Question for all you smart quilters
#1
I know this is silly, but here goes...If I have a pattern that says it is a 10" finished block and I want to make it a 12" finished block could I just add 2" to EVERY measurement in the pattern? Would that make it come out to a 12" block? If it says an 8" block I would just add 4" to all measurements right?
This sounds logical to me but I want to hear from the experts before I mess up a bunch of fabric and waste a lot of time. Thanks.
This sounds logical to me but I want to hear from the experts before I mess up a bunch of fabric and waste a lot of time. Thanks.
#3
No. You are forgetting the seam allowances as you are talking about finished sizes.
Also, were you just planning on putting a border around each block? Or increasing each of the elements in the block to make the whole block larger?
If you want to add a border around each block to increase the FINISHED size from 10" to 12" then you need to add a 1.5" strip around each side.
10" + 1.5" + 1/5" less seam allowences (4 of them 2 each side of the 10" where joined to the strip and 1 each end of the strip to "finish" ) = 12" block
If you want to increase the size of each element within the block to make the whole block bigger then you need to work out the math for each individual element. If it's a 4 patch you can probably do this simply (because 4 is divisible by 2), but if it is a 3 or a 5 patch ... you will be working in other fractions.
What block are you trying to increase?
Also, were you just planning on putting a border around each block? Or increasing each of the elements in the block to make the whole block larger?
If you want to add a border around each block to increase the FINISHED size from 10" to 12" then you need to add a 1.5" strip around each side.
10" + 1.5" + 1/5" less seam allowences (4 of them 2 each side of the 10" where joined to the strip and 1 each end of the strip to "finish" ) = 12" block
If you want to increase the size of each element within the block to make the whole block bigger then you need to work out the math for each individual element. If it's a 4 patch you can probably do this simply (because 4 is divisible by 2), but if it is a 3 or a 5 patch ... you will be working in other fractions.
What block are you trying to increase?
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,991
That won't work. A ten inch block won't easily translate into a 12" finished block without some strange measurements. It's much easier to change a 6" finished block to a 12" block because six evenly divides into 12 and 10 doesn't. It's also about how many pieces are in the block. Just adding 2" on each piece won't work as you need to allow for seam allowances. It's more complicated than you would first think.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 314
It's not silly, but I'm afraid it won't work. Let's say you had a 10" finished block made up of 5 squares across and 5 squares down. Each square would be 2" finished. If you added 2" to every measurement in the pattern, your squares would finish 4". That would give you a 20" block!
If you want to increase from 10" to 12", you need to increase each piece by 20% (12-10=2; 2 divided by 10=.20 or 20%). So your 2" square would now be 2.4". Add a .5" seam allowance all around, and you would cut your squares 2.9".
If you want to increase 8" to 12", you need to increase each piece by 50%, so a 2" square in the 8" block would finish 3" in a 12" block.
That's probably as clear as mud!
If you want to increase from 10" to 12", you need to increase each piece by 20% (12-10=2; 2 divided by 10=.20 or 20%). So your 2" square would now be 2.4". Add a .5" seam allowance all around, and you would cut your squares 2.9".
If you want to increase 8" to 12", you need to increase each piece by 50%, so a 2" square in the 8" block would finish 3" in a 12" block.
That's probably as clear as mud!
#7
Thank you all so much I'm sure glad I ask first. I didn't take into consideration everything that was involved. The block I was asking about is called diamond candy. It's a 10" block, I guess maybe adding the 2" borders will be my option for this block.
Thanks again everyone you sure saved me a lot of time and headaches.
Thanks again everyone you sure saved me a lot of time and headaches.
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,861
There's really no clear answer, until we know what block you are doing .... parts of each may be correct, or wrong!! :)
Some 10" blocks may translate easy enough into a 12" ... while some would be horrendous, with almost impossible to cut measurements.
So, please do share what block pattern ... and I bet help will be on its way to you from many posters here! :)
Some 10" blocks may translate easy enough into a 12" ... while some would be horrendous, with almost impossible to cut measurements.
So, please do share what block pattern ... and I bet help will be on its way to you from many posters here! :)
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,861
Originally Posted by sewhappy30
Thank you all so much I'm sure glad I ask first. I didn't take into consideration everything that was involved. The block I was asking about is called diamond candy. It's a 10" block, I guess maybe adding the 2" borders will be my option for this block.
Thanks again everyone you sure saved me a lot of time and headaches.
Thanks again everyone you sure saved me a lot of time and headaches.
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