Guides
Quilt-math, explained
Straight answers to the fabric-math questions quilters actually ask, with the formulas laid out so you can follow along.
Just after a number? Try the free calculators or theprintable cutting charts.
How much fabric do I need for a quilt?
The total fabric for a whole quilt — top, backing, batting and binding — with a size-by-size table, the waste factor to add, and how to work out your own.
How to bind a quilt, start to finish
A complete guide to binding a quilt: cutting the strips, joining on the diagonal, mitering the corners, closing the join, and finishing by hand or machine.
What size should my quilt be? Standard quilt sizes
How to choose a quilt size for any bed: standard sizes crib to king, how much drop and pillow tuck to add, and how the size turns into a block layout.
Choosing quilt batting: fibers, loft, and sizing
Cotton, polyester, blends, wool, and bamboo batting compared — plus the sizing math: standard batting package sizes and how much overhang your quilt needs.
Quilt binding by the numbers: strips, corners, and joins
A practical companion to the binding formula: how many strips to cut, the corner and join allowances people forget, bias binding math, and a size-by-size table.
How to calculate quilt border fabric
Border math that comes out right: measuring through the middle, cutting order for multiple borders, butted vs. mitered corners, and the yardage formula.
How to calculate sashing and cornerstones
The sashing math for any quilt: how many strips, what to cut, how cornerstones change it, and how sashing grows your finished quilt size.
Precut math: charm packs, jelly rolls, and layer cakes
How many charm squares, jelly roll strips, or layer cake squares a quilt takes — the sizes, the usable math after seam allowance, and worked examples.
Prewashing quilt fabric and the shrinkage math
Whether to prewash quilting cotton, how much it shrinks, and the buying math: the percentage to add to yardage so shrinkage never leaves you short.
The quarter-inch seam allowance, explained
Why quilting uses a 1/4-inch seam, what a scant quarter inch is and when it matters, how to test yours, and how seam allowance drives every cutting formula.
Flying geese math, explained
Where the flying geese cutting formulas come from: the no-waste four-at-a-time method and traditional stitch-and-flip, with a worked example.
Half-square triangle math, explained
How to size cut squares for half-square triangles, with a cutting table for the two, four, and eight at a time methods.
How many pieces can I cut from a width of fabric?
Work out how many pieces you can cut from one width of quilting fabric, and how many strips you need for a full project.
How much fabric do I need for a quilt backing?
A plain guide to calculating quilt backing yardage, including the seams and how to waste the least fabric.
How do you calculate binding yardage?
A plain guide to calculating quilt binding yardage: measure the perimeter, add a little for corners and the join, then work out strips and fabric.
Metric and imperial quilt conversions
How to convert quilt measurements between inches and centimeters without mixing units, with a ready reference table.
Quilt block sizes and on-point settings
How to work out a quilt's finished size from block size, sashing, and borders, plus how to cut side and corner setting triangles for an on-point layout.