Today's post is from guest writer, Melanie Collette of Hello Melly Designs. Melanie is a talented fabric and quilt pattern designer - and therefore really experienced in making quilts. She has some helpful advice to share regarding determining what size quilt you need. She's also designed an awesome free printable quilt size guide to have on hand.
But first, I just have to show off this amazing quilt Melanie just finished making using my Double Crossed quilt pattern combined with her Pure Delight fabric collection. I think they're pretty much a match made in heaven. And now, more from Melanie!
Standard Quilt Sizes
Hi Everyone! I'm Melanie from Hello Melly Designs. Something I love about quilting is that the effort results in a very useful and loveable product!
Before beginning a quilt project, one of the main things to consider is quilt size in regards to its purpose. What is the intended destination for the quilt? Is it going on a bed, or is it for throwing on the back of a couch? Is the quilt for actual use or display? Will it be donated, or gifted?
All of the answers to these questions will help determine the size of quilt you will want to make.
Pattern is "Broken Lattice", a free throw size pattern by me
Luckily, many quilt patterns have multiple sizes available, and all quilt patterns will tell you what the finished size will be if sewn as instructed. However, you have probably noticed in comparing quilt patterns that not all specific larger quilt sizes are equal! There are so many reasons why the inches vary, like block size, block repeat, etc.
The important thing to know is that they vary only within a certain window of standard quilt sizes. Personally, I prefer throw quilts that can adequately cover a 6' man (aka my husband) on a couch and baby quilts that are large enough to donate to organizations (typically 40" wide at the smallest). Other than those arbitrary sizes, I follow standard bed sizes.
Pattern is "Daisy Lane" by me in Baby size
If the final destination of your quilt project is for a bed, the measurements you are aiming for need to be a bit more specific! If your goal is to finish with a quilt that perfectly fits your bed and frame to exact dimensions, the first thing you need to do is measure the mattress. Measure the length and width of the mattress.
Next, how do you want the quilt to hang off the bed? I have one daughter who sleeps like she's fighting a bear and no quilt has ever stayed through the night... until I made a twin size that had a far enough drop and tuck. "Drop" is how far the quilt falls off the top of the mattress, and "Tuck" is the amount of quilt that- you guessed it!- tucks underneath. Now all the thrashing at night can't pull off the quilt.
My other twin quilts have a sufficient drop to cover the mattress and hang just over the top of the bed frame. No tuck necessary!
Pattern is "Tick Tock" by Allison Harris in twin size
Taking these examples into consideration, once you have measured length and width, decide what your drop will be (typically 10+", typically the height of the mattress plus however more you want it to fall) and, if you want, the tuck (another 8"-10") as well. Mattress heights have such a wide range, the drop can be quite the variety throughout your house!
If you are working from a quilt pattern and the size provided is a little too small for your specific measurements, there are a few things you can do to get to your desired size: add sashing, add borders, or add additional blocks.
Pattern is "Mademoiselle" by me in a throw size
As a pattern designer, I always reference standard quilt sizes in my planning. The standard sizes can vary depending on what source you are using, but they are always very similar. The standard sizes have enough drop to cover a standard sized mattress and have worked well for our family. Since I use a reference so often, I thought I'd share a fun printable version with you too!
Adapting existing patterns or even single blocks to be a different desired size does take effort, but with a standard guide it is much easier to begin. I encourage you to try it out! I've created a printable for you with the standard quilt sizes.
Printable PDF Guide to Standard Quilt Sizes
The printable gives the standard quilt size, as well as the standard mattress size.
Quilt Size Printable by Hello Melly Designs
Hopefully it is as good of a reference for you as I've found it to be!
Thanks, Melanie! You can also check out Melanie's Pattern Shop here as well as some of Melanie's other free projects here:
Allison Reid
Thank you this is very helpful! Your quilts are beautiful!
Kathy MacCrea
Thanks you for this helpful information. There are many people who own California King mattresses and they are longer and narrower than standard King mattresses. I find so often that bedding manufacturers do not make anything for a bed in California King size except sheets. Thus those of us with CK mattresses are forced to either buy standard blankets, quilts and other bedding parts and turn them 90 degrees and "make it work". When I started quilting I figured it would be easy to find sizing, instructions and patterns for my CK bed. That was not the case. Guess I have to go back to the measure the top of the mattress, add drop and tuck measurements if I want a quilt that will fit my CK bed.
Marianne
What I like to do is I bought a white 'quilt' from the store and use that on my bed. Then I lay the Quilt of the Week (Haha!) from my quilts I've made right on top. Sometimes I square it up or lay it at an angle. It adds a changeable pop of color to my bedroom. I find it's easier than adjusting quilt sizes when making a quilt, and it was a big hit when I sold my house two years ago!
Amy
That is a great idea! I so something similar - a plain white or chambray duvet cover with quilts as an accent.