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question about sewing layer cakes

question about sewing layer cakes

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Old 08-24-2012, 01:37 PM
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Default question about sewing layer cakes

If I sew 2 layer cakes to make a quilt how much batting should I buy? What is the math? I lose 1/2 inch when I sew together so do I multiply (24 x .5) x2? I lose 24 inches total? Can you tell I am not a math person??

Thanks in advance,
Dianne
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Old 08-24-2012, 01:50 PM
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I'm not a "math person" either, but I try to think as logically as I can. I use graph paper (google it and choose the size you want -- I use the half inch blocks) I think the layer cakes are 10 inches square. I really don't know how many in the package. First I would figure out how many rows and how many in each row. Then I would figure out the number of blocks in each row X 9.5, and the number of rows X 9.5. That would give you the size of the quilt top. Then I would go to the quilt shop and ask them for batting to fit that size top. (I told you I'm not a math person.)

OK you math people, help us out here! I think "out loud" on graph paper.
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Old 08-24-2012, 01:53 PM
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OK. I'm a math person. Let me be sure we are on the same page. You have a total of 20 10" square blocks, right? And may I assume you'll sew them together in a 4 X 5 pattern?
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Old 08-24-2012, 02:14 PM
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I would suggest you sew the 10inch squares together so you have 4 rows of 5 blocks in each row first. Then measure the length and width of that top. You will need to add 6 inches to the width and 6 inches to the length before you buy the backing and the batting Because it will need to be that big to quilt if you have someone longarm quilt it for you. I usually don't buy batting until the top is made and the backing is sewn together. Sometimes the longarm quilter will have batting she prefers to use on her machine. Of course any quilt shop employee can help you figure all this out if you are in a hurry to get everything bought while you have money to do it. Good luck.
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Old 08-24-2012, 02:22 PM
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How many pieces are in the layer cake? If there are 40, you would have 80 squares total. Each square will be 9.5" finished. So...maybe 8 across and 10 down--with no borders, the quilt would be 76" x 90.5". A full size batting is 81 x 96" if there are 42, setting them 7 x 12 would result in a quilt that is 66.5 x 114, which is an unwieldy size.

Last edited by Krisb; 08-24-2012 at 02:27 PM.
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Old 08-24-2012, 02:51 PM
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A layer cake (according to Moda) is typically 42 pieces of 10x10" each. When sewn, the finished size of each square is 9.5". You have 2 layer cakes, or 84 pieces, so you have 84x9.5x9.5 square inches (7581 square inches) if you plan on just sewing the squares together. It will be less if you intend to cut them into smaller pieces before sewing them together. Without knowing the width of your batting, or the configuration of your quilt, that's all I can tell you.
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