Quilt sizes

[eddieklaus]

I'm new to quilting. I have really enjoyed the few quilts I have made. But there is a question I need answered. When I've looked at a few quilts that I would be interested in making, why can't there be a choice as to the size of the quilt. I don't want just lap quilts. I would prefer king or queen sized quilts so I can use them on our beds. Please let me know.

thanks...charlotte (eddieklaus)

[Granny Fran]

Welcome to the forum from SW Ohio!! I too prefer queen or king sizes. There is not always an easy solution, but when I really like a quilt that I consider too small, I will add extra blocks and/or borders to get it to the size I want. Sometimes that means making my blocks larger or smaller (then use more of them) than the instructions indicate. I always make sure to increase the amount of fabric I buy accordingly, but if any is extra it goes into the stash for another day or quilt pattern. Hope this helps. I am sure our more experienced quilters will have suggestions as well.

[Midge]

Hi Charlotte, and welcome to the forum from Ohio. I'm pretty new to quilting too, and it was a learning curve to figure out how to work with some of the patterns. Some published patterns have the fabric requirements for various sizes of quilts but others aren't so complete. There are general guidelines for how many precuts to buy for each size of precut and quilt you want to make. For many patterns you can just add more rows to make the size you need because the pattern is based on blocks that repeat in a predictable way. You can follow Jenny's tutorials and soon begin to figure out how to enlarge the quilt to be the size you want. You can do the math yourself, too. If a quilt block ends up 12 1/2" unfinished, that will be a 12" block finished. So based on the size you want your finished quilt to be, you can multiply and figure out how many blocks per row and how many rows. Just don't forget to account for the drop on both sides of the bed, the drop on the length, and extra length if you want to tuck in the quilt under pillows. Once you go through it a few times it will start to make sense to you. There are charts around to help, too. Hope that helps.

[stationarymom]

Hi Charlotte
I can't help with your question but,I wanted to say Hello and welcome you to the forum from Massachusetts.

[Madeforyouinma11]

Here is a chart that might help on dimensions for the size you want. Just pick your option and you should be able to work with your pattern to get there.

[Tesaquilter]

About to start my first borgello quilt from a lap quilt to a king size and this chart will do the trick! I hope. Thank you! you're all so amazing!

[MomGram]

Wow Tesa, you are brave. Can't wait to see your Bargello. I have one on my wish list, I think it will be my summer project.

[AlohaSandy]

Aloha from Hawaii welcome to the forum good luck.

[sewhappy1221]

Another thing to keep in mind - the main design of the quilt generally covers the top of the bed, whether you extend the size by making the design larger, adding more blocks, or adding sashing and borders is up to you, and the look you want.
I am finishing a quilt where I added one column plus one row of blocks to the original design (a throw made of 20 12" blocks (4X5)) to cover the top of a queen-sized bed (now 5X6 blocks.) Then I added a 5 inch coordinating border, a 2 inch solid sash, a 5 inch "piano key" border repeating the fabrics in the blocks and a final 2 inch solid sash. This gave the 14" overhang I wanted, and added some interest to the quilt, which I thought would be boring if it was just all blocks with a narrow border as prescribed. And my solution was less time-consuming than making 26 more blocks to get the needed size!
As people often say, "My quilt, my rules"