Help making a pattern larger

Hi Carissa!

The "Basket of Chips" block over at quilterscache.com is based on a

5x5 grid.

Does the larger block have to be 12" finished because you're sewing it to other pieced blocks?

Personally, if I wanted a larger block of this particular pattern, I'd make it a 12.5" finished block - that way the grid easily breaks down into 2.5" blocks, much easier to deal with than a 2.4" square. The center HST would be 7.5" finished, and the smaller HST would be 2.5" finished. Obviously, the square would 2.5" finished. The calculations for the 2 other sides would follow using the 2.5" width strips.

And I would use the make-it-bigger-and-then-trim-to-size HST method.

Since I don't know what your intending for the setting, if you were just trying to make the block bigger (but not the basket), you could still do it at 10" and then just put a border around it to get it to whatever size you want. I love coping strips.

Hope that makes sense.

-Michele

So to make the center 7.5 finished, it would have to be 8" before I add the other piecves right? (this us where I lose it lol) And the 2.5's would need to be 3" now if I was to make 3" and 8" hst what size pieces would I need (the other place I lose it) 12.5 finish would be how big then? 13 in unfinished? HOw would a 13 in square look like trimed to 1.5? Would I lose any points? It is amazing I can quilt at all with my limited vision lol Thank you very much for your help :)

Carissa

OK, let's take that one step at time.

Exactly. You can use whatever method you want to make the larger HST triangle, but when it's done it should be 8" unfinished.

Yup!

now if I was to make 3" and 8" hst what size pieces would I

Yep!

HOw would a 13 in square look like trimed to 1.5? Would I lose

I don't quite understand this statement. What's 1.5"? Maybe you meant

12.5"? If you have a 13" unfinished block, when you sew it together with other blocks/borders/whatever, you will end up with the 12.5" finished block. No trimming. Repeat - NO TRIMMING!!!! Just take your time sewing the pieces to make sure you've got a nice even 1/4" seam everywhere and it should be fine.

-Michele

Thank you :) And yes I meant 12.5... The reason I asked is because I actually need it to be 12.5 unfinished, not finished.

Carissa

Carissa,

Ah, so you do need 12". Pity.

I'm emailing you the EQ cutting directions for the 12" block. You'll see that it's not nice, easy numbers but it will get you the size block you want.

I'm also sending you the foundation papers to paper-piece it if you want - another option to get the size you want without dealing with weird cutting sizes.

Give me a minute to upload it.

They'll be attached as .pdf files so you can print them right on your printer, and they will be the right size.

-Michele

Oh thank you very much :) I think my email here is messed up so as not to get spam... just remove the nospam part. I really appreciate it :)

Carissa

Carissa,

OK, I sent the files. Let me know here if you didn't receive the emails.

-Michele