Work out quilt-pattern yardage, line by line

Start with the physical cut list

The fictional Lantern Path sample has an 8-inch finished block. Baby uses 4 columns × 5 rows (20 blocks); Throw uses 6 × 7 (42 blocks). Every fabric has 40 inches of usable width, after excluding selvedges.

• For each block, cut two Print (B) rectangles, 2½ × 8½ inches.
• Also cut one Background (A) square and one Accent (C) square, each 4⅞ × 4⅞ inches. The HST label describes cutting each square diagonally; the quantity still counts physical squares.
• Add 2-inch finished sashing between and around blocks, Accent cornerstones, one 4-inch finished Print border, and 2½-inch Accent binding.

The sample policy adds one widest strip per top fabric, then rounds each fabric up to the next ⅛ yard. Backing has its own extra allowance, set to zero here. Write down the allowance policy you intend to use; do not silently add it twice.

Turn pieces into strips

For one piece size: pieces per strip = round down (usable width ÷ subcut length). Required strips = round up (piece count ÷ pieces per strip). Fabric used along the bolt = strips × strip width.

• Baby Background squares: 40 ÷ 4⅞ allows 8 per strip. Twenty squares need 3 strips, using 14⅝ inches.
• Baby sashing: 4 × 6 + 5 × 5 = 49 rectangles. Four 8½-inch subcuts fit each 40-inch strip, so 49 pieces need 13 strips, using 32½ inches.
• Baby Print block pieces: 40 rectangles need 10 strips, using 25 inches.
• Baby Accent squares: 20 need 3 strips, using 14⅝ inches. Its 30 cornerstones need 2 more strips of 2½ inches.

The cutting CSV lists a remainder after a full strip of subcuts: 1 inch for eight 4⅞-inch squares, or 6 inches for four 8½-inch rectangles. A partly used final strip can leave more. Different subcut lengths are not packed together in this conservative calculation.

Account for the joins

Baby’s sashed centre is 42 × 52 inches. The border makes the finished top 50 × 60. With sides attached first, the cut border lengths are two at 52½ and two at 50½ inches: 206 inches in one joined chain.

• Border: six 40-inch strips, minus five straight joins losing ½ inch each, leave 237½ inches. Six 4½-inch strips consume 27 inches of Print fabric.
• Binding: the 220-inch perimeter plus 12 inches extra needs 232 inches. Seven 40-inch strips, minus six diagonal joins losing 2½ inches each, leave 265 inches. Seven 2½-inch strips consume 17½ inches of Accent fabric.

Add the stated allowance once

One eighth of a yard is 4½ inches. Add the chosen extra, divide by 4½ and round up to a whole number of eighths.

• Background: 47⅛ raw + 4⅞ extra = 52 inches. Round up to 12 eighths: 1½ yards (54 inches).
• Print: 52 raw + 4½ extra = 56½ inches. Round up to 13 eighths: 1⅝ yards (58½ inches).
• Accent: 37⅛ raw + 4⅞ extra = 42 inches. Round up to 10 eighths: 1¼ yards (45 inches).

Calculate the second size independently

Throw has 42 blocks, 97 sashing rectangles and 56 cornerstones, with a 70 × 80-inch finished top. The block count is 2.1 times Baby’s; the sashing count is about 1.98 times and the cornerstone count about 1.87 times. A single scale factor cannot replace these counts.

• Throw Background: 91¾ raw + 4⅞ extra = 96⅝ inches → 2¾ yards.
• Throw Print: 88½ raw + 4½ extra = 93 inches → 2⅝ yards.
• Throw Accent: 61¾ raw + 4⅞ extra = 66⅝ inches → 1⅞ yards.

Compare both backing orientations

Add 4 inches beyond every edge. Baby needs a 58 × 68-inch backing rectangle. Two 58-inch panels use 116 inches of fabric; turned the other way, two 68-inch panels use 136 inches. Choose 116 and round up to 3¼ yards.

Throw needs 78 × 88 inches. Two 88-inch panels use 176 inches; the other orientation needs three 78-inch panels, using 234 inches. Choose 176 and round up to 5 yards. These figures include a 1-inch loss at each joined panel seam.

Check usable width carefully: two panels can cover Throw’s 78-inch width only when 2 × usable width − 1 is at least 78. That means 39½ inches or more. A narrower fabric can change the panel count and the yardage abruptly.

Check your own pattern before publishing

• Measure usable fabric width and enter the physical pieces to cut.
• Recount sashing and cornerstones for every layout.
• State seam joins, backing overhang, extra allowance and rounding.
• Review the directions, then test-cut and sew before releasing a pattern.

DolyaCut supports up to 8 straight-set sizes, 12 fabrics and 6 block types, with up to 3 borders. Dimensions use whole eighths of an inch. On-point settings, appliqué, templates and foundation paper piecing are outside its scope; yardage is conservative, not optimized.

Verification for this article independently recomputed both sizes with exact fractions and matched the public requirements and cutting CSVs. The worksheet has two pages. Physical sewing and printers were not tested. The paid app was verified in Chrome 152 on Linux; other environments remain unverified.