Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
Am I the only one that enjoys the math? >

Am I the only one that enjoys the math?

Am I the only one that enjoys the math?

Old 04-07-2012, 01:34 PM
  #41  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York City/Manhattan
Posts: 1,316
Default

I love it too. From the minute I started quilting, I have wondered why math was never explained by making quilts. I struggled so hard in trig, algebra and geometry. If I knew about quilts then, they would've been a breeze. Though my friends laugh at me when they ask a math question and I start spouting formulae off...
nycquilter is offline  
Old 04-07-2012, 03:30 PM
  #42  
Senior Member
 
pinecone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New England
Posts: 821
Default

math is what I do when I can't sleep. I figure how many inches of a color I need for a pattern so I can pick from my stash. If a patterns says 1/4 yard, you might actually need only 6". I go to Keepsake Quilting's tent sale and you can stuff a plastic bag with random sized pieces, I wash, press then write how much is there on the selvedge for future reference. I have oodles of graph paper tablets and use them for writing notes too.
I was on the math team in high school and studied architecture and building in college...not so good in English and history.

piney
pinecone is offline  
Old 04-07-2012, 04:35 PM
  #43  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Indiana
Posts: 450
Default

Piney, that is funny because that is what I do when I can't sleep. I lay in bed and calculate yardage needed, overall size, effect of border or sashing width changes, etc..
MaryLane is offline  
Old 04-07-2012, 05:29 PM
  #44  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
Default

I do like the math part .... except when I make a mistake( and its always a really simple math one/common sense that I goof) and don't catch it before I am too far into it for a quick solution.
Lori S is offline  
Old 04-07-2012, 05:34 PM
  #45  
RDM
Super Member
 
RDM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: The Evergreen State
Posts: 1,558
Default

Math is not my area of expertise, but don't mind doing equations for my quilts. I usually keep it simple. I admire those people who can take the numbers and in 30 seconds have it all figured out.
RDM is offline  
Old 04-07-2012, 05:36 PM
  #46  
Super Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,688
Default

Originally Posted by redmadder View Post
I love the math part. Could someone post the derivative for HSTs? a squared +b squared = c squared.
Or 2(a squared) = c squared
Since a=b for HST 2(a squared) = c squared. When I figure the size of the diagonal, c=a (squareroot of 2). For my squareroot of 2 = 1.414... So I use a times 1.5 (which means it is a bit larger), then I trim it down.
QuiltnLady1 is offline  
Old 04-07-2012, 06:25 PM
  #47  
Super Member
 
GingerK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,503
Default

I like the math--as long as I don't get it wrong. I have to learn to trust my own conclusions. Lately, I just add a 1/4-1/2 meter to the amount I think I'll need. I am tired of sweating the last few cuts because of figuring too close.

Oh and my kids both love math. We moved around a lot during their school years and they always said that numbers never changed--no matter what language was spoken.

Last edited by GingerK; 04-07-2012 at 06:30 PM.
GingerK is offline  
Old 04-08-2012, 03:04 AM
  #48  
Super Member
 
teacherbailey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Tucker, GA
Posts: 2,042
Default

I hated math since I never "got it" in high school...but later on, it started to make sense as I used it for quilting. I got pretty confident with the basics and ended up teaching 6th grade math for several years----loved every minute! I sooo understood how frustrated my students were, and why! Quilting math comes easily to me. To the writer that said she won't do 5th grade math for others----well, I will, and I have. Takes little of my time but when I explain how I did the calculations, I might just create another slightly-less-math-phobic-quilter!!!!
teacherbailey is offline  
Old 04-08-2012, 04:15 AM
  #49  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 729
Default

You can do anything if you want too my Dad always told me so thanks Dad for teaching me i use math in my quilts
Lavada is offline  
Old 04-08-2012, 05:15 AM
  #50  
Super Member
 
SunlitenSmiles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,410
Default

*

The calculations are part of the fun.....there are so many fun parts to quilting that is why there is a tiny moment of sadness after the elation of seeing the finished quilt.....and a very good reason to have one in the planning stage while sewing on the binding of the current one......................it is an addiction, but not harmfull.
SunlitenSmiles is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
DJinSC
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
4
07-01-2012 05:44 AM
bettyquilts
Introduce Yourself
46
04-17-2011 10:39 AM
man-o-quilts
Introduce Yourself
110
02-10-2011 06:34 PM
jetnica
Main
5
03-31-2010 05:54 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter