you can cut five strips 36 x 3.5 inches wide
36 x 5 = 180 inches
3.5 x 5 = 17.5 inches
I divided 158 by 36 to figure out how many 36 inch strips it would takr ( the answer was 4.39 - which does not allow for seam allowances)
Then I divided 18 by 5 ( the amount available divided by the number of strips needed) 18 / 5 = 3.6
So for ease of measuring and assuming your fabric is a perfect rectangle, you could cut five strips 36 inches long by 3-1/2 inches wide.
Check: 36 x 5 = 180 inches
This will probably require piecing, but it could be done.
If you wanted to cut 18 inch strips, you would need at least 10 strips to accommodathe 1/4 inch seam alloances
these could be up to 3.5 inches wide.
Last edited by bearisgray; 11-01-2015 at 06:59 PM.