I always had a hard time trying to figure out how much fabric I needed for a whole quilt when I saw a block on the quilterscache site. BTY I love that site too. Until I got the Electric Quilt 7 program I'd always go into the LQS with the jitters wondering if I'd calulated correctly. Does anyone else have that problem?

I drive my poor LQS ladies nuts because I never have a clue. I've only bought 3 times so far and on the 3rd time, she got out a piece of paper to start figuring it out before I even opened my mouth!

I love EQ :D it sure makes it easier :D:D:D

I've never been great at math, but so far, I'm not having issues with calculating yardage. One time, though, I was trying to calculate yardage, and while my math was right, my initial numbers were wrong and my calcs ended up being a total of like 31 yards JUST for the top! I was so confused...lol I knew it couldn't possibly be right, but I also knew my math WAS right...once I rethought it, I realized my initial error and got it sorted out. I could never in a million years explain how I get my answers, but I know they're right. lol

If I don't take my pattern to the lqs with me, I have to guesstimate and to be safer than sorry, I always go high.
I like to cut my borders on the selvedge so I usually buy 2 3/4 - 3 yards if I think it will also go into the center.
I only buy less than a yard of anything if I think it will go in a sampler or for appliques.
Yes, I have to use a calculator and paper or I spend a bundle!!! :shock: :XD:

I usually have a pretty good guesstimate, but just recently I had to switch two colours in a pattern I was doing because I didn't have enough of the "red" for it. So I switched out the dark blue for the red and love the result anyway!

I've tried calculating the material I need, and when I thought I had it figured out - They changed the size of the material on me, hadn't realized it till I got home with the fabric. 3 yards in 2 of my materials was way less than what I had in my OTHER materials... I'm glad I broke down in the store and just got 3 yards of each (way more than enough... I kind of like my growing stash! )