How to work out fabric for quilt pieces
Quilters cut most pieces from strips that run across the width of the fabric, selvage to selvage. So the question is how many strips each fabric needs, and how tall they are.
- Divide the usable fabric width by the width of one piece and round down. That is how many pieces one strip gives.
- Divide the number of pieces you need by that number and round up. That is how many strips to cut.
- Multiply the strips by the strip height and add a couple of inches for straightening the edge.
- Divide by 36 for yards and round up to the next 1/8 yard. The calculator also tries turning the pieces sideways and keeps whichever uses less.
Example: 80 five-inch squares
Across 42 in of usable width, one 5 in strip gives eight squares. Eighty squares need ten strips, which is 50 in of fabric. With 2 in extra for squaring up that is 52 in, so buy 1 1/2 yd. From fat quarters, which give twelve 5 in squares each, you would need seven.
Squares per strip, yard and fat quarter
For 42 in of usable width and fat quarters with about 18 × 21 usable inches.
| Cut size | Per strip | Per yard | Per fat quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 1/2 in square | 16 | 224 | 56 |
| 4 1/2 in square | 9 | 72 | 16 |
| 5 in square | 8 | 56 | 12 |
| 6 1/2 in square | 6 | 30 | 6 |
| 10 in square | 4 | 12 | 2 |
Border yardage
Border strips are cut as wide as the finished border plus 1/2 in for the two seam allowances. The side borders run the length of the quilt center, and the top and bottom borders run its width plus both side borders. Strips are joined end to end when one width of fabric isn't long enough.
If you'd rather have borders without joins, cut them along the length of the fabric instead. That takes as much yardage as the longest border, so it is usually worth it only when the border fabric also goes elsewhere in the quilt.
Questions
How do I calculate fabric yardage for a quilt?
For each fabric, divide the usable fabric width by the width of one piece and round down: that is how many pieces you get from one strip. Divide the number of pieces you need by that and round up to get the number of strips. Multiply the strips by the strip height, divide by 36 for yards and round up to the next 1/8 yard.
How many 5 inch squares can I cut from a yard of fabric?
From quilting cotton with 42 inches of usable width, a yard gives seven 5 inch strips with eight squares each, so 56 squares.
How many 2 1/2 inch strips are in a yard?
Fourteen. A yard is 36 inches, and 36 divided by 2 1/2 is 14 with a little left over.
What is the usable width of quilting cotton?
Quilting cotton is usually sold 44 to 45 inches wide, and 40 to 42 inches are usable once the selvages are trimmed. Measure your fabric and enter that number for the most accurate result.
How many squares can I cut from a fat quarter?
A fat quarter gives about 18 × 21 usable inches. That is 12 squares cut at 5 inches, 16 at 4 1/2 inches or 56 at 2 1/2 inches.
How much fabric do I need for a quilt border?
Cut strips as wide as the finished border plus 1/2 inch for seams. A 48 × 60 inch quilt center with a 4 inch border needs about 234 inches of border strips, which is six strips cut 4 1/2 inches across the fabric: 27 inches, or 7/8 yard with a little extra for squaring up.
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