Math help please! Medallion borders...
 

Graph paper doesn’t seem to be helping me with this...
I want to add a border of 4patches, set on point as my next border on a medallion quilt. The block, at this point, measures 24.5 inches square, unfinished. It is a solid border, so i can trim if necessary. I would like to make 3.5” unfinished 4patches, and then add triangles to set them on point. I think the blocks will be 5.5” unfinished?
Is there an online source to help with this? Thank you.....
Edit: I think I may need to make smaller 4 patches for this to work....

I would make them the size you want them, then add a small border of your background fabric on both sides to make the squares fit around the center.

http://www.seamstobeyouandme.com/wp-...er-detail2.jpg

Thanks, Peggi....makes sense. I can remove the solid border and recut it if I need to.....probably easier than making myself crazy over math fractions! ;)

I'd draw it, even loosely, so that everyone understands the question.

If I understand the question correctly, you need 24.5 (we'll use that number as finished for simplicity) inches per side + the width of the border x 2 for a mitered corner. So, say you need 34.5 inches per side (if that border is going to be 5") to make a mitered corner, so you have to take 34.5 and divide it by however many 4 patches you want and that will tell you how big to make them. Or conversely, you can take that 34.5" and divide it by the size and it will give you how many blocks it will take. But since you need an even number of squares, you almost have to use the first method.

If you are going to butt the corners, you will have to do the same calculation, but you will have 2 measurements do deal with. Roughly speaking, the finished size of your 4 patch + triangle is going to be 5". You'll have 5 going one way and 7 going the other.

Just get out your calculator and start punching buttons until you get the exact finished size you need and then add your seam allowance. Using the calculator, you'll be calculating in 10ths, which will have to be converted to 8ths.

good luck

bkay

2 7/8" finished squares, turned on point, will fit 6 squares in just under 24 1/2" finished.
2 3/4" finished squares, on point, come out to 6 squares in 23 1/3" finished.

It's easier for me to work with finished measurements then add the seam allowance back in.

The center is 24" finished - (24.5" unfinished).

Add a coping strip to all 4 sides of 0.75" finished - (1.25" cut).
Quilt will now measure 25.5" finished - (26" unfinished).

Your 3.5" unfinished 4 patches will finish at 4.25" on point.
(4.25" X 6 = 25.5")


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Sounds like KarenK has the solution...make center panel the right size by adding coping-like that word-to accomodate the pieced border, instead of trying to resize the blocks!

Thank you all for your suggestions. This is what I have right now-it is 24.5” square. I am not sure that I love the blue border, so I may take it off and follow your suggestions above. Thank you for the visual-it helps me a lot, as do all of the block dimensions. You are all so sweet and generous! I will attach what I have, and what I am hoping to achieve! I did the layout using EQ 5, and I really do not know what I am doing....I could not figure out how to get a 4 patch on point for my border....

I suck at math...so no help from me....but this is gonna look awesome.

This is a really cool quilt top.

Mathopenref.com is my go to for diagonals. School down and when you put the 3.5 into the side, it comes up with just under 5” on the diagonal unfinished. Everyone’s suggestions are great.

I should have tried it before posting��. Site is http://www.mathopenref.com/squarediagonals/html. For some reason I can’t copy to here on my IPad.

Sorry it is not working

Make your four patch borders and measure them before you try and figure out the plain (coping) border. after you have the four borders (2 sides, top and bottom) measure them and you will have some math to figure the coping border. there are tutorials on line http://quiltyfolk.blogspot.com/2014/...-when-you.html or come back and pose the question and someone will do the math. It's a beautiful quilt.

Ok, I finally have it figured out. Go to www.mathopenref.com. Scrool to bottom and click on Index by Number. Click on D at top of page. Go down and click on Diagonal of A Square. I like that you can calculate dimensions if you only have side or diagonal measurement.

Thank you! I took a quick look at the link....although it made me break out in a sweat, it has some really cool applications! I did not receive a math gene, so this will be helpful! Thanks!

Peggy, your link is helpful as well. I am a visual learner, and her diagrams are helpful. Thank you!

Progress! Not thrilled with the corners, but they will blend in more as the additional borders are added...thank you all for your help!

That is looking beautiful!!

Okay NOW I see what you're doing. Huh. It never occurred to me to do my on-point squares as 4-patches! :thumbup:

This has been so much easier to design the pieced borders before the coping borders....you all are so smart! :)
But I can’t get past those corners on the on-point borders....they look like bandaids to me!