Quilt Math 1 2 3

Do you like quilt math?  Do you spend happy hours calculating yardage for sashings, backings and bindings?  Or do you find it all a bit baffling?  Well I thought I would guage interest for a little mini series of blogposts on quilt math.
 If you'd be interested in a few little quilt math tutorials - nice and simple to start with and perhaps heading towards a little bit of geometry towards the end - leave me a comment on this post and, if there is sufficient interest, I'll get my A*** in G*** and get writing.  And we might even have a little Quilt Math button to help us along the way.  And please let me know what areas of quilt math you'd like covered. 

Comments

  1. Yes please from me!! I work in finance and use numbers all day, but the bee block that I just made for Jan is actually a 'save', after I miscalculated all my tiny blocks and messed up the sizes. Thankfully it turned out ok, but it wasn't the block that I wanted it to be!!

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  2. Yes please :) I can't get me head around inches and yards as I never learnt imperial!

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  3. Hi Lily! Yes please from me, too! I know you love numbers but i'm a letter person and just panic with numbers. I don't even try to calculate but make my works 'improvising as I go'. I would love to learn how to plan and calculate the blocks. x Teje

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  4. I know Jeanette needs to do this - I probably cheat by drawing it out, how many strips can I get from one yard / metre and figuring out how to maximise the cuts and quantities from the minimum amount of fabric (cheap skate)
    Actually we just did such a thing on Friday for a Christmas present project J is planning .... but she needs to get to grips with this herself ;o)

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  5. oh my gosh are you serious Lynne!! Maths is my absolute downfall. I have times-tables drummed into my head but that's it. I am never the person helping with splitting the bill anywhere - I always wait for someone to tell me how much to put in. So sad. I did history and law at uni, so there's a brain in there somewhere, hidden away, but not a skerrick of it is for maths. My sister is a high school maths teacher, and she looooves maths. So weird.

    So yes, I would so appreciate your time taken to put together some quilt-maths blog posts. They would be an enormous help. see you, Cat

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  6. This sounds really interesting, so I will be watching with brain (hopefully) engaged.

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  7. Yes please!!!! Just cover everything! I would so love to share this info with my friends.
    Cheers

    Linda

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  8. I NEED HELP WITH THIS! Find it all very taxing. Thanking you :)

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  9. Yes please...although I can quite happily crunch numbers seam allowances are my downfall.

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  10. Yes, to quilt math. Sounds like something I need.

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  11. Looks like you're onto a winner with this. :)

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  12. hello

    yes I ll be happy with it, you always can learn

    thanks in advnce

    hug miele

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  13. That sounds great! I always like patterns a lot more when they involve numbers and rulers, instead of templates. Maybe you can cover how you add seam allowances to diagonal sides (when you're making hst)

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  14. Love to have some math help. I usually guestimate for both bindings and backing and just hope for the best. I will take all the help I can get.

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  15. Yes, I always struggle to convert what I need between sites that use inches and centimetre, I know both but rubbish at quickly converting one to the other.

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  16. Replies
    1. LOL Katy! We Brits get so squirmy at math because it sounds sooo wrong to us, but ... let me just throw geeky linguistics out here for a mo ... Mathematics can be classified as a mass noun ... so, technically, 'math' is a perfectly acceptable abbreviation. Neither maths nor math is definitively correct or incorrect, they're just variations in usage ...

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  17. Sounds great Lynne! I was always good at math but the other day the seam allowance got me again ;-)

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  18. I so need this. I can sort of do it if I really really think hard but most times I just think it's too hard so I'll go find a pattern/tutorial that works it all out for me. Despite working with finance on a daily basis (money is different I can do money) I'm rubbish at maths. I resat it to up my grade and got a worse grade in the resit!

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  19. Yes please thank you...can never know enough, hear enough tips :)

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  20. Oh Lynne, this is why we love you. You are our quilting mothership.

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  21. I'm good at maths - but I really struggle - I get this deep fear when working out how to cut up my fabric - I have even contemplated buying too much of everything "just in case" until I worked out how much it was going to cost.....

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  22. I am a math geek too and my brain whirls with figures when I'm conjuring up something new but I can always learn more.

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  23. I don't do maths much for my quilts, I do lots of "what do I want it to look like", which prints, and the finished size, and then estimate what I need for different bits then over order (and sometimes under order!). So actually, a bit of advice and guidance might be a good thing, and save me some money! Starting simple would be good. Ange : )

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  24. And I'm with Katy on the maths thing, it makes me really squirm calling it math- it even has an american accent in my head when i read math!! : )

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  25. I absolutely love quilt maths so I'd be thrilled to read posts about it! I like nothing better than whipping out a bit of trig to work things out *wink*

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  26. I love doing the math when making a quilt. Kinda nerdy, I know! Having said that, I would still enjoy the tutorials - you may have a different way of approaching things that I hadn't thought of and it would save me time :)

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  27. HATE + QUILT + MATH = YES PLEASE + GET YOUR A*** IN G***

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  28. I heart quilt math. quiltometry?

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  29. yes please, always need more help with maths!

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  30. Any math would be helpful for me I'm terrible at it .

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  31. As a beginner I'd definitely like to see this! Great idea

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  32. Yes, please. I do everything by the seat of my pants, and have been lucky so far but that can't last forever! The seam allowances get me the most. Thank you for offering the help.

    Linda

    lindabarnard1 at comcast dot net

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  33. I would love that ~ I usually just get what I think might be enough fabric for a project ~ most often I don't get enough and a few times, way to much. Generally I'm a dufus when it comes to math.

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  34. I can only cope if you call it Maths too! I love my numbers but I am particularly prone to cocking up yards and inches (e.g. the time I calculated my backing thinking that there were 12 inches in a yard ... no, that would be a foot). I would love to see various dimensions for making flying geese. I also always have to do a calculation before I buy yardage in the UK as obviously it is sold by the metre (and hence FQs are bigger too), so when a pattern says I need (say) 1 and 7/8th yards, I need to convert it to metres first or risk being a bit short or buying more than I need.

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  35. I would love this! I always get frustrated trying to figure out sashing and how to cut large amounts of fabric accurately. Ugh!

    Amanda Rose
    http://sewmuchtosay.blogspot.com

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  36. Oh, yes please! As for specific suggestions, I'll have to get back to you. I know I was wrestling with some quilt math just the other day & never did figure it out properly, but my brain is too foggy with a head cold right now to remember just what it was.
    BTW, I love the look of your blog right now :)

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  37. I really don't care what you call it...math, maths or mathematics!
    Let's call it number crunching and agree that there are quite a few that would like some assisstance in this area. I don't know how many times I've had to "improvise" because I just haven't got enough fabric for a project.
    I'd also like to start designing and, eventually, offer patterns so this demystification of the numbers would be more than helpful for me. =O)
    Thank you sharing this skill.

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  38. I would love to see a series on Quilt Math! I'm a newbie quilter so I haven't really dove into the hard math yet.

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  39. I would be thrilled... as to specifics, I would want pretty much everything... math and I are not good friends, and sometimes I don't realise that I need him to play along because winging it won't work LOL

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  40. I love math; but help is always welcome. Go for it.

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  41. This is a great idea, I have considered doing something like it in the past just to keep everything handy.

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  42. Math is a major weakness for me. What a great idea! Count me in!

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  43. I would be soooo interested in this. Some days I spend more time figuring out the yardage math than sewing.

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  44. math is definitely not a strong point for me. would love to hear any advice or tips!

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  45. It would certainly be helpful to refresh and relearn some techniques -- thanks for the help !}

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  46. My brain is a math machine...except, of course, when I want my quilt blocks to be definite sizes. What's with that? Would love your tutelage!!

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  47. YES! I was never great at Maths at school, I only got a B because my teacher did my coursework for me...

    Half rectangle triangles please- they are a pain in the backside and I end up resorting to paper piecing.

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  48. I have no problems with binding and backing and batting, but my nemesis is calculating yardage. I just buy tons and then I have tons of leftovers and I hate that. I'd love to see something on how to calculate yardage based on type of block and block size.

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  49. Since I've been known to buy in whole bolt increments (now and again)....you can see I've left myself plenty of leeway should any math errors occur. That's not really a helpful solution is it?

    Actually it's a great topic.....I used to work in a fabric store and saw many people struggle with this.

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  50. Oh heavens YES PLEASE!!! Any and all areas that you would cover is great for me!

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  51. If you really wanted to go crazy, I'd love to know how to resize block patterns. Currently beyond my skill set!

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  52. Too funny! I'm with Helen on the obligatory 's'!

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  53. I'm so new to this I didn't even know there was math in quilting! Obviously I need this!

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  54. I would like to know: If I want to make a square in a square block, is there a formula for determining the middle square size and the triangle pieces. Thanks, Lily. (PS - Quilters Newsletter magazine ran a series on quilting math a few years ago. If you can get your hands on some old copies, that may help with topics and formulas.)

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  55. Numbers and I get along pretty well, but I'm always up for learning new tips or whatever - I think it's a great idea!

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  56. Lynne,

    Yes!! I think it would be great. I like to figure out how much fabric I need for a ie: log cabin. I am working on a quilt from a well known designer and want to fit a queen instead of lap size. Those are the kind of thing I would like to learn. Thanks a lot Lynne! I appreciate what you do!

    Linda

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  57. Yes please! I'm no good at quilt math, and I'd love your expertise

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  58. Personally I adore math (my degree from college!) which is a huge reason why I started quilting in the first place!
    But I think you've hit on a topic that will help out a lot of people. Let me know if you need any help.

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  59. Love, love, love math. It is a most beautiful and under appreciated language. I look forward to the series.

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  60. Yes times 1000!! Way back when in high school I used to be good at math but when I try to think of quilt math I am stumped every time.

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  61. I wonder why it is singular in the US and plural in the UK?

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  62. I would love to get some quilt math help!

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  63. Very, very interested! I'm a math phobic from way back (after a teacher told me to stop staying after school for help because she didn't know any way to show me so I could get it). I'd love to learn now that I am not so cowed. This is something I really need to know.

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  64. Fantastic idea! Would love that. I need an awful lot of time figuring out the measurements (incl. seamsallowance) for every little piece of a block, though in the end I manage. I always wonder, if there is an easy way to "translate" a block from one size to another? Specially if triangles are involved.
    What I usually don't even try to figure out, is what yardage all in all I need. Don't know why, but have too much respect for that!(That's why I often end up with last minute decisions on how to fill the last bits in a quilt :)

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  65. Teehee I have Helen ! But in case she is busy it might be useful to know how!

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  66. yes please! I love numbers and understanding the calculations behind things ... I admit I use the Kaufman calculator to work out the yardage for things like binding, but I'd really like to understand the maths of it all too.

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  67. I am a teacher at an inner city school and a maths teacher and myself are starting a club called "the Maths Quilt" which we're using to get the kids into both mathematical patterns and craft! So I'll be watching this space with interest :)

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  68. I think this a wonderful idea! I'm pretty good at calculating what I need, but I tend to overthink it and check and recheck, then buy too much because I don't trust myself.0

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  69. A big yes for me! I was an English major-- you do the math. ;)

    I really hate this part of quilting, a lot. Any tips or tricks would be much appreciated!

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  70. Yes, Yes, Yes, I usually make it up as I go along LOL

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  71. yes I would love that! I use an app on my phone and software on my pc to work it out but I would love to be able to do it all by myself for maybe even designing blocks! awesome idea! xxx

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  72. I love geometry and it was my absolute favorite subject in school. But it is always nice to see how people might do things differently! So I say go for it!

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  73. For this, I would be eternally grateful! I am so beyond "math challenged!"
    I HATED geometry, and spent my whole time in the class thinking "NO WAY I w will EVER use this!" Then 30 some years later, I take up quilting. Who knew??

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  74. DITTO! I think that is a lot of interest. I actually only passed Geometry bc of a very good HS friend.

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  75. Can always use help with math, esp in making a quilt!!! And algbra is not my forte....so YES YES YES< please!!!!!

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  76. Lily, if you see a wonderful quilt that is a single, double or larger size how do you reduce that block/pattern to make it a baby or cot size quilt.
    Would love all the help that you have to give.
    Thanks so much

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  77. Looks like you have a positive response already, so my two bits is that I would appreciate any mathematical help, tricks, magic or whatever!!!

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  78. I adore Quilt math. I use the term "quilt math" all the time!!!!!

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  79. I would LOVE for you to do some quilt math tutorials. I am numerically challenged (if there is a numerical form of dyslexia then I'm sure I have it!). All of the quilting calculations make my brain a bit foggy so whatever you cover will be of help - thanks!

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  80. OH MY GOSH NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! NOT MATH!!!!! *insert picture of my hair standing straight up and me running the other way screaming here*

    I have had a huge mental block since grade school with math of all types. I will admit that I have gotten much better and while I have such a horrible time with math, give me a recipe in the kitchen asking me to multiply the ingredients and I'm golden. Anything else? Nope. That's where I ask my husband for help. Funny thing is that two of my three boys are smart as a whip with math. LOL Don't know where they got that from.

    Having said that and admitting my faults, I will admit that right now I'm so buried in things that sadly you doing this now I may not be able to follow along very well. If you asked for opinions, which you didn't so feel free to ignore me, I'd vote for this after the first of they year. :)

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  81. YES! Any help is always welcome!

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  82. Yes, please! I always want to learn more!

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  84. I did hideously badly at school with maths. It took three attempts to pass my Maths O level and another 3 to pass Statistics, oddly enough both were B grades! What stumped me was the algebra - pointless maths. I was lucky in Geometry and Trig made sense.

    My bugbear is measurements for HST's - I always struggle both with cutting and seaming on top of the maths calculations. Squares are easy (finished size plus 0.5 seams for each piece) but Pythagoras foxes me every time.

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  85. I hate dithering with quilt math, so yes please do bring it on.

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  86. yes yes yes! How to maximise the material is a big issue for me. I usually cut first and think later. I have been short of material on BOM's due to poor choices at the cutting table. So teach on please!

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  87. yes please!!! would love someone to shed some light on the matter for me!!

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  88. I follow tactile fabrics on facebook

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  89. I'd like to read them - I have a master's degree in math and yet still sometimes I fudge my numbers!

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  90. Yes please. I can figure binding, backing and dashing a. But yardage for certain quilt squares, HST, flying geese and I'm lost.

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