EQ5 yardage estimates

yup, eq is excessive. it hasnt the ability to see the fabric and what to us are obvious ways to save. i think using your own knowledge and one of those fabric calculators might give closer results. just write down each step along the way and add'em up. that said, if you follow eq, you've got more stash to play with and/or the extra could make a quilt case to store/carry it in or a pillow/wallhanging to match. j.

"Michelle C." wrote... I decided I might try to use the yardage estimates in EQ5, but at first glance, they seem excessive. Does anyone have any experience with this?

TIA! Michelle in Nevada, USA

Thanks Jeanne,

Thought EQ might be a short cut for yardage figuring. Wondered if I was missing something. Apparently not. :-)

Actually for one of my quilts, Storm at Sea, just a quick guestimate makes me think EQ almost doubled the necessary yardage for the background fabric. I usually figure what I think I need, then add extra just to be sure.

Best regards, Michelle > yup, eq is excessive.

Michelle, the way that EQ figures yardage is to assume every piece is cut from a different square/rectangle. So if you are making half square triangles, it will be double what you really need, because it will assume 2 squares for each triangle square, instead of 2 squares of fabric yielding 2 triangle squares. (Does that make sense???) So for some pieces it will be close, if they are squares/rectangles. And remember that EQ5 figures borders cut on the lengthwise grain and not pieced. Sometimes you can get a closer estimate by recoloring some patches, just for fabric quantities. For example, in a storm at sea quilt all the triangles for the square in a square and diamond in a rectangle parts will have double the fabric needed for those triangles. So if you color all the ones that will be a particular color with a different color you can find the amount needed for those triangles by dividing the given quantity in half (and adding a bit.....){example, totally off the top of my head: For a SatS quilt, you need 10 square in a square blocks that have white triangles, and 20 diamond in a rectangle blocks that need blue triangles. These colors may be repeated in the squares, but ignore that for the moment. Color just the triangles a different color... instead of white make them cream, instead of blue use green. Colors that are not used elsewhere in the quilt. Check yardages.... If it says you need 1 yard of the "cream' you really only need one half yard, since you get twice as many from one square.} E-mail me if you need more help with this. And also remember that those on-point squares will be cut on grain but the yardage calculation is based on a square that surrounds the piece... in other words almost twice as much again. The program is great, and you shouldn't run short of fabric using it, but it does pay to do a bit of figuring too.

have fun, Pati, in Phx

On Jul 12, 11:52=A0am, "Michelle C." wrote:

Hi Pati,

Yes, that DOES make sense! Thanks for the clue. It does explain how EQ came up with over 13 yards of background fabric for SatS. Yikes! I'll be keeping your explanation for future reference.

Thanks so much, Michelle > Michelle, the way that EQ figures yardage is to assume every piece is

for anyone interested...