Making my own layer cake

[Louise]

Correct me if I'm wrong do I need about 3 yards of fabric to make one 42 piece layer cake ?

[jody bebault]

three plus at least 3-4 inches. However, I'm thinking it would be boring. I made my own but used six or more fabrics so I had variety. What pattern are you planning? Here's mine

[GrammaBabs]

sounds about right... I am NO MATHAMATICIAN for sure,, but my way is... appox. 4 pieces "down" the 42" width,,, 5 pieces across = 50",,,, 50 divided by 36 (yd meas.) is....1.38 approx... so 1- 1/2yds in my book...so all you math whizes,,, can start laughing now, but it's all I know... really...LOL
Am I right girls... tell me...B

[Louise]

I want to make Jenny's latest tutorial using to patriotic fabrics.

[Sylvia H]

sounds about right... I am NO MATHAMATICIAN for sure,, but my way is... appox. 4 pieces "down" the 42" width,,, 5 pieces across = 50",,,, 50 divided by 36 (yd meas.) is....1.38 approx... so 1- 1/2yds in my book...so all you math whizes,,, can start laughing now, but it's all I know... really...LOL
Am I right girls... tell me...B

Your calculations are correct - but 5 pieces across and 4 pieces down only give you 20 squares, so this has to be at least doubled to get a layer cake with 40 squares. If she wants 42 squares, then she will probably need 3 yards plus the extra 3 - 4 inches suggested by Jodi.

[Vonnie]

You will need 100" to get 40 ten inch squares since you can only get 4 squares width of fabric. 110" to get 44 squares. (110 divided by 10 = 11, 11 X 4 = 44)

If your pattern is adaptable to a 9 inch square, you could just buy a bunch of fat quarters. You could get 4 nine inch squares plus one 3 inch by 18 inch strip out of each fat quarter. This sure gives me some ideas - I have a lot of fat quarters. I usually buy a couple whenever I go to a quilt store. Think the magic square tutorial using 9 inch squares instead of 10 inch.

[Bubby]

Sylvia is correct (above). I would buy 3 1/8 or 3 1/4 yards just in case you need to straighten your edge a smidgen a time or two. I would rather have a little too much than a little too little!

[Leah53]

jody, I made one similar to yours but I mixed and matched the squares, meaning I used 2 coordinating squares to make each block. I love this pattern, so easy and has a surprising look when it's all put together. I just wish I had used 1.5" sashing in putting the rows together instead of 2.5". I didn't put a sashing in between sewing the blocks together so it looks different. Next time I will do it your way.