QuiltSandwich FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Project support

How do I…

  • To begin you’ll need both the Quilt Sandwich and Color Hints Mosaic (CH Mosaic) apps. This is a brief outline of the process, go here for MORE DETAILS.

    A pixel quilt project begins with an image on your iPhone or iPad.

    Edit and crop the image so it just includes what you'd like in your quilt.

    Add the image to ColorHints Mosaic. Set the bottom tab to ‘Original’, Open the upper-left menu and add the prepared image.

    Pixelate the image using th CH Mosaic controls: Set bottom tab to ‘Mosaic. Raise left menu to set pixel shape (square or rectangle) and move the slider to set the level of abstraction. Raise the menu on the right and adjust the slider to adjust the number of color. When done, set ‘limit colors’ switch to ON to get the image ready to transfer to Quilt Sandwich.

    Share to Quilt Sandwich (‘Limit colors’ switch must be set to ON): Open upper left menu, tap Share, tap QuiltSandwich.

    Before selecting Import, note the overall quilt size and adjust the square, piece size, as needed. Set the patchwork block to your preference. The project can be given a name here or later in Quilt Sandwich.

    Open the project in Quilt Sandwich. It will be at the top of the list with all the pieces and color tiles as placeholders for the fabrics. The batting, backing and binding yardage is added as well. Open the Journal to find the pattern for block assembly.

  • Open the setting in QuiltSize.

    Tap '•••' icon in the upper right to open the More menu.

    Tap Share 'To QuiltSandwich' and start the process.

    MORE DETAILS

  • Fabric grain matters the most with rectangles, borders and binding. Quilters cotton has a grain because it is a woven fabric, made on a loom. How the threads are woven on the loom determines the crosswise grain and lengthwise grain. 

    ​Often, instructions simply state to cut "on the straight of grain." Both crosswise and lengthwise are considered 'straight of grain'.

    Lengthwise grain
    The fabric threads run parallel to the selvage edges. This direction is very firm and has no give, or stretch.
    ​This is the length of fabric purchased off the bolt.

    Crosswise grain
    The fabric threads run the width of the fabric, perpendicular to the selvage. This direction has some stretch.
    ​This is the fabric width, selvage to selvage, called the width of fabric (WOF).

    Pre-cuts and scraps don't have selvage edges to help you identify the fabric grain. Pulling on the fabric straight of grain will tell you what you need to know!

    Here's how to test:
    Grab the fabric, one side in each hand, and pull your hands apart.
    ​
    What do you feel?

    Give? Crosswise grain

    Firm with very little or no stretch?Lengthwise grain​

    Very stretchy? You must be pulling on the diagonal, called Bias

    Here's an easy way to remember:
    Crosswise  —  ss =  selvage to selvage & some stretch
    Lengthwise  —  ns =  no stretch

    Get MORE DETAILS on how getting fabric grain right is important to successful piecing and to a project overall.

  • Colors or images of fabrics are all easily added to the Fabric Stash.

    Begin by adding the image or color to your Camera Roll by taking a picture or screenhot

    Save the image new fabric to the QuiltSandwich app:

    • Open the QuiltSandwich app and select the Fabrics tab.  

    • Select "+ New Fabric" and then "Photo Library Image".  

    • Next tap “Saved Photos" and tap your new image (it will be at the end of the list).  

    • Then, use pinch and drag to get the image just right before saving it as the fabric image.

    MORE DETAILS

    To add colors, you’ll need a paint program app that can save a color to your Camera Roll. There are many to choose from in the app store or on your laptop. We recommend another NNN Software app,  PicColors. It is available in the App Store.

Yardage Calculator helps

  • First, let me say that this app is different from other quilting apps in that it is a planning tool for materials not a design tool.

    ​The QuiltSandwich app gives quilters the freedom to create their own quilt design and then the QuiltSandwich app helps with pulling together the fabrics needed to make it.

    Read MORE DETAILS on how to use Quilt Sandwich to create quilts of your own design.

  • Designs need to be broken down to the piece level to enter into the yardage calculator.

    Once your design is finished, you know:

    • Which blocks you’ll be using

    • How many pieces are needed to make all the blocks

    To calculate yardage —

    1. Group together pieces with the same shape and color and consider them identical.

    2. Multiply the number of identical, grouped pieces needed by the number of blocks to get the total number needed of that piece for the quilt.

    3. Scroll the calculator to that piece shape.

    4. Enter size and count into the yardage calculator and get the yardage needed.

    Repeat this process for all remaining pieces and fabrics.

  • The cutting diagram shows exactly how the strips and pieces are best cut using the yardage amount specified by the calculator. The yardage calculator offers flexibility in yardage calculations so you can fine-tune the inputs for special circumstances or favorite construction methods.

    1. Use the calculator to figure yardage and get a cutting diagram for a piece, adjusting the settings as needed: one-way design, shrinkage and selvage allowances.

    2. Take a look at the cutting diagram and assess. The Yardage Calculator works in ⅛ yard increments (4 ½"). Is the Shrinking/Squaring-up allowance (yellow area) reasonable? If you have already squared up your fabric, set the squaring up allowance to zero. Is the Extra Fabric (grey area) acceptable? Because the yardage calculator increments yardage in 1/8 yards (which is 4 1/2") there will usually be some extra fabric or scrap. When 'Least Fabric' is set the amount of extra fabric is minimized as much as possible. If your shop allows you to purchase less than 1/4 yard you have the information you need to request less fabric. If you are working with a kit or a scrap you can make plans to ensure a tight fit will work before cutting.

  • QuiltSandwich's Yardage Calculator can help you take the extra care needed to prepare fabric for a die cutter by giving you control over fabric orientation as part of the yardage calculation.

    Die cutters recommend fabric be placed on the die so the direction of least stretch, lengthwise, runs the length of the die as it is fed through the machine. These machines slightly stretch fabric during the pull of the fabric into the machine and press to cut. Here is a link to a resource for MORE DETAILS about fabric grain and how important it is to successful piecing and to a project overall.

    Settings for the Yardage Calculator to support die cutting:

    1. Die dimensions can be given as either FINISHED size or CUT size. Determine which you'll be using so the Yardage Calculator is set properly. The calculator expects finished sizes, so for cut size yardage set the seam allowance to zero 0".

    2. Set Piece Layout to option 'Force Layout'. This will direct the cutting diagram to put piece length on the lengthwise grain (least stretch). This way as the fabric is feed into the machine the strips are cut with the lengthwise grain (least stretch).

    3. Scroll shape to Rectangle or Square. Set Finished Width to dimension first entering the machine (to the crosswise grain). Set Finished Length to the dimension running through the machine (to the lengthwise grain).

    4. Set number of Pieces.

    5. Adjust standard seam allowance to oversize piece for die cutting. If you are working with CUT Size leave seam allowance at 1/4" for the extra needed for die cutting. For FINISHED Size increase seam allowance to 1/2" so it includes both a 1/4" extra for die cutting AND the 1/4" seam allowance for assembly.

    6. Review cutting diagram to
    confirm the cutting diagram is exactly as you need it — with the pieces oriented so that they will feed through the machine in the direction of least stretch (lengthwise grain) as is recommended for die cutting.

  • The Yardage Calculator can estimate the amount of fabric needed for special shapes, including 30° 45° and 60° diamonds, kites, hexagons and octagons by using the nearest square, rectangle or triangle.

    For these unique shapes, we recommend putting into the Yardage Calculator the actual dimensions of the square or rectangle that could hold the cut size of the shape -- and remembering to set the seam allowance to zero.

  • The Yardage Calculator default is the FINISHED size for piece length and width. That is because most patterns and kits give the finished size in their instructions.

    To use the Calculator to figure yardage for pieces using their CUT size:

    1. Enter cut size

    2. Set the Seam Allowance to zero

    The Yardage Calculator will use the dimensions as entered to figure the yardage.

Notions helps

  • Size It! is the copier enlargement calculator in Notions. Enter the current size of an image and the desired size into Size It! and it will figure the percentage needed to enlarge or reduce.

    If Size It! figures a percentage that is too large to use with your copier or printer, you'll need to break the change into multiple steps:

    1. Set your copier/printer on the largest enlargement possible.

    2. Print at maximum enlargement.

    3. Measure the enlarged element.

    4. Enter that new measurement as the original length into Size It! and recalculate the change percentage.

    5. Continue to enlarge and print until the percentage calculated by Size It! can be set on your copier/printer.

    SEE EXAMPLE

  • Square-in-a-Square blocks are popular, but they can be difficult if you want to make them without a pattern. Quilt Sandwich Notions and the Quilt Paper app handle all the complexity for you so you can focus on being creative!

    To begin, open the Triangle Calculators in Notions. Use the Half Square calculator to figure the dimensions of the corner triangles. Set the calculator to CORNER so you have control over the length of the diagonal. Enter the square finished size and seam allowance.

    Now that you have the size of the triangles, open Quilt Paper HST&HRT paper to set the triangle cut size and seam allowance and create a template. The Quilt Paper FAQ page has some helpful notes on making templates.

    A note about cutting triangles -- Quarter Square triangles have stretchy, bias edges on the outside of the block. In contrast, Half square triangles avoid stretching because they place the straight grain on the outer edges Get MORE DETAILS on how getting fabric grain right is important to successful piecing and to a project overall.