How much fabric should I buy? How big should my quilt be? What size needle should I use? These questions are common among beginners who want to start sewing their very first quilt.
Quilting is a craft that involves piecing together pieces of fabric into a larger piece of material. Quilts are usually made from cotton or polyester fabrics and can take anywhere between 2 hours to several weeks to complete.
There are many ways to measure your quilt size. The easiest way is to use a ruler to measure the length and width of your finished quilt. Then multiply these numbers together to get the total square footage of your quilt.
This method works best for rectangular quilts, but if you’re making a circular quilt, you’ll need to add up the circumference instead.
Keep on reading to find everything you need to know about quilt sizes.
How Much Fabric Do I Need?
If you’re using a pattern, it’s important to know how large the pattern pieces are before cutting out your fabric. You may have to adjust the size of your project by adding or subtracting fabric as needed.
To make sure you’ve got enough fabric, you can also count the number of squares in each direction (length x width) and divide that number by 4.
For example, if you have a 9-inch x 12-inch quilt, you’d need 18 squares. If you only have 16 squares, you might want to look at other options.
How Do I Make A Quilt?
The next step is to figure out what type of needle you will be using. Most people recommend using a universal needle because they are easy to find and inexpensive. Universal needles come with different sizes and lengths. The most commonly used size is No. 10.
You can also choose to go with a straight stitch, which is easier than a zigzag stitch, but requires more practice. Once you’ve decided on the type of needle you want to use, you’ll need to decide on the size of your needle.
For general sewing purposes, you can use an average size needle like a No. 10. However, if you are going to sew through thick materials such as leather or denim, you’ll need a bigger needle. A No. 15 or even a No. 20 would work well.
After choosing a needle, you’ll need to pick up some thread. There are many types of threads available. Some are meant to be machine washable while others are not. It’s always good to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when washing your fabric.
When you’re ready to begin sewing, lay out all of your fabric strips and squares onto a flat surface. Make sure everything is organized, so you can easily see where each section begins and ends.
Now comes the fun part! Start stitching one strip at a time. When you reach the end of the strip, turn around and start back at the beginning. Continue turning until you’ve sewn all the strips together.
Once you’ve stitched all the strips together, you’ll need to join them together. Start by pinning the top edge of one side of the strips together. Next, fold over the raw edges of the fabric and press down firmly.
Continue folding and pressing until you’ve joined all four sides together. Now you’ll need to trim off any excess fabric from the corners. Fold the corner under 1/4 inch and press again. Repeat this process until there are no longer any loose folds.
Next, you’ll need to attach the binding to the front of the quilt. This is usually done last, after all the piecing has been completed. Cut the binding fabric into 2 equal parts.
Sew the right side of one piece of fabric to the wrong side of the quilt top. Then flip it over and do the same thing for the second half of the binding.
If you’re making a reversible quilt, you’ll need to reverse the binding before attaching it to the back of the quilt. You may want to consider adding a decorative border to the outside of the quilt.
To finish the project, add batting and backing material. Bias tape can be added to the inside of the quilt to give it extra support.
What Is The Standard Quilt Size?
There are several standard sizes for quilts. This completely depends on what size quilt you are making.
California King Size Quilt
A California king size quilt measures approximately 72 inches long by 84 inches wide. This size is very popular among those who sleep comfortably on their sides.
King Size Quilt
A king size quilt measures 72 inches wide by 84 inches long. King size quilts are perfect for those who sleep alone. They are usually made from heavy fabrics and feature lots of patterns.
Queen Size Quilt
A queen size quilt measures 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. Queen size quilts are great for couples. They are usually made with lighter fabrics and feature fewer patterns.
Full/Double Bed Quilt
A full bed quilt measures 48 inches wide by 64 inches long. Double bed quilts measure 36 inches wide by 56 inches long. These quilts are perfect for families.
They are usually made in solid colors and feature simple designs.
Twin/Single Bed Quilt
A twin bed quilt measures 32 inches wide by 40 inches long. Single bed quilts measure 24 inches wide by 32 inches long. These quilts are perfect for children.
They are usually made of light fabrics and feature simple designs.
How Do I Know What Size Fabric I Need?
Knowing how much fabric you need to buy is important. You don’t want to run out before finishing your project. In order to know how much fabric you need, you must first determine the finished size of your quilt.
To do this, divide the width of your quilt by the length of your quilt. For example, if your quilt is 42 inches wide by 70 inches long, then you should multiply 42 by 70 (42 × 70) 2,940 square inches.
This number will give you the total amount of fabric needed for your quilt. Now that you have a rough idea of how much fabric you need for your quilt, it’s time to get shopping!
The next step is to figure out which type of fabric you’d like to use. If you plan to make your own pattern, you may want to consider purchasing pre-cut pieces of fabric. Pre-cut fabric makes it easier to create a design because you won’t have to worry about cutting any additional shapes.
If you want to purchase fabric by the yard, then you should probably stick to a specific color palette. Choose a few different colors that go well together. Once you have selected your colors, you’ll be able to find exactly the right amount of fabric you need.
Final Thoughts
Quilt sizing can be complicated, but with this simple guide, you can now understand how it works, as well as the simple method of making and sizing a quilt.
My name is Sarah Maine and my hobby is quilting. No, I’m not retired - I’m in my early 20s and have been quilting since I was a teenager! Quilting and sewing are incredibly underrated hobbies in my opinion - and I want to bring them back.
