lizcecil

Hello...I am wanting to make a 4 patch quilt that consists of (40) 5" squares...where half are solid and the other half are 4 patch. I would like this quilt to measure approx. 56" wide and 64" long. Any suggestions on where I can find a pattern or instructions? Any help will be appreciated.

MadQuilter

If you only have 40 squares, there is a little problem:

Let’s do the math

Assuming you sew the 5” squares together with a Ό” seam allowance, each finished square will be 4.5”.

Dividing 4.5” into 56” (the width of your proposed quilt) = 12.4. This means that you need roughly 12 squares across.

Dividing 4.5" into 64" (the length of your proposed quilt) = 14.2. This means that you need roughly 14 squares down.

To find the number of squares to fill the area, multiply the numbers across and the numbers down. This means that your quilt needs 12 times 14 squares = 168 5” squares to start in order to get the measurement you specified.

With your 40 squares you can do a rectangle of 5x8 squares but it will only be roughly 23”x36”

Look at the bright side – you can go fabric shopping. YEAH!

lizcecil

Thanks for the answer. I think I will rethink what I want to do here. Actually, what I want to make is a 4 patch quilt that is bigger than a lap quilt but not quite as large as a twin size. Any suggestions?

MadQuilter

Is the problem that you don't have enough 5" squares? That's a fun and easy fix: BUY MORE!!! :D :D :D

I think your idea is a good one.

Just to finish answering your original question on how to sew the 4-patch:

1. Take a dark and a light square. Put them right sides together and sew along one side using a 1/4" seam allowance. (The 1/4" is standard for quilting, but it is OK to use a different seam allowance on straight seams as long as it is consistent.)

2. Press the seam to the dark side.

3. Repeat the process with a second set of dark/light squares.

4. Lay the 2-patch block right sides together so the dark square is of one is on the light square of the other. The seams in the center should be nesting which makes alignment easy.

5. Pin the layers and sew them together.

6. Press the block open.

The 4-patch is one of the easiest patterns for a beginning quilter.

Have fun.