Quilt block yardage calculator
Describe the block once: which units it is built from, in which fabrics, and how many per block. Set the grid. The calculator scales the units to the whole quilt, applies the standard oversize-and-trim cut sizes, packs every piece of each fabric onto its bolt, and returns a buy figure per fabric with its own cutting diagram.
The block grid
Fabric roles
Units in each block
Fabric requirements
| Piece | Cut size | Count |
|---|---|---|
| HST square, 4 in finished units | 4 7/8 in x 4 7/8 in | 40 |
Bolt view: 42 in usable wide by 24 3/8 in long, drawn to scale. Shaded bands are leftover inside the purchased length: 73 sq in (0.51 sq ft). Dashed outlines are segmented strips that get joined end to end.
- Cut a 4 7/8 in strip: HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; leftover 3 in wide
- Cut a 4 7/8 in strip: HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; leftover 3 in wide
- Cut a 4 7/8 in strip: HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; leftover 3 in wide
- Cut a 4 7/8 in strip: HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; leftover 3 in wide
- Cut a 4 7/8 in strip: HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; leftover 3 in wide
| Piece | Cut size | Count |
|---|---|---|
| HST square, 4 in finished units | 4 7/8 in x 4 7/8 in | 40 |
Bolt view: 42 in usable wide by 24 3/8 in long, drawn to scale. Shaded bands are leftover inside the purchased length: 73 sq in (0.51 sq ft). Dashed outlines are segmented strips that get joined end to end.
- Cut a 4 7/8 in strip: HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; leftover 3 in wide
- Cut a 4 7/8 in strip: HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; leftover 3 in wide
- Cut a 4 7/8 in strip: HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; leftover 3 in wide
- Cut a 4 7/8 in strip: HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; leftover 3 in wide
- Cut a 4 7/8 in strip: HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; HST square, 4 in finished units, 4 7/8 in long; leftover 3 in wide
The formula, in words
Unit counts are per-block counts times the number of blocks. Cut sizes carry the standard allowances: a finished rectangle adds 1/2 in each way for its seams. Half square triangles made two at a time start from squares 7/8 in over the finished size. Quarter square triangles made four at a time start 1 1/4 in over. No-waste flying geese cut the goose 7/8 in over its finished width and the sky squares 7/8 in over the finished height of the goose. Strip sets are sewn as strips spanning the block, then subcut, so the share of each fabric is its strips in the rotation. All pieces then pack across the usable width of their own fabric.
Worked example
Half square triangles that finish at 4 in are cut from 4 7/8 in squares, two fabrics at a time. Quarter square triangles finishing at 4 in start from 5 1/4 in squares. A flying goose finishing 4 x 2 in cuts its goose at 4 7/8 in wide and its sky squares at 2 7/8 in. Those are the numbers the calculator cuts with before it ever talks about yardage, and they are printed next to every piece in the results.
Questions quilters ask
Why are the cut squares bigger than the finished unit?
Because the seam allowances and the trim live in that extra. A half square triangle is sewn from two squares, cut on the diagonal, sewn, and then trimmed back to size. The 7/8 in over finished size is the standard allowance that leaves enough fabric to trim true. Skipping it is how units come out small.
What is a fabric role?
A role is one fabric's job in the quilt: the print, the background, the accent. Units are assigned to roles, and the calculator totals each role separately, on fabric of the width you set for it. Rename the roles to your actual fabrics so the results read like your cutting list.
How are flying geese calculated?
By the no-waste method: one goose rectangle and four sky squares make four geese, with nothing trimmed away. The goose cuts 7/8 in over finished width, and the sky squares cut at the finished height plus 7/8 in.
Can a block mix unit types?
Yes, that is the normal case. Add as many unit builders as the block uses, a rectangle border here, triangles there, a strip set for the center, and the calculator combines them per fabric across the whole quilt.