Help sought for yardage requirements...

I have determined that I need about 2.625 yards of the medium dark fabric for 30 blocks. I will need roughly 13.125 yards of the light fabric. Without borders the quilt will be 75 * 90 inches. I'd still like to add a small "sizzle" border of the dark fabric ( perhaps 2 inches in size? ) and a larger light border ( perhaps 10 inches in size ? ) to a queen sized bed quilt. I can't seem to calculate my additional requirement needs for the borders and binding. ( N.B., I will be piecing the borders )

Again, my thanks in advance,

-dlm. "puzzled" in central MA

This is why I just buy twice as much as seems necessary. It's easier than worrying about running short. And I have no problems with feeding my stash. But to sort of answer your question, the original calls for 5 times as much light as dark. And you seem to be making it about 35% larger. But my brain is too fogged to figure out the different borders. So I'd probably just get

3-4 yards of the dark and 15 yards of the light, make all the blocks, and worry about the rest later. Might change your mind about the borders anyway! Roberta in D

"- dlm." schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:zu2dnSzzopeMAHfbnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com...

I have a few questions for you.. How many total blocks do you plan to make? Are you still planning to set the blocks on point? or straight? (on point a 5x6 block layout requires 49 blocks plus setting triangles or partial blocks, while a straight set 5x6 is 30 blocks.) In EQ diagonal set blocks are measured across the width of the quilt, or on the diagonal. So it will give a much larger block size. If you are setting on the diagonal, are you using solid fabric setting triangles or pieced ones?

Also, remember that EQ figures yardage estimates by "drawing" a rectangle "around" the piece to be cut and figuring how many of those rectangles you need. It makes no allowance for things like cutting 2 HST from one rectangle/square. So you end up with very generous yardage estimates. (In the case of HST you get double the actual yardage needed.) about the borders, if you are going to cut a wide border you are probably better off cutting it on the lengthwise grain, without piecing. You will need about the same amount of fabric, and lengthwise grain on the outer border helps stabilize the quilt and keep it from stretching. I cut most of my borders on the lengthwise, and then cut my blocks and such from the remaining fabric if any. (4 10" borders will take the full width of the fabric in most cases so you actually use more fabric in the seams cutting on the cross and piecing them. )

Pati, in Phx

- dlm. wrote:

Hi Patti,

I'm was *thinking* about making 30 pieced blocks set on point. ( Thinking because both of my DDs currently have king size beds, but I won't make myself a king size quilt, let alone one for either DD...so I was thinking something smalller...maybe queen size? ).

The pieced blocks are 10.375 inches in size, yielding a 15 inch block when set on point. Based upon your knowledge of the EQ programme, that is no doubt part of the reason that it is yielding such a large quilt as well as large fabric requirements.

Thanks for the information re: borders and cutting them on the lengthwise grain both for stability and better use of fabric. I'll make another attempt to guestimate the size of the two borders and actually sketch out how I would plan to cut the fabric given that I will be making HSTs. Hopefully, this will help.

- dlm. in central MA

Roberta -- Not only do I like your philosophy...but it used to be mine as well. I Presently, I have tons of fabric to make any size needed for DD#1. DD#2 doesn't like the same colours as DD#1, so I actually have to purchase new fabric for her. I'm not sure DH will agree with our philosophy I will say that your guestimate based upon the original proportions seems reasonable to me! Thanks!

- dlm. in central MA

Okay, Still don't see how you will set 30 blocks on point... I can do layouts with 31 or 32 but not 30. (31 blocks set as "rows" across of

3-4-3-4-3-4-3-4-3 with large corner setting triangles, 2" and 10" borders would be about 80 1/2"x94 3/4" with 10" blocks. With 12 1/2" blocks it would be about 94 3/4" x 112", with 11 1/4" blocks it would be about 87 1/2"x103 1/2". (You can add a couple of inches if you cut the setting triangles enough larger to float and essentially add a bit of "border" with them.) Setting 32 blocks with "rows" across of 4-3-4-3-4-3-4-3-4, 2" and 10" borders, gives: 10" blocks-80 1/2"x94 3/4", 11 1/4" blocks--87 1/2"x103 1/2" and 12 1/2" blocks--94 3/4"x112 1/2". (all approximate and rounded up)

If you are looking at the same block I am, it is a 5x5 grid. So my suggestion would be to make the blocks in a size that is easily done on a 5x5 grid, either 10" or 12 1/2" finished size. Then set with oversized setting triangles which would add a bit to the size of the top as well as "float" the pieced blocks inside the border. (this all assumes that you are not adding spacer blocks, but setting the wedding ring blocks to each other) For 10" blocks you would need quarter square setting triangles for the sides cut from squares a minimum of about 15 3/8", and corner half square triangles cut from either 8+" or 15 3/8", depending on your layout.

12 1/2" blocks would need to use setting triangles from at least 19" squares (for QST and large corners) and 9 1/2" squares for small corner HST.

Hope this all makes sense....

By the way, a simple work around for figuring yardage for HST in EQ: color all the half square tris for each fabric in a totally different color than intended. Don't use those colors for anything else. Then check the yardage for those colors, and divide in half. That should give you pretty close to the exact amount needed for those HSTs. Add a bit for shrinkage, miscuts and so on. Then add to the yardage needed for the rest of the intended color. Should give you a much closer estimate than otherwise.

Hope this all helps some.

Pati, in Phx

- dlm. wrote:

First let me say that I love your hints for using EQ5 to better calculate fabric requirements when talking about HSTs. I will also be resizing the block to make the math easier. You are a fountain of knowledge, Patti...and I appreciate the time that you have taken to work though this with me!!! I think the problem lies with my original description. So, let me try again.

The pieced block is found in the block libraries of EQ5 under Classic pieced - 5 patch blocks. It's name in EQ5 is Odd Scraps Patchwork. Rather than the 3 colours that are shown in the EQ5 block library, I will be using

1. The "purple block" will be replaced. Currently, the block is sized at

10.625 inches because I thought that when setting the block on point, 15 inches was a great number to deal with. I will play around with the block and the quilt to see what happens when I resize it per your suggestions.

As designed, my quilt top has 12 rows/strips. The following abbreviations apply: CSB - corner setting block; HSSB - 1/2 square setting block; SB - setting block; PB - pieced block

Row 1: CSB Row 2: HSSB, PB, HSSB Row 3: HSSB, PB, SB, PB, HSSB Row 4: HSSB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, HSSB Row 5: HSSB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, HSSB Row 6: HSSB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, CSB Row 7: CSB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, HSSB Row 8: HSSB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, HSSB Row 9: HSSB, PB, SB, PB, SB, PB, HSSB Row 10: HSSB, PB, SB, PB, HSSB Row 11: HSSB, PB, HSSB Row 12: CSB

When these rows are sewn together there will be a total of 30 pieced blocks,

20 setting blocks, 14 half-square triangles and 4 smaller corner triangles. Then I will add a 1..2 inch "sizzle" border in the darker fabric and finishing the quilt off with a border made from the light fabric.

Whew...does this make any sense?

Again, my thanks !!!

- dlm. in central MA

Sure it makes sense, now. Okay, you are using setting squares as well as setting triangles. Got that. Now, whenever you are working with blocks, make them easy to piece and work the rest of the quilt around them. Since this is a 5 patch block that means working with a size like 10", 12 1/2" or 15". On point makes the blocks about half again as large on the diagonal, a 10" finished size block is about 14.14", finished, on the diagonal.

Setting the quilt the way you laid out, 12 diagonal rows and all, with

2" and 10" borders is not quite 95"x109". If you reduce the outer border to 7", finished, you will have a good sized quilt, and be able to use the excess border length fabric for a good part of your block piecing too.

Are your setting squares and tris going to be the same light fabric as in the blocks??? if so, cut all the big pieces first. Then cut the smaller pieces for the blocks from the leftovers. (Don't ask... long story. But you don't want to try to piece the setting tris if you don't have to.......) With 2 1/2 to 3 yards of the dark, you can cut the inner border on the lengthwise with plenty for the piecing. Setting squares and triangles need about 2 1/2 yards, and 2 1/2-2 3/4 yards for the outer border and piecing with the same fabric should do it. Unless I have totally messed up along with EQ6 messing up.

Of course I always suggest getting a bit of extra just in case. I like to use some of it in the backing anyway. (EQ6 gives 2 7/8 and 7 7/8 yards.)

I enjoy doing stuff like this. Need to go in and do some more on some patterns I am working on.

If you need more help, please feel free to ask, here or privately. My addy is not munged.

Pati, in Phx

- dlm. wrote:

Pati - I can't thank you enough for helping me out with this! I've saved all of your messages as well as printed them off, so that when I play around with EQ I will have a better understanding of how the programme estimates fabric requirements. Your information regarding the cutting fabrics for the borders, HSST, HSTs as well as piecing the blocks is invaluable!

If I have any more queries, I'll contact you offline. Thanks ever so much!

- dlm. in central MA

P.S. When I was looking at your gallery I was stuck by the vibrancy of your quilts. I especially like your Harvest Stars, Kaleidoscope Quilt, and your Spiky Melons. They are beautiful!

thanks, and you are more than welcome.

Always glad to help out. And glad you enjoyed the gallery.

Pati, in Phx

- dlm. wrote: