3" strip ... would finish at 2.5" .... so the four patch (see, I have to use a lot of words to get to the point <g>) ... anyway ... the four patch would be unfinished at - -5.5" ... then another 3" strip for the "border" ... so your border parts would be cut at yes, 8.5" ... in order to have enough inches for the block, you would want a strip that would be 3" + 8.5" = 11.5 (for each color)
the finished block would be ... (had to go back and look <g>) Isn't it so fun to sit and have coffee with me while I figure out that I might just as well go back and double check my figures???
The strips you cut to get your square AND the "border" ... have to be cut 3" x 11.5" ... which will yield a block that is ten inches (I used the cheater sheet <g>) .... don't think of it as a cheater sheet ... it is more like a TOOL! LOL <wave>

Thanks, Omak! While you were doing the math, I left here to go to an elementary school to judge a second grade dance contest. It was a culminating activity of one of their culture projects. The whole class was taught two Cajun dances and we chose the best of the group.

FYI -- It's raining cats and dogs outside. What a blessing! We need rain badly.

Thanks for the heads up on the numbers. I will be looking for scraps to use. Hmmm -- only 11 1/2 inches of each piece.

i apologize for being unable to reply to your questions! my laptop decided to freeze up! the easiest way to figure is this: Use the size of a center square & multiply it times three & subtact 1.5 for the seams = the size of the strip. [the strip is 3X the square] sorry it took so long!

oh, and the size of my blocks are roughly 9 5/8 to 9 3/4 before i sew them together [then they are 9 1/4]

so, if the center square (four patch?) is 2.5" (using 1.5" squares) ... 2.5" x 3 = 7.5" .... minus 1.5" = six inches ... I'm not sure ... maybe I will have to go to a sample, because according to my math, that out to measure four inches ... if I start with a 1.5" square/strip ... will have to figure out where I went wrong, eh? <wave> bummer!
Apologies to anyone that used my figures and it was all wrong :oops: :oops: :oops:

Very pretty! It reminds me of a fun puzzle. I bet you could get lost looking at all the fabrics.

(1)1.5 sq X 3=4.5 [-1.5]=3"strip + (1.5 sq)=4.5" for the strip

Your formula is simpler .. it takes me awhile to figure out if we are both saying the same thing <g> ... I went back through, and I think my math (though more convoluted) is correct, because what I was trying to show was how long the strip had to be cut to have the square for the four patch and the strip ... that way, one knows if I have enough of a strip to make the complete block. <wave> Good deal! :wink: