How To Choose The Best Quilt Sizes To Make

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Quilt sizes vary greatly depending on whether you want your quilt to have a drop over three sides of the bed or not. Also do you want your quilt to tuck under the pillow or go over the pillow? There is no right or wrong size when selecting quilt sizes, just personal choice. One quilt that I made for a single bed (with a drop on three sides), I gave to a friend and she uses it on her queen bed. It looks great!!

If you are having trouble deciding what size to make your quilt, take into consideration the following factors:

1 - What size of bed you are making the quilt for?

2 - Do you want the finished quilt to fit entirely on the top of the bed or do you want the quilt to have a drop? A drop is the part of the quilt that hangs over the edge of the bed. There is no right or wrong choice here, it is personal preference.

3 - If you are wanting to have the quilt drop over the edge of the bed then check the thickness of your mattress to determine the length of the drop you will need. Standard mattresses are 8" to 12" thick but some of the newer mattresses can be up to 20" thick.

4 - Do you want your quilt to cover the pillows? Add 18” to the quilt’s length for pillow coverage or, measure an existing pillow from the tuck of the bedspread underneath the pillow, up and over to the back of the pillow. Add this measurement to the quilt’s length. My chart below allows 10" for the quilt to rest under a pillow.

5 - Will your quilt design have a central medallion or pattern? You may need to adjust your measurements to keep the central pattern from hanging over the edge of the bed or getting hidden by pillows.

6 - How densely will you quilt this top? Quilting shrinks a quilt top by up to 5%. Therefore allow up to 5% extra room in both width and length for shrinkage. Adding a slightly deeper outer border is a great way to accommodate this.

A great reference guide to have on hand with all the quilt sizes and much more is the All-In-One Quilter's Reference Tool Easy-To-Follow Charts, Tables and Illustrations, Yardage Requirements, Cutting Instructions, Setting Secrets, Choosing ... Piecing Techniques, Number Conversions



The following chart gives sample quilt sizes in inches

Measurements are approximate and given for standard US mattresses

(Width X Length)

The following chart gives sample quilt sizes in cm

Measurements are approximate and given for standard European/Australasian mattresses

(Width X Length)

"Tuck" - the part of the quilt that goes under the pillow

You have now decided what size bed quilt to make and are wondering how much batting, backing fabric and binding fabric you will need to purchase to complete your quilt.

Following are guides to each quilt size. For a single bed quilt, double bed quilt, queen bed quilt, or king bed quilt you will find a guide with estimates of fabric and batting needed to complete your quilt.

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