Drafting for the Creative Quilter

14 DRAFTINGFORTHECREATIVEQUILTER

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Whenever you draft, design,

calculate, or figure out anything

in patchwork, you never include

seam allowance until you’re ready

for fabric.

Please read through this entire sec-
tion before you start. You will not
actually use paper, pencil, and ruler
until Step 6.

1. Get out all tools, rulers, and
   graph paper (page 9).


2. Choose a pattern or block
   design. We will draft a Sawtooth
   Star.

Sawtooth Star

3. Determine its drafting category
   and underlying grid formation.

Sawtooth Star, 4-patch drafting

category, 4 × 4 grid formation,

16 equal divisions

Let’s Start Drafting

Once you are able to recognize the underlying grid formation of patchwork blocks, its time to test the waters. I
invite you to assemble your graph paper, rulers, pencil, and eraser and join me as I go through the sequential steps
of drafting a grid-based block. Reading the text and looking at the illustrations and photos, although important,
will not give you necessary hands-on experience. Doing is the key to learning, knowing, and understanding.

4. Decide the size of the block.
   Although quilt blocks can be drafted
   in any size you desire (page 17), it
   is easiest to choose a size that is
   equally divisible by the basic grid.
   For example, the Sawtooth Star
   is drafted on a 4 × 4 grid, so it is
   easily drafted in any size square that
   is obviously equally divisible by 4
   (4 ̋, 6 ̋, 8 ̋, 12 ̋). We will draft a 6 ̋
   Sawtooth Star.

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Don’t forget about less obvious

block sizes. For example a 5 ̋

block ÷ 4 = 11/4 ̋ grid. A 51/2 ̋ block

÷ 4 = 1.375, or 13/8 ̋, grid (see

Decimal Equivalent Chart, page

68).

5. Determine the grid dimension
   (the size of each individual grid) by
   dividing the block size by its number
   of equal divisions. For our example,
   6 ̋ block ÷ 4 equal divisions = 11/2 ̋
   grid dimension. I use a small hand-
   held calculator for all my “figuring
   out.” If your answer is not a whole
   number, translate three decimal
   places into fractions (see Decimal
   Equivalent Chart, page 68) or tenths
   to determine which graph paper to
   use (10-to-the-inch or 8-to-the-inch).
   Knowing the grid dimension not
   only gives you the information you
   need to draw the grid but also allows
   you to measure your patchwork as
   you sew (page 16).


6. Draw the chosen size of square
   (6 ̋) on 8-to-the-inch graph paper

and lightly draw the grid formation

within the square. Here’s where,

together, we put pencil to paper and

walk through the door to creative

freedom!

1½ ̋ 1½ ̋ 1½ ̋ 1½ ̋

1½ ̋

1½ ̋

1½ ̋

1½ ̋

6 ̋ square divided into a

4 × 4 grid at 11/2 ̋ intervals

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You could easily change the

size of your block by changing

(or choosing) the grid dimen-

sion. For example, if your grid

dimension is 2 ̋, you would mul-

tiply 2 ̋ (grid dimension) by the

number of equal divisions (4),

which yields an 8 ̋ block. If the

grid is 11/4 ̋, you would have a 5 ̋

block; if the grid dimension is

3 ̋, you would have a 12 ̋ block.

Multiplying the grid dimension

by the number of equal divisions

determines the size of the block.