OBW size question
 

I found the perfect fabric for a obw, the repeat is 18" and I am planning on making a king size quilt. I'm trying to figure out the size rectangle I would get from 6 yards of fabric so that I know how much border fabric I need.

Does anyone know based off of making these types of quilt how large the rectangle would be?

Thanks,
Yael

unless you have a specific border fabric in mind, why not wait?

I have found the perfect border fabric for it...

i see ;-) that answered that question.

OK. If you use triangles which are 3.75" high, and you cut your repeats into 18" strips, you can get about 70 sets. You have 6 yards, so you will get 2 sets of strips, or 140 triangle sets. If you cut your strips sets into 36" widths, you will have a bit less waste, and get an additional 10 sets. This assumes that your yardage is cut exactly square. So figure 140 to 150 hexagons. The hexagons finish at about 6.5" high and 7.5" wide. here's a link to a site where you can print off hexagonal graph paper.
http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/hexagonal/
I would first get some tissue paper and make sure that my math is correct on the number of triangles 6 yards will yield, then use the graph paper to determine what layouts are possible (long & narrow? square-ish?) then calculate the size of the finished item.

6 yards of fabric will not make a king size quilt. It's not even enough for the backing for a queen size quilt.

I'm trying to figure out how much of a border I would need to add to create a king size quilt using the 6.5 yards for the obw center part...

Thank you paperprincess!

I found this info on another post:

here is a quote directly from the OBW book:

"How much fabric should you buy? There are very few rules, but there are some guidelines. The size of the quilt depends not only on how much fabric you buy, but also on how many hexagon blocks...you eventually use in the quilt...(and) on how you arrange t he hexagons and on the shape of the finished quilt. To make a good lap-size, twin, or full-size quilt, 4.5 y ards for hexagon blocks or 5.75 yards for octagon blocks is enough. For a queen size or larger quilt, double those amounts to 9 yards for hexagon blocks or 11.5 yards for octagon blocks.

Measure the repeat. If the (repeat) is 6" to 8", which is a short repeat, the fabric will produce a very small project. Larger prints usually feature a repeat about every 24". This is the type of fabric I typically choose. Four to five yards makes a very comfortable lap quilt, and depending on the borders used, it can grow to almost any size.

For Hexagons: 6 repeats at 24" each is exactly 4 yards...Add an extra half yard or yard (4. 5 or 5 yards) to have a piece of the original fabric as a reference."

You're welcome, but please double check my assumptions!!! I love OBW's but I'm always amazed at how much fabric they use. Lots of pieces, lots of seams.

So to make it big enough I'm just going to get more of the obw fabric to make enough hexagon's I just need another 6 repeats so an extra 3 yards of that fabric.

Yael

Ok, I'm clueless what is an OBW quilt?

One Block Wonder. Maxine Rosenthal has written several books describing how to make them. Basically, you layer fabric just as with Stack & Whack, but you use only one fabric. Because of the layering, it forms lots of kaleidoscopic blocks, all smushed together. There's a folder of OBW's on this board's quilt gallery. They're lots of fun to make, but selecting the right fabric is key.

When making an OBW you have certain requirements just because of the pattern.
If it has an 18" repeat, you will need 3 yards just for one run. So you will have to buy the fabric in multiples of 3 yards. 6 yards will make 80 by 108 which is no where near king size not even considering the seam allowance.
If I were to make a king size quilt, I would buy 9 yards for the obw center.
Then a solid color from the fabric for an inner border.
Then I like to make an outer border of the original fabric so you can see where it came from. For this you would have to calculate how wide the last border would be and buy that much additional fabric.
Bind with the solid.
This is how I have done them and I like the way it looks, but this is your quilt. Just enjoy the fun of laying out all the hexagon blocks to create your center. Ann :o)

Have you ever considered using the original fabric as backing or as part of the backing?

http://www.robertkaufman.com/fabrics.../APTM-5086-62/

So this is what the fabric looks like.

I have used the original fabric incorporated both into the borders and into a pieced back on a OBW. To me, this is really a quilt that will lead you where it needs to go. Try all of your options with your hexes or octagons. Your selection on the fabric is going to make a beautifully subtle (I think) OBW. Will be looking forward to seeing the hexes you come up with! Good Luck!!!

Yes I have. But sometimes it is really interesting to see the original fabric and the result near each other. :o)

Just saw the fabric. I would love to try an obw with that, it is beautiful.
Ann

How can I find the obw folder? Thanks!

From the main forum page, go to Pictures, then the Sticky for Quilt Gallery
here's the direct link: http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...07-albums.html

Thank You!!! I'll keep your post for future ref.

I did an OBW and used 5 yds. With the boards it only was about a full size.

If you have a specific fabric in mind and find that you do not have enough of it when you get the hexagons done, this is another option that I used between the hexagons.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]400627[/ATTACH]

its not how much fabric you have it is how many repeats you have. That is how you figure it

Brows through all the OBW's.
This one is real nice with a solid to showcase the individual OBW's.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...53-333607.html

I give up this morning....what is OBW?

You're probably going to lose about 20% to 25% of your 6 yards to seams. If you don't discard any of the triangles, the finished size you can get from triangles from 6 yards is about 75" to 80" square. I usually make a Queen 100 x 100. That would mean you'd probably need a 12-1/2" finished border around the quilt. 3 yards would give you 10" borders. So, you'd probably need an inner border about 3" finished.

Check out Maxinne's 2nd book. She includes alternate cube illusion octagons that add a WOW! factor to the quilts - as well as making them a little bigger without using the original fabric.

JoanneS thank you. I'll definitely check it out.