I recently finished a quilt designed for a specific fabric company and had purchased fabric in the amounts the pattern specified for a "quilt top and binding." I had enough fabric left over for the entire backing (pieced) and two pillows front and back! Are the yardage charts just a clever way to have us purchase more of their fabric lines???

Strange, I've never had that happen

I purchased fabric for a pattern from a specfic persons line. I made, from the required fabric -flannel after washing- a queen size quilt and two large laps size quilts. That was from the pieces cut left over by cutting how they specified. The way they had me cutting just involved to much "waste". I do not buy from this line anymore. They got my money for the extra fabric once but not again.

I think the fabric requirements for some patterns are designed for easier directions. I made a Fons and porter quilt that called for so much extra it was pathetic. But I really dont think they could have made the directions understandable if they had you cut the fabric the way I did.

I don't know why the yardage is over estimated but I do know the extras are great for patched backings that have become popular and I'd rather have more than not enough. And good way to promote our loved scrappy quilts too.♥♥

This issue of the inflated yardage just makes me crazy. One of the reasons I purchase a pattern is for the exact yardage. It just sends me over the edge when I get to the end and have soo.. much more than I really needed. I get that they are sometimes accounting for the difference between 42 - 45inch or want to make sure if you straighten the fabric to cut on grain there may be some loss.... but come on ... there are those who assume that the yardage is exact and then go on to out their own "fudge" factor resulting in even more left over.
I will admit I sometimes purchase a pattern because I just want to get started , and do not want to think too much about the math . A pattern has less of a value to me if I just spent 10 dollars and then have 20 -30 dollars of fabric left over. I have quit buying patterns I can wing it on my own and have less left over.

I have had the opposite problem. I purchased a kit from a very reputable company's website. Didn't open and measure every piece right away tho. When I got around to making the quilt, about a year later, I found that the kit was short by a significant amount--so much infact, that I had to substitute one piece of fabric completely and recalculate sashing thru-out--I had less than an inch left of the sashing fabric!! I emailed the company and never heard a single word back. Will never ever buy from them again!!

When I'm buying fabric for a pattern, I usually buy a quarter yard extra in case of 'wrong-headed' cutting.

i don't usually buy/use patterns. however, when i make my quilts, i always buy plenty of fabric. i love the leftovers for my stash :)

Seems like a clever ploy. I usually but a little extra because I can't make up my mind which fabric will go for that part and then I sometimes (not always any more LOL) have cutting errors.

It may be they want it cut a certain way for straight of grain as opposed to WOF? I have seen a lot of posts here for quilt kits that came short.But maybe it was the vendor's cutting error in your favor
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I had the same problem with a book I bought. Every pattern called for enough fabric for 2 quilts! After the first one I did my own calculations ! I don't mind a little extra for my stash but at the quilt shop prices I would rather different fabric!! Maybe they have stock in the fabric industry.

I have had both situations happen within the last month or two. The waste in the cuts on the one pattern was unreal. Really if you werent advertising a specific brand of fabric in your pattern would you really cut it that way!

Mistakes in patterns drive me nuts. I know we are all human but I am paying money for their expertise.

I agree with the over estimates. I have only done one quilt 100% from a pattern. It was for a twin and I had enough for an additional 60 X 60 throw. Fortunately, I liked the fabric!

I'm not sure I understand the problem? So what you are saying is that extra fabric is bad? That you will never use that fabric for anything ever again? Sorry, I don't see a problem here. But then I tend to not buy less than 4-6 yards of anything, and often buy whole bolts. Anything less than a yard is scrap and is usually thrown away.

I think I've really only had lots extra with one pattern. But I agree, when I buy a pattern, I'm paying for their expertise and I don't really want lots left over.

I like the idea of extra fabric for the pieced backing but I am like you - If I purchase the line of fabric (which usually cost a lot more than I usually pay per yard) I dont want to pay for "extra" especially that much. I dont buy kits yet. I think this thread is letting me know not to lol thanks cheryl :thumbup:

I have bought one pattern/kit. We were in Alaska and
DH noticed a quilt on the wall - and he is usually not quite as enthalled - so I got it and am about to finish the top - figured it was a good Memento from the trip. Maybe I just don't follow directions well - but there was a great deal left over and I was not happy with the piecing - I did a lot of ripping and re stitching - but NEVER AGAIN !!! I like mine better ! I just couldn't duplicate the panels on this quilt

You know I discovered a similar problem last nite. I was piecing a top that was "supposed" to fit a twin bed using the guide that my LQS gives out. Low and behold I now have a top big enough to fit my full size bed - and that's without borders!!!! Upon closer inspection I found that all the measurements for twin, full, and queen sizes were all one off - I have been using the guide for weeks :( I have so much extra fabric I won't need to buy any for months. Clever ploy or simple mistake???

That happens on EQ. The program is not sophisticated enough to correctly calculate any shape other than a rectangle, a square, a half triangle or a quarter triangle. It seems to assume that any shape, like a diamond is really a rectangle that needs to have corners cut off. If the quilt designer is more of an artist than a mathematician, she or he may rely on this type of estimating.

If I couldn't easily figure the yardage myself I'd rather have extra than be short. Have been through the panic of not having enough.

No I dont want extra fabric. When I am doing the project, I am figuring the cost of that project and it is like they are forcing you to spend more than necessary. Then you get a bunch extra of one or two of the fabrics, maybe not your favorite. If I want fabric for a stash, then I buy for a stash and that is voluntary.

I bought a kit and had plenty for a large quilt, a scrappy quilt and a backing for the karger quilt. Thought the price was okay, fabric was top quality.

I don't like when I'm following the cutting directions to cut a 5" strip just to end up cutting a 5" hex out of it. I've learned to carefully read and analyze the pattern before I start cutting - of course that doesn't help when purchasing the pattern & fabric together. I don't appreciate overbuying.

In many cases, I will analyze the instructions very carefully before buying fabric.
One specific instance stated I needed 1.25 yards of a certain color. The picture only showed a minimal amount of it. I read the cutting instructions. "Cut four 2" strips." I kept reading, wondering if there was more to cut from this color for a different part of the project. It turns out it was just a printing error. Only needed 1/4 yard, not 1 and 1/4. So I only bought 1/4 yard, and made the penciled in correction on my pattern.

I was just saying the same thing today. I am doing a quilt with In The Beginning Fabrics and bought what was required. I can make two quilts out of what they said was required. Not that I mind stash, but gees.

I used to sew garments and finally learned to buy at least 1/4 yard to 1/2 yard less than called for, depending on pattern, as the layouts were wasteful. (I still followed grain lines carefully)

I like the idea of extra fabric - I can always use it for something else. I do buy kits often and am not happy when there isn't any "leeway" in the amount. One mis-cut and you need to head to your stash and find something compatible. Some kits have pieces that are so close to the size needed that when you try to square up the piece it becomes too small to use.

Gai, you can "throw" your scraps way over to your west side! Lately, I have only been buying 1/2 yard of anything. It's a personal challenge & I really like to have as many different fabrics in a quilt as I can. It's not so much scrappy as just lots of different, coordinated fabrics. Like on our AOTH quilts! Anyway, you'll have to throw with extra gusto as the winds are westerly now!!!!

The last kit that I bought was way short on fabric. I had a 5" piece that I was supposed to cut three 2" strips from! I was told it was because I prewashed my fabric. I would rather have a little extra but maybe not enough to make another quilt with.

I just bought fabric for a Queen size quilt. I didn't know there would be a lot of fabric left over. It may not be on mine - especially if I cut it wrong. Still kinda new to actually piecing much.

Personally I am not financially fortunate enough to be able to afford to throw anything away. I save everything as long as I can cut a 4" square out of it for scrappy quilts and shop at thrift stores to find garments that I can cut down and use the fabric for my quilts.
That being said, if I purchase fabric for a quilt I want the estimated yardage to be accurate for the project and if I wish to buy extra for later will add that if I have the funds to do so. I do not want to be manipulated into purchasing something that isn't required in order to pad their bottom line.
Ann in TN

When I design a pattern to share, I put what I use in my quilt and then add 10% -I find that if people do not cut the way I do they will run out of fabric. This allows for a couple cutting errors, which happen to me quite often. grin

OMG, throw it my way, please!!

I never buy the fabric suggested for a specific pattern, primarily because it is not available locally.

I never buy the fabric suggested for a specific pattern, primarily because it is not available locally. If it were available, I would probably purchase it.

Personally, I don't mind having more than what's called for. I've purchased a few kits, one was so far under the yardage required it wasn't even funny, and the other 3 or so had enough left over I could piece most of the backing. To me, that's not wasteful if I can get a "free" backing out of what was supposed to be just the top and binding.

I tend to have this problem, too. being shorted. Now I do like to get a little extra when I pick out the fabric, because I know I make cutting mistakes. really, I do. LOL

My LQS owner just made a sample from a fabric designer's pattern and found that by altering the cutting directions she could reduce the required amount of fabric by about 2 yds. That means the kits will be less $$$, and more likely to sell.

I'd love the name of the companies that sold kits that were short or close to short. I'd like to avoid them.
I've never bought a kit, because I am afraid of running out. I do true up my fabric and there is a small amout of waste. And I have been known to wobble on occasion when cutting a long strip

There are apps available, many free, that will help calculate yardage for sashing and backing.

If you are really throwing away that large a piece PLEASE throw it my way:)

That only happened to me once, but I loved being able to piece a back from the extra fabric. It was a kit that I think was cut wrong, because the backing wasn't supposed to be included.