Originally Posted by butterflywing
this is a problem is always have - how do you mathematically change the dimensions from 12" to 9" when all those 7/8-es are floating around in there?
i can never figure out four + seven, let alone something like this.
A 12" square is made up of 3 rows of three 4" squares....these are the finished sizes.
A 9" square is made up of 3 rows of three 3" squares..again the finished sizes.
When I cut the first squares to make my HSTs, I cut them bigger than I need to. Then after I sew them together, I cut them down to the size I need.
This I found out after ending up with HSTs too small..many of them too small...
So I don't worry about 7/8" any more. For 3 1/2" HSTs, I usually cut the original squares about 4 1/4" to 4 1/2", make my HSTs, and then cut those to 3 1/2" size, so they will be 3" when I finish. This is one reason why I made this quilt. I needed the practice of cutting down those HSTs.
Yes, I use more material this way, but if I end up with too small HSTs, I will have to cut again, so maybe I save material in the long run.