Math help needed

[Annav]

I am TERRIBLE at math. I just did a bunch of figuring and my numbers seem pretty high, but maybe not, so I am going to ask those of you who ARE good at math to help me out. I want to make a twin sized quilt with a disappearing four patch pattern using charm squares. There are 42 charm squares to a pack, how many packs of charm squares do I need? This is algerba and let me tell you -- my 7 year old is better at math then me.

If I want a finished quilt (including a 6 inch border) of 70 x 94, I figured that I would need over 8 packs?? Could that be right? If my math is correct, I would need 8 blocks across and 11 down (a four patch would start out with 4 5 inch blocks but would finish at 8 1/2 inches square each, right?) With a 6 inch border on top of that, it would give me 70 x 94. But to get 8 across and 11 down, I would need 88 finished blocks and since there are 4 charms in each finished block, I would need 352 charms??

Someone please check my math please. I want to get the right number of charms, but I don't to overbuy any more than I need to either.

Thanks!!

[Hulamoon]

Re: Math help needed

Maybe this thread will help a little. I think eight sounds like too much.

http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/quilting-questions/12580-how-many-charms-packs.html

[Preeti]

Re: Math help needed

Quilt without borders = 58 by 82 and One charm square = 4.5 by 4.5 (finished)
Divide 58 by 4.5 = 12.8 (assume 13)
Divide 82 by 4.5 = 18.2 (assume 19)
13 multiplied by 19 = 247
247 divided by 42 = 5.8.
Get 6 charm packs

[vchale]

Re: Math help needed

If you want a quilt that is 70x94 you would first subtract the borders. If you mean a finished border of 6"(cut 6-1/2) that would be 12" length and width so your quilt top before borders would need to be 58x 82". You would need to do 7 across (59-1/2) and 10 down(85"). So 70 blocks (7x10) and 280 charms (70x4) and would need 7 charm packs. I just did a d4p but used half background squares and sashed each block. You would need less than half as many if you did it this way. The other thing you could do is buy layer cakes. Each layer cake is equal to 4 charm packs. Sometimes it is cheaper that way. Hope this helps.

[Annav]

Re: Math help needed

Thanks everyone for your help. I knew my math was off. Thanks so much!!

[Jean Sewing Machine]

Re: Math help needed

Remember in the disappearing 4 patch, you will have more seams so this will take away from the overall size of the blocks. The finished block is 8". So you would need to have your block rows somewhat in multiples of 8, and adjust your borders. Since you can get up to 5% shrinkage when washing, you would probably want to make it a little bigger rather than have it too small after washing ( Ask me how I know this!)

Here's what I figured

Basic rows. 7 blocks across and 10 down. You will have 70 blocks times 4 = 280 charms divided by 42 = 6.6 charm packs, round up to 7. Finished with a 6" finished border ( cut 6.5") 67.5 by 91.5

8 blocks across and 10 down. You will need 80 blocks times 4 charms = 320. Divided by 42 means 7.3 charm packs rounded up to 8. Finished with 6" finished border 75.5 by 91.5 finished size

8 blocks across by 11 rows down 88 blocks times 4 charms= 352 divided by 42 = 8.3 charm packs rounded up to 9. Finished size 75.5 by 99.5

So you were right about 8 charm packs. 6 just won't cut it.