Hourglass blocks, math help, please!
 

I need to make almost 100 Hourglass blocks that finish at 4".
Jenny at MSQC has a wonderful tute for making 4 at a time but I don't know what size to cut the original squares of fabric! *sigh* I know I can rely on you!

Here is the tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK8vOFzYzwM

Thanks!

Jenny uses charm packs for this pattern so it would be 5" squares.
Have fun!

Kitsie, I'm confused- don't you use 5 inch squares?
That's a beauty!!!
Be gentle with me- I get confused easily :D

Guys, thanks, but as a sample I used 6" sqs and my HG blocks came out at 7 3/4" (I didn't realize (my bad) that she used charm squares. So maybe 5" would work! I shall try. The pattern is from the BH&G book - Scrappy Quilts.

This link will take you to a site that has the measurements for whatever finished block size you want: http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/20...maths-formula/

I like to make mine just a little larger and use by Bloc-Loc HST ruler to square them up.

Does this help? http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...ilt-block.html

Thanks, Ginaky. That's a tute for HST. The one I needed is for Hourglass Blocks, especially doing 4 at a time but appreciate your input.

Thanks, EasyPeezy, I'd like to figure out a "formula" for doing different sizes now that you've helped me with this one! Maybe I'll able to now that I know the starting and finished sizes!

Thanks, EasyPeezy & SusieQOH. (My bad!) I just realized that as helpful as you are, I'm NOT doing Jenny's size of block! I'd like to figure out a "formula" for doing different sizes now that you've helped me with this one! The size I need (un-trimmed) for each block is 4 1/2"

Thanks, but the one I want to use makes 4 HG's at a time!

You are right, don't know what I was thinking. This link will show you what you need, I think. http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...ilt-block.html
This will do 2 at a time. I haven't seen 4 at a time (but I haven't looked for that, either!).

Jenny used 5" squares to make 6" blocks. Maybe you would get 4" blocks if you used 3" squares? Just a thought, and I intend to experiment with this later

Ok, doesn't it look so easy when Jenny does it? and no trimming to size either. Mine didn't fit so well -
My 3" squares fell short of a 4" block by 1/2", and after checking out my saved tutes, I found another file for this method, including sizes to cut. It says to cut 3 3/4" squares for 4 1/2" blocks (I did note you needed 4 1/2)

Hi guys - the for,ula for quarter-square triangles is this: add 1-1-4" to the finished size of your qs block. So if you need them to finish to 4" you would add 1-14" and cut squares 5-14". Personally I need a little fudge room so I always cut mine adding 1-1/2" and when finished I square them up. You start making two half square triangles - then put them right sides together with opposite colors - mark the line from corner to corner and sew 1/4" in either side. Cut on the line and you have 2 quarter square blocks.

Hope this helps.
Sandy in Mooresville, NC

Gay, after much adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing I came out to the same 3 3/4" !! I will err on the side of generosity and try tomorrow with 4" sqs!
Can you please "link" me to you saved tute?
Thank you so much for your help!

PERSONALLY, I use Deb Tucker's tools and instructional videos to make HST and QST blocks. The paperwork with the tools provides cutting chart for multiple sizes, and using her methods (unlike many others), you do not wind up with outside bias edges.

Hourglass blocks four at a time sounds great. With all edges on the bias, I'll be sure to starch well.

She bases most of her stuff on precuts because that is what they sell. So, it is usually a good guess to start with 5" or 10" squares, 2 1/2" or 1 1/2" strips (charm packs, layer cakes, jelly rolls and honey buns). Whenever in doubt, draw the finished block to size on graph paper and cut it out. Sometimes the actual pieces in hand is so much easier than trying to sort thru the math!

How about making it oversized and then trimming to the desired size. Or if you want to conserve fabric make an oversize block using scraps (or paper) and then after trimming take it apart and measure the individual pieces.

Thanks to Gay, I now have a size chart from a tute that uses the same method as Jenny Doan's for making 4 at a time. Here's the tute (using the same method) that she messaged to me and it has a size chart!

http://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com....gles-qsts.html

I like Jenny's because she uses 8 different fabrics that's gives variation!! (and it was the first I saw!) The bias edges will not bother me, I use starch, match up the seams carefully, plus the small size will enable good piecing.

Here is a picture of the cover of the book which shows the Red Hot pattern I'll be doing. All HG's and FG's!

https://www.amazon.com/Scrappy-Quilt...YGX7CT4MBESTBQ

No need of special rulers or tools! Here is a picture of the 4 I made.

There will be 96 of them and about 15 fabrics to make them from, so will be even more variation!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]581178[/ATTACH]

Thanks so much everybody!!

janjanq, that's exactly what I did! No need to take it apart. I placed 2 blocks together so that triangles make a square, measured it and added all the seam allowances ...Ta Da! Wish I'd seen your post first and saved my brain!