Calculate yardage
 

I am math challenged big time. How do you look at a block and decide how much of each fabric you're going to need if the pattern doesn't tell you. I'm thinking I would like to do the Belle Fluer block to make a queen size quilt but I have no idea how much of each fabric I'm going to need. Is there a better way than just buying lots of yardage and then hoping you'll have enough? That's kind of been my plan up to now.

well if you can't get it any other way, I'd suggest making one up from scraps and see how much you use that way and calculate it for how many blocks you want to make. Good luck.

I have to calculate fabric a lot and usually I am always a bit short doing charity quilts from donated fabrics. I have no idea what the Belle Fluer block looks like. I have Electric Quilt 5 and that is accurate except it assumes that long pieces are not cut from selvage to selvage. But it gives me a ball point reference. If the pattern has yardage for # of blocks for a lap, how many more blocks will you need to achieve your queen size. Times 3?? Most times with patterns, I need to reduce them so I just have my calculator and count how many 2.5 squares I can get out a jelly roll strip and divided that by how many 2.5" squares I need for the quilt. That division will tell me how many jelly strips I need. You can also look in various queen size pattern similar and be able to guess how much you need. Good Luck !!

I just googled calculating fabric yardage and it came up with a few. Here are some links to some. Hope this is helpful.

http://quilting.about.com/od/stepbys...late_yards.htm
http://quiltbug.com/articles/fabric-calculator.htm
http://www.quilterscache.com/StartQu...iltingtwo.html
http://search.quiltshops.com/calculator/calculator.htm

I have these links saved/bookmarked. Thanks for sharing again Joeyoz. These are my go to.

from what i can find by googling, Belle Fleur is a line of fabrics by Moda. Do you have a link to the block you want to make?

This is the quilt calculator I use when I need one. It's very accurate and very easy.
http://vrya.net/quilt/classic.php

I am not math challenged, so I usually make up an Excel spreadsheet to get very accurate estimates. I also use EQ7 if I want rougher estimates.

Is this the quilt you want to make? https://www.frenchgeneral.com/quiltp...efleur-kit.php
If so, it's only one block, much like a carpenter's wheel block. Here's a web site that gives all the information for several different sizes, including a large one - http://bloominworkshop.wordpress.com...ers-wheel-qal/

If you purchase the pattern in the first link, it should give you the yardage requirements.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...13&FORM=IQFRBA


This is the block. I found it on Connecting Threads site. I pulled three off and downloaded the directions for each one. Sedona Skies is another one I like. They are 9 1/2 inch blocks. I will try those links. Thanks

This is the kind of thing that I do. Otherwise, it's half an hour of figuring, and re-figuring to be sure.

We are looking at the 1st brown/cream quilt right?

I estimate that for a quilt 99" x 99" using 4 fabrics, you will need 3 yds of the 2 darker fabrics, and 2 yds each of the lighter fabrics. add an extra 1-1/2 yds for a 4" border.

of course it doesn't hurt to get a bit extra in case of mistakes

Thank you for the answer Gay! I need to find a way to figure this out on my own. DH is a math wizard but hasn't had the time to help me. I always buy extra because I manage to cut something wrong more often than not.

Hi athomenow,

My really rough way of calculating yardage is based on quilt size:
twin - 6 yds
double - 8 yds
queen - 10 yds
king - 12 yds

Then I divide that amount up, based and the approximate percent of each fabric in the block. That only works for block designs with little waste, though. This quilt has a *lot* of cut off corners, so it uses more.

I did an actual calculation for you, and came up with the following, assuming 9 blocks x 10 blocks (81x90"), and then a 4" border:

Fabric 1 - 3 1/4 yards
Fabric 2 - 3 1/4 yards
Fabric 3 - 2 yards
Fabric 4 - 4 yards
Fabric 5 - 2 yards
Border - 1 1/4 yards

There isn't a lot of extra in these amounts, so you might want to add an extra 1/4 - 1/2 yard of each (if you make as many cutting mistakes as I do!).

If you want, you could sew together the offcuts to make HST's; you'll get 720 from the leftovers, squared up to 2.5" (2" finished size) for a good-sized companion project!

http://www.quiltpro.com/
they have two 'strip piecing wizards'

I 'think' it is on sale today for 9.95.