How many 9" blocks (+ stripping) are needed to complete "Attic Windows" for a King?
 

Sometimes talking to myself helps solve my own problems, but not so this time. <SMILE> Today I seem better organized than I was last month when I started actually making plans and buying the material for this project. However, I am having difficulty trying to decide how many blocks I need to make a king sized quilted coverlet.

Using 6.5 blocks for the scenes + 3.5 strips for "window sills" would make the finished block 9 1/2" square, or I could use 6.5 blocks plus 2.5 strips making the finished block 8 1/2" square (before the sashing is added). Since I am looking to make a king sized coverlet, perhaps the larger blocks are best. If I use the 9 1/2" blocks, how many would I need for a king coverlet?

Of course I also have the sashing to consider between "windows," which probably should be more narrow than the sills themselves. Any suggestions? I have enough for 48 9 1/2" squares using embroidered tea towels with petipoint "scenes" of India. If 48 is not enough I could use family photos of our times together scattered here and there to finish out whatever blocks are lacking.

Before I finally decide, I have to find out the actual size of the bed. I have been told that a king sized bed can be either California king--(usually between 100" X 98" or 11" X 117") or it can be ordinary king which is 98" to 108" wide X 98" to 108" long. I may be mistaken, but I think this is the surface measurement only and not the border or hang down part.



The link below seems to be a valuable tutorial for easy Attic Windows:

http://www.bobrow.net/kimberly/Quilt...xy/index2.html



I found many free patterns here:

http://freequiltpatterns.blogspot.in...-patterns.html

i found this free pattern... in doing the math, your larger king size would take just under twice the fabric of this pattern.
http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltpa...h-Applique.htm
HTH

Thanks so much for suggesting that link. I really like the way that pattern was set up, with the "ribbons" having a rail fence effect. This pattern would make figuring the number of blocks easier if I do not have to add stripping around each one.

I am not sure I can get 8" window blocks from the embroidered tea towels, but I will try before I give up. Right now I only have two fabrics for the "window sills," but a good marbled batik would probably blend well enough. I had better do my best before I am not able to find the fabric again. My problem was that I only visited the US recently and probably cannot go back before December or January. At least I do have the email address of the quilt shop where I bought the cloth. Maybe they will remember me.

Quilting is never easy for me because I am neither fully "here" nor "there" to get supplies I need.

I am green (or as my mother used to say "wet behind the ears") when it comes to navigating my way around the technology, but here is a try.

I said earlier that I have 45 tea towels embroidered with scenes of India and they are all very different. There may be one or two repeats, but not many. I wanted to share two photos with you to let you see why I thought they would look good in an attic windows pattern. Little by little, I am gaining courage to make a few more cuts and calculations.