How to Enlarge a Quilt Top

Customize your quilt pattern to fit your needs.

If you’ve found a stunning quilt pattern that you just have to make, but the dimensions are too small, don’t worry. You can enlarge your quilt top with some simple math and a photocopy machine. Your quilt will be custom-sized to your needs.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Paper
• Calculator
• Photocopier

Instructions

1. Determine the area of the original quilt pattern by multiplying the length times the width. Typically, these dimensions are listed on the pattern. If you have a twin pattern, you’d be multiplying roughly 68 inches by 88 inches, for an area of 5,984 square inches.

2. Determine the area of the quilt top you wish to make by multiplying the desired length by the desired width. If you want queen-size quilt measuring 86 by 98 inches, the area would be 8,428.

3. Multiply the area of the desired quilt size by 100, and divide the answer by the area of the actual quilt size. This will give you the percentage to use for enlarging your pattern pieces.

4. To illustrate the steps: By using the example numbers from above, you’d multiply 8,342 by 100, divide the answer by 5,984, and arrive at 140 percent.

5. Lay your pattern pieces facedown on a copy machine, and adjust the settings to the correct enlargement percentage.

References

• The Applique Society: And Now You Know

Resources

• The Quilter Magazine