Confused by quilt sizes
 

I admit, I am confused. So many patterns seem to be random sizes. I like to quilt queen size but most patterns are not queen sized. Sometimes I can figure out how many rows of blocks to add, borders to add or size differently.

Is this not an issue for anyone else?

I do find that too. usually it is easy to add more blocks or wider borders. These days i guess quilts are made for many things and people don't think just bed quilts.

Nearly all of my quilts are lap sized. I guess it is not a problem for me.

I make lap size also but I always seem to measure the beds in my house to figure out what I want. I have a twin, queen and king, no full size. Typically, I end up with somewhere in the twin size range. Since mattresses are thicker now, I want to make certain the quilt hangs over the mattress overlapping the dust ruffle of the box springs. But some beds now only have frames no box springs. I don't trust older patterns sizes and always double check. One of these days I'll write it down.

I just make the quilt the size I want. What's a Queen size anyway?
They seem to vary a lot.

I agree with NativeTexan and EasyPeezy. I just make the size I want, usually it is easy to add a row or I make up the difference in my border (just depends on how many inches I need to add).

Like toverly, I want my quilt to cover my mattress/overlap the dust ruffle. I always have to add some because mattresses are thicker today. For my previous queen size bed, I typically made close to a king size quilt (allowing for shrinkage and for the quilt to have the overhang I wanted).

Occasionally I have wanted to use a pattern where I couldn't quite figure out what I needed to add. Thus far I have just moved on to a different pattern and put the original pattern on the back burner to either make another size (or figure out what I would need to add to make it the size I want it).

If the pattern is such that I need to add too many rows to keep the pattern intact (thus making the quilt to big after considering borders) - I typically add what I need in the border alone (but I still consider whether that would be proportional to my eyes). Or I might increase the size of the blocks if that is feasible (so maybe going from a 9" block to a 10" block).

Try googling Sassy Quilter, she has some helpful charts that show sizes and how charm packs, etc relate to sizes. I'm new to this so I need that extra help! Hope it helps you laurac

I'm with you, and try to avoid small patterns. I think for may designers it's easier, quicker, and cheaper to design a small pattern: less pattern instructions, quicker to make up the quilt for the photo.

I go by the measurements with the pattern and go from there. I have a full size bed with thick mattress and a 4" topper'
The bed is very high so I lean towards a queen size quilt. I have a dust ruffle to cover box springs. If I want to enlarge the size of quilt I just add borders to make it big enough.

A pattern designer can't possibly feature every possible bed size on the pattern. We all want something different, depending on the beds we want to cover, whether we want a pillow tuck, how deep the mattress and box spring are, whether we have a footboard and/or headboard, etc. Luckily it's easy to add more blocks or borders (or remove some).

Yes, I think because a lot of designers are creating around a design, and not a size.

There are many different ways to enlarge or shrink a quilt. As you said, you can add or subtract borders and/or rows of blocks. You can also resize the blocks, and there is a formula for this. Ready?

To enlarge: Divide the size of the block you want by the size you have.

For instance, if you want a 12" block, but it is 9", 12 divided by 9 = 1.33. Photocopy the block pattern and enlarge it by 133%, and you will get a 12" block.

To reduce: Divide the size of the block you have by the size you want.

For instance, if you want a 9" block but it's 12", 9 divided by 12 is .75. Photocopy the block pattern and reduce it by 75%, and you will get a 9" block.

If you can't remember this formula, just remember divide one block size by the other. If the number is greater than 1, such as the 1.33 in my example above, you will be enlarging. If it's smaller than 1, such as .75, you will be reducing.

Wow, thanks for that info.

Thanks Peckish!

I just adjust the pattern to the size I want it to finish out. Just worked on one using EQ8, added another verticle row to make it wider. My baby quilts are usually oversized lap quilts as I want them to be able to use them as they grow up. My lap quilts are oversized as I want them to be able to come up to your chin and cover your feet with extra leftover. Never know if you end up sharing the quilt. For the beds I check the size of the bed, how much I need to have it hang over, how much from the ground up.

Laura’s - I totally agree! And if I want to make it larger, it throws things off in the pieced borders, And how much extra fabric do I need??

Peckish - fantastic info! Thanks for sharing

Peckish, thank you for the formula for enlarging and reducing.

This is why I love Electric Quilt! To change anything about any project.

I have been wondering this very thing since I started quilting! Mattresses come in standard
sizes so why are patterns so "in-between" when it comes to measuements? Bigger than a
double bed but smaller than a queen. I do understand that my having a "deep"
mattress makes me want extra in the border areas to cover completely.