How to Calculate Material for a Quilt

Handmade quilts can be precious heirlooms for family members.

Homemade quilts are not only warm and cozy they can be decorative as well. Quilt making is a skill that is enjoying resurgence; many people make or purchase them to give as wedding gifts or to celebrate the birth of a child. Homemade quilts are often priceless heirlooms and can last for decades, if given the proper care. It is important that you know how to calculate the amount of material you will need for a quilt. Whether it is for a living room throw or a bedspread for a king-sized bed, the amount of material needed will depend on a few factors.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure or yardstick

Instructions

1. Consult a quilt making guide online or a pattern at a fabric store if you are unfamiliar with the standard sizes necessary to make a homemade quilt. For instance, the size of a full-sized bed quilt is typically 81 by 88 inches, according to the Quilters Cache website.

2. Count up the number of quilt blocks, you will need to make your quilt. For instance, if each quilt block is 12 inches, you will need to use approximately seven quilt blocks wide to eight quilt blocks in length for a quilt for a full size bed. This calculation is for a quilt where you place each block next to each other, if you are using a sash or border in between each quilt block you will need to allow the amount of fabric that the border will involve.

3. Calculate the amount of fabric you will need for each type of block in your quilt. For instance, if you are using three different types of fabric to make your quilt, you will need to multiply the number of inches in each color block by the number of times this fabric will appear in the quilt.

4. Figure out how many quilt blocks, you will be able to get out of the material you have chosen. For instance, most material used for quilts has a width of 42 inches and if your blocks are 8 inches each, you can assume that you will be able to get five blocks out of the fabric width.

5. Calculate the length of each quilt block to know how much yardage to purchase in that particular fabric. For instance, if you use 12-inch blocks, you will need a yard of fabric for every three rows of this color block.

6. Repeat this method for each type of fabric in your quilt.

Tips & Warnings

• Always purchase more fabric than you think you will need. It is better to have too much fabric than too little. The fabric may be discontinued or sell out by the time you realize you do not have enough.

References

• Quilters Cache: Learning to Quilt

Resources

• Patchwork--and--Quilting: Quilt Making Techniques