How to guesstimate yardage?
 

I now have the Deb Tucker ruler that you recommended, and made a few practice blocks...after watching her video, I found it pretty easy to do. Thanks for the info!
I need to find background fabric online-no local quilt shops, and my vision limits my driving. I am notorious for not ordering enough fabric, and then scrambling to find more. I plan to use a white batik for the background ( the white row of blocks in the quilt are actually shades of tan/taupe). I don’t want to over buy...thinking 3 yards? And boy, white fabrics online are difficult!
Quilt will be 48x66 (diamond blocks are 3x6) before borders. The greens may be small Honu turtle appliqués.

You might consider drawing out the shapes you need (including seam allowances) on graph paper - and then count how many pieces you will need. Remember to allow for how you plan to lay out the pieces (grainlines). I would "assume" that a "yard of usable fabric" would equal approximately (36 x 40) square inches.

That's a bit tedious - but might work if you want to cut it close.

I would probably buy at least four yards. But- when I can - I would rather have a half yard left over than be two inches short. I also tend to make cutting errors or change my mind - so I sometimes have "waste". I also wash fabrics before cutting. Batiks usually have less shrinkage than other "quilting cottons" - but I am firmly entrenched in the "I want to wash the fabric before I cut it" camp.

I also usually cut so that the grainlines of the pieces will be perpendicular and parallel with the outside edges. Some people say grainlines do not matter when making a quilt - they do to me. That also tends to use more fabric than just laying out the pieces "however".

There will be more/other opinions.

Just a note/reminder - that the smaller the pieces - the more that gets "used up" in seam allowances.

Examples:

A "finished" 8 inch square is cut at 8.5 square inches.
72.25 - 64 = 8.25 inches of that square will be hidden in the back in a seam allowance.

11.4 % of the cut square will go into the seam allowances.


A "finished" 1 inch square will be cut at 1.5 inches

2.25 cut size (square inches) - 1 inch finished size = 1.25 square inches goes into the seam allowances and is om the back

So - the seam allowances take up more than 55 percent of the total cut square.

Wow....thank you Bear! That’s a lot to ponder. I will probably order 4 yards....it will be a basic neutral color, and I will be able to use extra later. I am really trying to sew from my stash this year, but this project renewed my quilting pleasure! :)

I agree with Bears assessment....But i really wanted to say gorgeous fabric and design! I can't wait to see your quilt take shape, it's going to be awesome!

When DH and are "guesstimating" things -

He tends to figure skimpily (as in not allowing enough!!!!!! :hunf:)
and I tend to figure "generously" -

If we took an average of our two guesstimates, we would probably get it about right. (But I think i am more right than he is more of the time. ;))

So you might want to take that into consideration.

Just had a lightbulb moment.... I have lots of white on white fabrics that are not batiks....time to shop my stash and maybe use several different whites! ��

I did a quick work-up in EQ, and it estimates that you will only need 2 yards of the light color. EQ estimates are usually on the high side. I like your idea of using several different WOW fabrics.

Gorgeous fabric and design. If you can find a similar colored pattern with the same blocks sizes use that for yardage. I would use the same white fabric throughout the quilt. It is the one constant color to unite all the other fabric colors.

Will you be making the borders in white? or colors?

If you cut fabrics Wof=Width of fabric 2 sides will be straight grain. Give a little tug if it doesn't stretch at all it will be straight grain. I cut all of my fabrics width of fabric. I have made about 400 quilts.