I am teaching a begining quilting class for my homeschool co-op. We are for their final project they are doing a 4 patch lap quilt that should end up at 64x64. I asked the parents to provide 3 1/4 yds. of fabric for the back, one parent has become upset with me saying that this is too much fabric and I am being wastful with others money. This fabric will also be a 4 in. border for the quilt top. I am assuming that the fabric will not be wide enough and will have to be cut in half then sewn back together to make it wider, does that make sense.

I guess what I am asking is this, is it too much fabric. I am allowing for boo boo's and I know there will be some extra but didnt' think it was a ton extra, definatly not enough to complain about. Would 2 yrds be more than enough, I just don't want them to run out.
Thank for your help

Tammy

No, because think about it: If you have a yard as 44" x 36 " if you got 2 yards, you'd have 44" x 72"!

I can't picture it...does Rikki Timms do a diagonal cut that makes your fabric "grow"? And if so, does that mom have the link?

There might be a trick to do it. And, what about the front? Who is paying for the front?

Thank you. They are supplying the fabric for the top as well but only the back fabric is being questioned. It is her friends and someone at joanne's that told her that would be enough to back a king.

Just piece the back...I have done that for quilts that I do not want to spend a lot of money on. They look great and they will be able to use cotton shirts that they no longer use.

Do you need to make them that large?

If you narrow the finished size of the top to 60 inches or narrower, than you could (depending on the design of the backing) get by with one and a half widths of fabric. Which still comes out to about three yards of fabric. (68 + 34 = 102 inches -> okay, it's 2-5/6 yards. This does not give you any fabric left over for borders or wiggle room.

If you went to a finished size of approximately 40 inches wide by 60 inches long - you could squeak by with one width of fabric.

Many fabrics are only 42 -43 inches wide - even before washing - so one and a half widths of fabric would not be wide enough for a 64 inch top anyway - after accounting for selvages and seams

I came up with a need for approximately 3-3/4 yards of fabric - assuming two inches "extra" around each side of the top - and this does not take into account any possible lengthwise shrinkage of the fabric if it's washed before cutting or if it's cut crooked and needs to be straightened out.

Seriously?! I would tell the mom that you are using the pattern that requires X amount which may allow for a small mis-cut. If she thinks that her kid can get it done with less, then you can't be held accountable when the project goes flop. A King Size takes what - 7-9 yards?

Use scraps and other fabrics and create back art for your quilt. I have often done that. However I was thinking that 3 1/4 would be almost not enough if you were counting on borders too. 2 yards would have been what I would have asked. You aslso have to allow for the quilting.

SNORT!! :roll: :hunf: :thumbdown:

Maybe you could draw this out on graph paper and tell them that so may square inches will only cover the same number of square inches.

If they are having issues with the amounts of fabric, perhaps it would be an idea to go to a (very) small table topper. Many of the techniques could still be taught. Or even a mug rug!

No it is not too much. Tell her to get the person or persons who are questioning it to calculate and bring that much in.
However, before you do that, give them the instructions for adding to the width for the back.
For the 3 1/4 yds you are asking for you will have a piece about 65" by one half thr width of the fabric for your borders which you say the student will need.
Sometime you have to let others discover their mistake.

I would tell the mother that you will need enough fabric for the back for the finished size. and x amount for the borders and then when there is not enough fabric ask to bring more..........
Don't argue with anyone about it but just give the measurements and ask them to get the amount of fabric needed.

And I would not redesign the back with piecing to accommodate the questioners........that would change your instructions for the class and might confuse some students.

can you show the complainer these posts to let her know you are not being unreasonable?