Quilters - help!

[starrypines]

A yard of fabric is usually 36x45 inches.

[indianchica]

starrypines is right - some are 36x54 but they will say that at the end if that is the case.

It totally depends how your squares will go - for example, if you have a square that is completely red, then you will need that size (6.5 in by 6.5 in) but if you have two that are half red and half yellow, then you have more flexibility. Even though your total need is slightly more than before, you can get by with less fabric bc one piece only needs to be 3.5 x 6.5 (need two so 7 total, which is more than 6.5). I think I have confused even myself.

[verycontrary247]

Not answering your question buuuuut If this is your first quilt I'd probably take the easy route and buy charm squares (5x5 precut fabric).

[speckledfrog]

This is what I do:

I get a sheet of paper and then draw a rectangle on it. Assume 40 inches in width for a bolt of fabric (most are 42-44 but assuming 40 gives you some wiggle room which is particularly important if you buy your fabric at Joann because they cut it like a bunch of crazy people) and write that on the top of your rectangle.

Now, draw how many squares you will need going across. You can fit six 6.5 inch squares across the 40 inch width. If you need 6 or fewer squares of that fabric you can get 1/4 yard (9 inches long). If you need 7-12 squares of that fabric you need 1/2 yard.



I like to draw it out because it allows me to easily figure out how much I need and acts as a kind of a map on how to cut my fabric, which is particularly helpful once you start making quilts that have different sized pieces.

[speckledfrog]

Apr 1, 2013 13:33:26 GMT -5 squirrelymom said:

Okay, are you using a rotary cutter? If so, you'll probably fold the fabric in fourths and cut strips that you'll then cut into blocks. When you fold 44/45" fabric into fourths, and cut off a 6 1/2" "strip", you'll be able to cut about 6 x 6.5" blocks out of that strip.

So, take the number of blocks you need of a color and divide that by 6. That's the number of 6.5" strips you'll need. Add those 6.5s up, and that's the length (yards/inches) you'll need. I'd add a little to that number because they never cut the fabric exactly square.

This is clear as mud, isn't it?

Ha!  Makes sense to me.    iamsnazzy, once you get your fabric and start cutting it will make more sense.  Since you don't know how much fabric to get I'm guessing you aren't working off a pattern.  Do you have a picture of what you want to make?