Cedar

I would focus on buying fat quarters and 1/2 yards. I just did a top of 5" squares and I was able to get 12 sqares from a fat quarter and 24 from a quarter yard if I didn't make any cutting errors. If you don't want a whole 20 squares and can't get a fat quarter use 1/3 yard instead of 1/2. It changes the calculations of yardage. I ended up 14 squares x 18 squares and I added a 7" border because the overhang was way too small, so I'd shoot for 17 x 20 or 340 squares which would be 15 1/2 yards or 30 fat quarters or a mix of he two. This isn't counting the border. This site is a good guide for finished sizes because full covers a range of blanket sizes. http://www.equilters.com/library/qui...bed_sizes.html

PaperPrincess

OK, you are cutting 5" squares. So you get fabric, cut a 5" strip, then cut the strip down into 5" squares. A yard is 36", so you can cut seven 5" strips, and you will have a 1" strip left over. But that is going to give you only one shade of green. So lets say that you want 2 different green fabrics so you get 2 half yard pieces. That's 18". You will only be able to get three 5" strips from each (and have an extra 3" left over). So from the 2 half yard pieces, you will only be able to get 6 strips, not the 7 from a single contiguous yard of fabric. If you get 4 quarter yard cuts, a 9" piece, you will only get one 5" strip from each, so from 4 quarter yard cuts, you will only get 4 strips. So the more varied you want your greens to be, the more total yardage you are going to need.

This is kind of the nature of quilting, and why there are so many posts on this board about scraps and scrap quilting. While it's theoretically possible to wind up with little or no waste, there are not a lot of patterns that would do this. Also, it's rare that fabric cut from the bolt is cut perfectly so you have to allow for a bit of waste to square it up.

An alternative would be to use precuts. Charms are 5" square. A charm pack has lots of different fabrics, you will need to read the fine print to see how many squares are in a particular pack. Here's a link to a site that has a good selection:
http://www.missouriquiltco.com/shop/browse/12

To answer your other question, about making a larger quilt so there's a 'fall' (hangs over the edge of the bed) I would add more borders. If you make your squares bigger, I think you will loose the pattern.

pjselzler

Thanks PaperPrincess!

PlanoDebbie

When I am figuring up yardage needed, I start with how many of each block I'm going to need. Due to salvages, I usually only figure 40" of usable width of fabric. If I'm cutting 5" blocks, I know that one strip of 40" fabric will allow me to cut it into 8 pieces that are 5" wide. Then I figure out how many 5" strips I will need. If one strip gives me 8 squares, then 2 strips will yield 10 blocks. Just figure out how many 5" strips you will need. If I need 80 blocks, that's 10 strips. Then take the width of your strip (5") and multiply by how many strips you need (10). That means you need 50" of yardage. I always tend to round up another 18" (1/2 yard) on what I need. Sometimes I'll add a full yard. Take the total number of inches you need and divide by 36 to get the number of yards to buy.

krafty14

Someone else asked about this same quilt the other day. It is a little small for a bed. The one in the picture is 14x16 blocks and then the border. I think fat quarters or half yards, as said before, would be your best bet.
My guess is that the original as made with 5" blocks - maybe a charm pack - finishing at 4 1/2" each.
If you start with 6" blocks (5 1/2" finished) it will be 77" x 99" plus your 4" border, so 84" x 110". This will give you a drop of approximately 14" on each side of a full size bed. You might want to take off one row from the bottom so that you have a drop of 14" at the foot of the bed. (Don't take a row off if you are going to go over the pillow, with a tuck, with the quilt.) I would get 1 3/4 yards of the black for the borders and 20 blocks in the center. I would get 6 yards of assorted greens for the background. (you will get 9 squares from a fat quarter, 18 squares from a half yard and 36 from a yard, so it depends on how scrappy you want the green to be) This will give you a nice sized quilt for a full sized bed. Hope this helps. Ann

homebody323

I love math, but when quilting is involved - I want to get at it quickly. EQ7 is my friend. I bring up the block design and build my quilt on the computer. If I want it bigger, I change the block size and wala. If I want it smaller - same.
I add borders - subtract borders and change sizes in a flash. Then I go in and put a color where I plan for each fabric. They become color 1, 2 etc. Then I click on print yardage requirements and it gives me a picture of the quilt, a list of fabrics and how many pieces of each one I need along with total yardage of each. I have no affiliation with EQ but have used their program for many years. The updates are just like housing and food as far as my budget is concerned. Check out their website. I also have a youtube on the slip and slide method for backs that will help in saving fabrics as well as making it easier for your longarmer to keep that back flat during quilting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsAyGYSXY78 I am no longer affiliated with Quilt Supplies for U but if you want the excel spread sheet for calculating backs for the slip and slide technique email me and I'll be happy to send it to you. John Flynn is the person who came up with the formula, I just put it into a spread sheet because I'm lazy about doing it over and over.

Happy stitching.

Gerbie

You ladies are great!! Paper princess you are really good at this. Now I know who to ask when I need help on my figuring fab. for a quilt. I usually have to sit and really work at figuring out just what I need. No I don't have a smart phone, so that is out. I've enjoyed reading this thread, I can just see the wheels turning for some of you lol. It so nice for everyone to share with others, that's why I like this Board. Thanks for all the help everyone gives to all of us when we need it.

ManiacQuilter2

EQ (Electric Quilt program) is my best friend. You don't have to get the latest version. There are a lot of us that are still running EQ5. Is that a dog or a cat in the center of the quilt? You yardage will depend on the amount of prints you find. I would buy 3/8 of a yard. There are precut 5" squares called charm packs. Easier way to get a variety of colors but you pay a bit more. You might want to search for some Robert Kaufman's charm especially if you want to use a particular color such as green in the quilt you posted. Good Luck.

wkdwich

Hi! I was just working on a Excel sheet myself to help calculate yardage needed for a project.. actually for my sister in law, we bought the pattern, we bought the fabric and I was getting a little panicky on if I bought enough of the backing and front highlight color.. the shop where we bought the fabric is almost an hour's drive ;( I THINK I have enough.. I HOPE I have enough! my fooling with the excel and comparing it to the hand math, its off a bit.. so I have to poke it some more to see which is off!

Sally, Can you explain or point me to this slip & slide thing you talked about? and I'll PM you for that excel -- thanks!

OOPS! Just realized you had a youtube link there! OK I get it.. thanks I'll PM for the excel!