I want to make a queen size quilt with the basic Four Patch Pattern.

Now if I use 3.5" strips for my four patch blocks and then I use 6.5" blocks for alternating....how many of each do I need?

I figured out that 14 blocks across and 16 down with borders would give me a quilt 94X106 which is a great size for a queen, but how do I calculate yardage to purchase?

Quick and dirty guess - approximately 12 yards total for the top (of 42-45 inch wide fabric)

Maybe a bit more - but I usually buy more than necessary because I make mistakes and I also change my mind - I thought fabric A was going to be the border, but now I think Fabric B is much better - etc etc

It is really hard to give a precise number without

a) seeing exactly what you want to do

b) knowing the usable width of the fabrics you want to use.

I've found that most shrink, so I take that into account. Even quilt shop fabrics.

How wide your fabric is - fabric widths vary quite a bit - and the selvages need to be removed

There are several yardage calculators online. This is the one I use when I need one. http://vrya.net/quilt/classic.php

A layout of 14x16 = 224 blocks. Half of them will be 4-patches and half will be alternates.

If your fabric is 42" (I think that is a safe baseline) you get 6 alternate blocks out of a 6.5" strip. [42:6.5=6.46]

112 blocks divided by 6 = 18.67 (you need 19 strips to get enough for the alternates)

19 strips x 6.5" = 123.5" or 3.43 yards. With shrinkage and miscuts, you need about 4 yards for the alternate blocks.

Now for the 4-patches.

Assuming you want to do the 4-patches from 4 colors:

Each stripe yields 12 squares (42" divided by 3.5")
112 blocks divided by 12 = 9.33 (10 stripes per color)
10 stripes X 3.5" = 35" or one yard

With shrinkage and mistcuts I would buy 1.25 yards of 4 different fabrics for the 4-patches.

Or a total of 4 yards (40 strips) in 3.5" strips.

THis calculation does not include any borders.

I use this to calculate my yardage

http://www.vrya.net/quilt/flash/QuiltCalc_Loader.html

WOW You guys are great!! THanks so much for the help!!