How to Calculate Quilt Fabric
If you are going to be making a handmade quilt, it is very important that you calculate the amount of fabric you need correctly. One wrong measurement could lead to disaster, especially if you are working with fabric that cannot be purchased at your local craft store. It is best to be sure that you have the fabric that you need before beginning a quilt.
- Purchase a package of basic graph paper to draw out your quilt design on. You can find this paper at your local office supply or department store.
- Draw out your quilt plan on a piece of graph paper. Be sure to write in the measurements of each square on your graph paper.
- Color in the square accordingly to match the design on the quilt that you are making so that you can easily determine how many blocks will be of which fabric in order to determine how much fabric you will need.
- Count the blocks out for each type of fabric that you will be using and record this number on a separate sheet of paper, along with a visual aid to remind you which number coincides with what fabric for easy reference.
- Add a quarter inch on all sides of each quilt square for your seam allowance and calculate this number into the amount of fabric that you will need for each pattern.
- Add the total number of fabric squares that you need together, with the seam allowance figured in to determine the amount of fabric that you are going to need.
- Double check your numbers just to be sure that you did your math correctly. It is better to measure twice and cut once to be sure that you have the right amount of fabric for your quilt.