Need Math Help for "Charming Additions"..... Please!
 

I think I need to start a new post with my question since I originally replied with a few questions yesterday under a post started by AP&Q in the Pictures forum re: Charming Additions
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I started the cutting for this quilt as of yesterday morning and this will be my first attempt at piecing a quilt...ever! I've done some math but it don't add up to the total number of squares I should need!! I want to go with a 52.5 x 72.5 finished. If I take 52" and 72" and divide each by 2" squares, then I should get a total of 936 squares cut at 2.5"....right? I figured I needed 178 sets of 5, 24 sets of 4 plus 24 singles, but if I do the math and multiply 178 by 5, 24 by 4 and add the 24 singles I end up with a total of 985 squares!!! What in the world is wrong with my math?? I
I've have the assembly diagram and have counted the sets of 5, 4 and all the singles for the size I'm going with.....but perhaps I've gone cross-eyed or need to go back to school!?

Any help very much appreciated!!

*Bumping post *

TY

OMG! I really can't count :O

I came up with 3 different sets of 5, 4 and amount of singles each time and think I finally have it right...Whoo whoo!
This should be it:
163 sets of 5 = 815
24 sets of 4 =96
25 singles =25

A total of 936 squares

Jeeez

I haven't made this quilt but I recently quilted one so I think I know which one it is. I'm not 100% guaranteeing my math, but here's what I come up with:

You need a total of 936 squares to get the finished size you want (26 x 36 = 936). Divided by 5 = 187 sets of 5 plus one left over. (187 x 5 = 935 + 1 = 936).

If you subtract off the '24 sets of four plus 24 singles' for the partial plus signs, that leaves 163 sets of 5 (187 - 24 = 163. I counted this as 24 full sets since 24 x 4 =96 + 24 = 120/5 = 24)

So:
163 x 5 = 815
24 x 4 = 96
24 x 1 = 24
815 + 96 + 24 = 935

Okay, I'm off by one. So you may need one extra 'onesie'. Personally, I'd cut an extra set of 5, because it may depend on how you start the row whether you have a full or partial 'plus sign'.

Or just cut about 936 EXTRA squares, piece those together too, and then you can send the extra top to me!! :) :)

Andi

Thanks.....that's exactly what I finally came up with....just in another round-about way lol!

Whoo....better get to cuttin'....so many more to go. Last count was 43 sets of 5 done so far.
Speaking of math; if I have only 24 fabrics to cut from, how many pluses from each fabric would I want to make it as diverse as possible? I'm cutting from FQ's and am getting about (7) 2.5" x 21 2/8" strips and about (8) squares per strip; sometimes just 7 depending on how much I have to clean up the edges. Is there a way to figure that? I'm sure I divide, but what numbers to do it with? hmmmm

Ha ha! When I first started reading this post I couldn't figure out what my problem was. :D Then I realized I was being quoted!

I am making my quilt the size in the magazine. Right now the second quarter is on the wall with ten rows of it sewn together. This is a challenging pattern, even though it is a one patch. Keeping the pieces in the right order is CRAZY WILD!

Have fun working on this one. I almost choked reading it is your first quilt.
peace

EDIT: As for how many pieces from a FQ: I figure from a true FQ you should get 24 - 2 1/2" sqs.
A FQ is 9 x 22" You get three length wise cuts @ 2.5"W and
you get 8 - sub cuts from the 22" long strip

3 x 8 = 24 There will be some scrap left over and if you have to true up the FQ you may get less than 24 - 2.5" sqs.

Hope this helps

I am collecting 2 1/2 inch squares for my own "Charming Additions" quilt. But I am cutting my squares from left over scraps from other current quilt projects and my stash. At this point I have no idea how many I have. It will be a someday quilt.

Hi ube quilting!

Actually a FQ is 18" x 22" and after cleaning up edges I'm averaging around 50-2.5" squares :)

I know about how many squares per FQ I get, but am wanting to figure how I can somewhat decide how to sorta make a decision on how many "pluses" (sets of 5) I should stack up of one color/FQ so I don't have an overload of one and not enough of another? Did that make any sense? Let's say I want so many of any given FQ, how do I figure that out? If I;m averaging 50 squares per FQ, I don't want to cut every last bit into squares when I won't need that many. I could just leave some as 2.5" strips for something else.

Thanks :)

Silly me! I never was very good at math. I don't know what I was thinking.

My quilt will be made without repeating fabrics so I don't have that math to deal with:D. You are going to have to divide out the # of + signs and FQs to get an idea of how they will balance in the quilt. Good luck and please post your progress. I am anxious to see it as it comes together.
peace

I am a scrap quilt fanatic and have to make this one! I just finished cutting small (3") medium (6") and large (9") tumblers for three different charm quilts......I'll start cutting squares now! Thanks!