there an easy way to calculate
the amount needed to make a larger size or do you just
wing it? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Donna

Boo

Donna, although figuring additional yardage may seem complicated it really isn't. It is just a matter of reducing the task to it's basic elements, which are the size and number of strips needed. Each pattern will list cutting instructions for the yardage requirements to accomplish the size of the quilt as stated. If you wish to enlarge a quilt, lets say by a row of 6 blocks, figure how much fabric you will need for those additional blocks. The safest method would be to consider all fabric to be 42"wide. Okay are you with me so far? You know that math is coming, but don't zone out on me. This is simple, no quantum physics involved. Grab a calcualtor. If you need additional 6" squares, you will first need to know how many times 6 goes into 42". See told you not hard, so now how many 6" strips you need to cut would be 1 strip for every 7 squares. This is how you would figure additional yardage. It never hurts to buy extra, that is how a stash is built. :lol: Before you know it, you will have enough to play a new game called Scrap Quilts. :D

Lucia

Boo
Your explanation is excellent. I used to do that until I bought the book (very skinny, like a magazine) “Patchwork Minus Mathwork” by Linda Cause published by American School of Needlework. It gives you the amounts for almost everything you will need in quilting. It is one “must” have book in my opinion.
Lucia

Boo

Lucia, now you tell me! I will look for the book and see if it something I want to own. You know, those teachers and my folks pounded addition and times tables into me for a reason, so using that for quilting doesn't seem such a stretch for me. The truth is that a dollar store calculator is my best friend in the sewing room. It really isn't all that difficult, and sometimes saves fabric. when I'm short on money. Figuring what you need for yourself, is the first step in making a designer out of you. The next step will be easier, making changes to a layout and how to figure what pieces are needed for an on point set. Believe me, we all have these skills and the knowledge, it just been pushed to a back file cabinet in our minds. We are Quilter's! We don't need no stinking books! :lol: Ok, sometimes we do. This house is full of them. :lol:

Lucia

Boo
I agree with you 100%; I am really good in math and geometry, so these things are not a problem. One of the reasons I do not calculate everything myself is that the book was inexpensive and I bought it 50% off. The other is that many times, since I did a very strong chemo therapy for breast cancer, I get a little confused and have to write everything down and takes more time. And it is easier to look for some things, like, how much to buy for a bias bidding. Actually I had already the book when I was diagnosed. I used to work in a quilting store and used it all the time to help costumers. And, by the way, someone gave me a quilter’s calculator because they did not like it; I am not impressed by it also. Any opinions out there?
Lucia
PS. I do not think I own anything that I had to pay full price for it. I teach Senior Citizens and the one of the program’s director is shocked at how much stuff I buy with the purchase order. And being a big mouth -- with a big accent -- everybody knows me and when I ask for discounts for the Centers I always get 50%.

Boo

Lucia, you need to be commended for your work with the Seniors. As I am fast approaching that age myself, maybe you will keep me busy. :lol: So there is a benefit to having a big mouth and big accent. I just wonder what accent would work for me. Any suggestions? :lol: I already have the big mouth.

Leslee

Boo, you should be able to get discounts by charm alone, you don't need an accent or anything else! I'm going to try to find that booklet, Lucia. I've always had "math anxiety" but approached quiltmaking with such reckless abandon that being brain damaged in the math department didn't matter to me. My quilts get a little wonky around the edges at times and "It'll quilt out!" gets hollered from the sewing room now and then :roll: !!

Lucia

It’s OK about approaching the new identification “Senior”. Although I am not 60 yet, I receive lots of discounts in stores that consider 55 the big "S" age, so … Boo, you can have a few extra $ to buy more fabric!
Lucia

Boo

You girls are cracking me up! Lucia, we are the same age! I guess we should consider becoming roomies in the senior center! Maybe Leslee will bring us quilty supplies. :lol:

Leslee

HA! Leslee's in the same age group, m'dear! 53 in February! I just don't write (or act!) my age :lol: Why should anyone? It's just a number!! But YES I would bring the "quilty supplies" maybe even share the fat quarters. I said "maybe" ... ;-)