Ritamaew: Thanks so much for your info on scaling patterns. Between your information and obtaining the book referred to in other messages I think I will be OK with trying to get a better overall picture of what to do. Thanks so much. :D :D :D

Lucia, I only took the minimumly required math in school. Who would of thought I would willingly be doing something that require it so much or that even with math it would be so fun. However, sounds like that would be a book I would used. I too got one of those calulaters but haven't used it much. It did help me get the measurement across to given square center so I could decide what size square I wanted to cut. :shock: Would like to get better at using but that might take away too much from my actual quilting time. :lol:

I just ordered the book for $3.49 brand new, but shipping was $4.05. That's really where they make extra $$, like when you order from Amazon, most books are a flat 3.99. When I get them, the postage is usually in the 2.50 range. A buck and a half adds up even when they use padded envelopes and such.

I found a great computer software for beginers. Its called Quilt Design Wizard by the Electric Quilt Co. You have 200 blocks to choose from and you can size it to your specifications. It is user friendly and only costs $29.00. They have a website but it is also in quilting mags. I think it is great. YOu can choose fabrics and colors and borders. It prints out patterns and give you instructions. You can even set it for paper pieceing patterns. I am really happy with it.
My quilting group makes quilt blocks for donation quilts and they are always with 8 inch blocks so this software is perfect for sizing not only quilts but blocks.

There's another book that is really good too. It's called "Taking the Math Out of Making Patchwork Quilts" by Bonnie Leman & Judy Martin. The ISBN # is 0-9602970-3-0. It gives you standard measurements for different mattresses, etc., helps calculate sashing for straight sets, and calculates how much fabric squares, rectangles, and isosceles right triangles, hexagons, etc. take. It even tells you when to use each chart.!! In all, it has a lot of info for planning quilts. So it would answer the question about reducing the overall size of a pattern. Hope this helps.
Virginia

Here are links to several online sources to purchase the book:

http://www.quiltinghen.com/books/patchwork-mathwork.html ($8.95)

http://www.quilteddragon.com/bookfrm.htm ($7.50)

http://www.softexpressions.com/software/books/PatchwrkMath.php ($7.16)

http://www.grandmasatticquilting.com/books.htm ($7.20)

or

Get the lowest price on Patchwork Minus Mathwork : A Quilter's Guide to Planning and Buying Fabric without a Degree in Mathematics from AllBookstores.com. http://www.allbookstores.com/book/compare/9780881959451

Here are links to several online sources to purchase the book:

http://www.quiltinghen.com/books/patchwork-mathwork.html ($8.95)

http://www.quilteddragon.com/bookfrm.htm ($7.50)

http://www.softexpressions.com/software/books/PatchwrkMath.php ($7.16)

http://www.grandmasatticquilting.com/books.htm ($7.20)

or

Get the lowest price on Patchwork Minus Mathwork : A Quilter's Guide to Planning and Buying Fabric without a Degree in Mathematics from AllBookstores.com. http://www.allbookstores.com/book/compare/9780881959451