Noob question about yardage

[Wwena]

So I'm making one or possibly two (probably identical) quilts for my mother to use as bedspreads in their new guest room. I'm currently really in love with the log cabin block and would like to make a quilt based on that. I've selected some gray-blue fabrics and some beige-brown ones and I'm thinking blocks with the one half based on three gray-blue fabrics and the other half the beige-brown ones, the strips about an inch wide after sewn togeher (so I would cut them 1.5" wide). (Middle one will be whitish, I think.) Now. My problem is I have no clue whatsoever how much fabric to get!!

Is there any way to calculate that using the info here? I don't even know where to start... The beds are regular (twin?) beds set against walls, not big or anything, but the quilt should hang down some on the side of the bed that is facing the room. I'm thinking I might sash the quilt (but not the blocks) with coordinating fabric.

ANY help is most welcome! I'm going to order the fabric online for DH to bring home when he's over there in a couple of weeks, so it will be hard to get more of the same fabric later...

[pokeygirl]

My thoughts would be to find a pattern. The pattern will tell you how much fabric and how to cut it. Eleanor Burns has a fabulous book for Log Cabin quilts. There may be a pattern online. Good luck.

[K. McEuen]

First you need to determine the size of the quilt. A twin bed usually measures 39" by 75". If you want a decent drop, sort of like a comforter (can be used with a dust ruffle) then you need to add for that. A twin with a 15" drop would be 69" by 90". Backing for a quilt that size of the regular 42-44" fabric is 5 yards. The front, being pieced would be more because of all the seam allowances.
You are talking about using 6 different fabrics, plus one for the center squares. I'm leaving that one alone, as you won't need too much of that, probably a yard would be plenty for both quilts.

If you mix the three colors on each side up, you can order an equal amount. If you lay them out from light to dark, the dark will require more fabric as it will be using longer strips. There are a lot of different variables to consider.

If I had to guess, based on mixing the colors rather than running light to dark, I would order 3 yards of each of the 6 colors and that would be enough for both quilts. Of course then you have backing, binding, borders, etc. to consider.

[Sandy Navas]

Lorie - you are doggin me, Hon!! What is it they say about like minds?????

[Hulamoon]

A member posted this the other day.



I don't know how helpful it will be.

[Sandy Navas]

Anna, someone posted a link to this earlier in the week. Don't know if it will help you much or not, but at least it is worth a try: http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/73...6b4e0af82c.jpg

[Hulamoon]

lol and we almost the same thing!

[Wwena]

Oh wow, thanks so much! You always come through. That's just the logic and tools I needed. I can do the math now, no problem.