- 1). Look at your pattern for the size of each block. For example, the pattern guide might list 12 inch by 12 inch squares. Also decide if you would like sashing between your squares or a border around the quilt.
- 2). Add the vertical sashing width to the width of the square and add the horizontal sashing width to the height of the square. In the example, if you wanted a 2-inch sashing around each square, then each square would take up a space 14 inches by 14 inches.
- 3). Multiply the side borders by two and subtract this figure from the desired quilt width. Add the vertical sashing width to this total. In the example, an 88-inch-wide quilt with a 4-inch border and 2-inch sashing would be converted to 82 inches.
- 4). Divide this width by the horizontal space requirements of each square, plus the sashing. In the example, 82 inches divided by 14 inches gives you 5.86 squares. You probably don't want a fraction of a square, which would look uneven, so you would round up to six squares in the width. This will add 2 inches to the width of the quilt for a total width of 90 inches.
If you don't want to increase the quilt size, you can reduce the sashing or border width. To reduce the border width, subtract half the excess from each side border for a total border width of 3 inches each. To reduce sashing width, you would divide the excess by one less than the number of horizontal squares and subtract this from the sashing width, resulting in a vertical sashing width of 1.6 inches. - 5). Add the top and bottom borders and subtract this figure from the desired quilt length. Add the horizontal sashing width to this total. In the example, a 96-inch-long quilt with a 4-inch border and 2-inch sashing would be converted to 90 inches.
- 6). Divide this length by the vertical space requirements of each square, plus the sashing. In the example, 90 inches divided by 14 inches gives you 6.43 squares. To avoid a fraction of a square, you would round up to seven squares, or down to six squares, depending on your preference. This would add 8 inches or subtract 6 inches from the quilt length, respectively.
If you don't want to increase the quilt length, you can use the same calculations from the width section to reduce border or sashing width. - 7). Multiply the number of horizontal and vertical squares to calculate total number of squares. In the example, if you chose to lengthen the quilt, then you would multiply six times seven for a total of 42 squares.
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