Changing the size of a block
 

I want to make a quilt. Its one that I have made before several times.
I've always made it using 5 inch blocks.
I am wanting to make a lap sized one using 3 inch squares.

I will still cut up the same exact amount of squares just as if I were to use the 5 inch blocks. Am I correct?

And can you tell me how big a lap sized quilt is.Thanks

Need a bit more info to answer...how big was the one you have made several times with 5" blocks? How many 5" blocks wide and long? If you have that measurement you will be able to predict how big the one you make with 3" blocks will be. There is a range of sizes that fit in the lap quilt category. I make them anywhere from 40" x 50" to 60" x 70". Sort of depends what the eventual use will be. A "lap quilt" for a large man who will use it while he watches TV in his recliner would be at the high end of that range. A lap quilt used by a smaller person (or a child) would be at the lower end.

Just as there's a big variety in the size of laps, there's a big range of sizes for lap quilts. They can be as small as 36 X42, and I have seen quilts referred to as lap quilts that I would have used on a twin bed. As far as your question on the number of blocks to cut, A 5" patch finishes at 4.5" and a 3" patch finishes at 2.5". You have made the quilt before, so take your original finished dimensions and multiply them by 0.5556 to get the new quilt size.

Don't know about the block size but I make my lap size quilts at least 50W x 70L and then it also depends on the person its for. If they're extremely tall, I'll add a little to both directions.

It would depend on the size of the quilt you originally made with 5" blocks. Your quilt using 3" blocks should be approximately 40% smaller than the size of the original quilt.

The quilt is 16 five inch blocks across and 18 blocks down, it measures 72 inches by 76 1/2 inches.
It is a cross quilt. And I am just wanting to make it into a lapsize. No exact size. Just smaller.

Here is a picture of the last one I made.

Also, I would like to "drape" some purple fabric over the outstretched arms of the cross. Any suggestions? I was thinking maybe in place of some of the white squares putting in purple blocks instead of the white. And maybe 1/2 square triangles at the bottom of the purple? I can visualize what I want in my head. LOL I am going to draw a picture of it before I cut. Thanks everyone.

Also...a friend in Pennsylvania sent me 3 yards of wood grain fabric with knotholes in it a couple days ago. :)))) And that is what I wanted to use for the border and the cross itself.

If you cut your squares at 3 inches and use the same number of squares you quilt will be 40 x 45, if you cut them at 3.5 inches your quilt will be 48 x 54 and if you cut them at 4 inches your quilt will be 56 x 63.

Thank you so much Quiltaddict for these measurements. :))) i have copied them down. Thanks again.