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Quote:

Originally Posted by JenelTX

So..... I'm making my first quilt, and the pattern called for 5/8 yards of 18 different purple and blue fabrics, in 4-5/8 strips, then cut into squares. Well, I only had 9 colors (and I'm a rebel, so they're not all shades of purple), so I thought I should make twice as much. I had about a yard of each. So I just started cutting away, and I kept cutting and cutting. I had half-square triangles of two different fabrics when I finally took another look at the pattern.

Gulp.

It said one 4-5/8 x 20-inch strip of each of 18 fabrics. I'm not sure where I got 5/8 yards. So I counted the two colors I had already cut, and I had more than enough for the whole quilt. But I didn't want the whole quilt out of just those two colors, so then I figured out exactly how many squares I would need of each of 6 colors.

I have enough half-square triangles left to make a baby quilt, at least. Thank goodness these will be good colors for a baby quilt! LOL

So the first lesson in quilting that I have learned is: READ THE PATTERN THREE TIMES BEFORE STARTING!

Somtimes read it 3 times and then read it 3 times again. You are not alone. Funny how those numbers change between readings :roll:

The whizzy whacker (rotary cutter) has made it easy to cut a lot of blocks in a short time. Also made it easy to cut a lot of wrong blocks in a short time. I know exactly what you mean. Call it an inspirational opportunity, your chance to figure out what to do with the leftovers! Sometimes the mistakes turn into fantastic projects. Quilt on!

I know what you mean.

Yup, been there, done that !!! Your learning curve goes straight up !!!! I have learned to roughly figure out how much fabric they are calling for, for a quilt top. And when I figure they are asking for ( in your case,what you thought was 18 different pieces, 5/8 yds of each, whick works out to be 11 and 3/8ths yards of fabric), I think holy crap, that's way too much !!!! What am I thinking wrong???? Go back and read carefully!!!! Hope this helps, Auntie B in Saskatchewan, Canada.

I've done these things too. I now underline with a highlighter too. If you don't want to highlight the book, make copies you can toss later.
A baby quilt sounds nice, or use them for bargello quilt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by saf

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearisgray

Been there - done that!

Me too! But you won't make the same mistake a second time will you. :lol:

I have! But atleast too many is better than not enough and then finding out they don't have any more of the fabric you need!

I know why patterns say "please read entire directions before starting project"- I've learned....well continue to learn the hard way!! When I made my BOM House Sampler-which was broken down into 9 different blocks....I thought it was rather odd that it never gave measurements for each of the 9 blocks???! So when i put it all together I had to add a strip here....cut a little there....then I went back to the directions.....those measurements were there- I just skimmed over them! OOOPS!! I feel your pain! ;)