Quilting Blocks

by theresa
(wis)

I have a question. How many 9-1/2 blocks do I need to make for a queen quilt? I want to make the Friendship quilt block pattern or Path and Stiles blocks. I can't figure this out. Please help. Thank you.

ANSWER

Your quilting block looks fantastic! I love the fabrics and the pattern. Great job! Now, let's talk about how to transform your blocks into a queen-size quilt.

I can't give you a definite measurement for the finished size of your quilt. That's because it depends on a few things:

Do you want your quilt to fit only the top of your bed?
Do you want your quilt to cover your pillows?
Do you want your quilt to hang over the sides. By how much?

As you can see, there are many variables. I did a little research and came up with the three most common measurements for a queen-size quilt. They are:

60" x 80"
90" x 106"
86" x 93"

I'll show you how to make a queen-size quilt out of your 9 1/2" blocks by using the first measurement as an example. (60" x 80")

Your blocks will measure 9" when they're sewn into the quilt. So, we'll use 9" when figuring how many blocks we need. If we add a 4-inch border, we'll need 6 blocks across and 8 blocks down to stay within our desired measurements.

See how I added the border strips and blocks across?
Quilt Blocks Across

Now, I'll add the borders strips and the blocks going down.

Quilt Blocks Down

Please remember to add 1/2" to your border strips for seam allowances. In our example, our border measures 4 inches. So, I would cut my strips 4 1/2" wide.

Now, you can decide how to arrange your quilting blocks to create your own queen-size quilt!