CW squares
 

I have about a half a ton of 3 inch squares. My goal has always been to make a CW, and I already have a head start. Most patterns I have seen say to start with a 9 1/2 square of background, and a 2 1/2 in square for the "window". I really don't want to go back and recut all those squares, and I am mathematically challenged. What size background squares would I need to accommodate my 3 inch squares?

Maybe add that 1/2" difference to background? Do one to see. I do mine at 9 1/2, 2 1/2

This tutorial uses 3" feature squares:
http://april-makingendsmeet.blogspot...-tutorial.html
Looks like she starts with 10" squares.

I think four 3" squares would made a row 10 1/2" long. Each 3" square loses 1/2" in the seam, but the outside seam is still there. The finished size of the little squares would be 2 1/2". The finished size of the big square would be 10".

Something is wrong with my computer today? ? I cannot open any links.

I am not sure what a cw is not that I could be of any help anyway.

I think she is referring to a cathedral window. Most of the time initials are a mystery to me too. Sometimes I can figure it out by reading the context of the repliles.

I can take any pattern, any sized square, and make it work. Who says the squares have to be exactly 2 1/2"? That would be the FABRIC POLICE for sure!

I was going to ask the same question, but opened the link in Paper Princess's post and it took me to: Cathedral Window.

I tried making a CW decades ago and gave up at about 4 blocks in. This tutorial makes it a lot easier.

One person's comment at the end of the tutorial wondered how hard it would be to sew all the blocks together and then get the featured fabric into the middle section of the quilt sewn in. She wondered about doing the quilt in strips with the featured fabric in place already and then sewing the strips together. Does anyone have any ideas if this would work well? I can see her point on how difficult it would be if you are planning to machine sew the curved pieces down.

What do you think?

In piecing perhaps, but in CW that window (whatever size one makes it) has to have the correct size square in its "window" to look right. It's not a quilt police rule, just a rule of that particular design...

i haven't worked on "mine" for almost a year, but I do remember maybe doing background squares in batches of 2 rows, 6 in each row, i sewed them together at the fold, then tacked those points down,inserting the window pane, sewing around that flip out in a continuous line (machine, not hand)
from one to the other from end to end.....then joining those "blocks" and filling in.....I seem to do most large project in chunks like that-breaks the monotony for me...do a batch of cutting, ironing, sewing, then back to square one...CW does get cumbersome and heavy..that's just how it is....hmm, maybe I'll dig it out and try to finish it! I read the directions on the site given. She apparently tacks down the four points, then zigzags the squares together..never read it that way before, but we find what works for us.

Thanks to all who replied. PaperPrincess hit it right on the head, which made me hit my head and say DUH!! I don't know why I was overthinking, but I originally thought I would have to find the square root of 37 divided by 3 1/2 times 19, or some other complicated formula, when all I really had to do was add 1/2 inch to my dimensions. Anyway, thanks everyone. One of the reasons I love this Board so much... somebody usually knows the answer ( the right one) and usually pretty quickly. Off to cut some 10-inch squares , lol