How many quilt squares?
Instructions for figuring how many squares you will need
Figure out the measurements you want for your completed quilt. For new quilters, drawing a large box on a piece of paper helps! For these directions lets say that you are making a lap size quilt that is 45x60 inches.
Will you be putting a border on your quilt? Draw another box inside of your beginning box. If you will be making a quilt with 2 borders, draw another box inside the second box. I recommend a quilt with a border because you won't have to deal with all the seam allowances from the squares when you put your binding on.
Mark your measurements inside each box going vertically and horizontally. For instance, your first border is 4 inches, your second border is 3 inches. Most people make the mistake of counting only 7 inches for the border. BUT, you have 7 inches on both sides which would total 14 inches. So a quilt that is 45x60 is now 45" minus 14" by 60" minus 14", which leaves 31" x 46" area for your squares.
If you are purchasing 4" squares and use a 1/4 inch seam allowance, you would divide 31" by 3.5 which equals 9 (rounded up) squares across. Divide 46" by 3.5 which equals 13 (rounded down) squares down.
Multiply the 2 answers 9x13 for a total of 117 4" inch squares. You would need to purchase 3 packages of 40 4" squares. After you sew your squares together you add your borders! When cutting your strips for your borders, make sure and add 1/2" for seam allowances or your quilt will be smaller than you want it to be!
If you are not using a border you would divide 60" by 3.5 and 45" by 3.5. That would be 17 squares down by 13 across for a total of 221 squares which is 6 packages of 40 squares with some left over (enough for 2 small 9 patch pillows!)
If you are using 5 inch squares, use the above instructions but use 4.5 instead of 3.5 when calculating. 6 inch squares, use 5.5
Quilts without a border
If you aren't using a border, the following will be helpful in figuring how many 4" squares you need. These sizes are for comforter size quilts, not bedspread size.
*
Crib size (42" x 50") = 168 squares (12 across by 14 down)
*
Twin/single size (69" x 90") = 520 squares (20 across by 26 down)
*
Full/double size (84" x 90") = 624 squares (24 across by 26 down)
*
Queen size (90" x 96") = 728 squares (26 across by 28 down)
*
King size (104" x 96") = 840 squares (30 across by 28 down)