Do you prefer square quilts or rectangular quilts? Even though you may prefer one over the other, will you still make the other? If not, will you look at a design and if you really like it, make the necessary changes to make it the size you want it to be.
Once upon a time, and not that long ago, I did not like square quilts at all. Somewhere along the way I made a few square quilts and actually like them better. First, they’re much easier for me to design as far as borders go because all four sides should be the same. Sometimes it’s a bit frustrating to get a pieced border to fit when the top and bottom borders aren’t the same length as the side borders.
The second, and most compelling reason for my interest in square quilts is that I think they fit our queen size bed better. A queen mattress is 60″ x 80″. Say I want a 16″ drop on the sides and at the bottom, that puts the approximate size of the quilt needing to be around 92″ x 96″. If I stick a couple of inches of the quilt up under the pillows, a 92″ x 92″ or 94″ x 94″ quilt is perfect for our queen sized bed.
If I want a 20″ drop on all sides, a 100″ x 100″ quilt is even better!
We haven’t had a king sized mattress in years but they’re about 76″x 80″, which is pretty close to square to start with.
All these square vs. rectangle thoughts have been running through my head because I’ve been playing with EQ. I really liked the center blocks in Tell it to the Stars quilt.
Tell it to the Stars
This is what I came up with and, as you can see, it’s rectangular.
Rectangular Quilt
And there’s the square version also.
Square Quilt
Who knows if these are the colors I’ll use, or if I’ll make it square or rectangular or . . if I’ll make it all, but it’s always fun playing in EQ.
Joan says
I see your point about square quilts but I have always much prefert rectangular ones.
Deb P says
In the past always made rectangle quilts and then did one of Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery Quilts and fell in love with square for many of the reasons you stated. Now I rarely make a rectangle!
Carolyn says
I agree w you about the square vs rectangular quilts. I don’t ‘tuck’ my quilts under the pillow like a spread would be. I’m much more likely to make a a square quilt…. unless it’s for a twin bed.
Vivian Oaks says
I’ve found that if the pattern works either way, I prefer the square quilts, because you can put any edge at the top of the bed. However, if the pattern dictates, and the top is obvious, I don’t mind doing rectangular quilts. I’ve got a variety of quilts of my mother-in-laws that are square, as well as from my husband’s grandmother! That particular one is wool squares with a flannel back, and I was told the inside was horse hair. It’s square, and only covers the top of our double bed, but we use it anyway, because it weighs a ton, and my hubby likes the weight on him while he’s sleeping. It does keep us warm!!
Karen says
I prefer square quilts and make my queen size quilts almost always at about 100 x 100 sometimes even 104 x 104 allowing a little extra for shrinkage as I use 100% cotton batting. The deep mattresses really need a little more quilt in my opinion unless you have a mattress that is almost at the floor!
patty says
I don’t make square quilts. I just don’t like them. Since I don’t use patterns it is easy for me to adjust what I am doing so the quilt does not come out square.
Denise Russart says
If I’m making a quilt for myself I usually do square for the very reasons you stated – queen size bed with deep mattress they cover so much better.
Ruth says
I love square quilts. By the time I’m at the square stage in making blocks, I’m done. No more patience for another row or two. I just make quilts for cuddling under, too.
Sally H says
I’ve been making twin bed quilts for various children as they go to college, so rectangle it is for me.
Meloney says
I don’t like square quilts, but will make them, and sometimes adjust them to be rectangular.
I think for a bed, the square quilt is good, but to wrap around me, the rectangular quilt works better.
Sue S says
I guess I never thought about which I like better! Generally I’m making something for a purpose like a twin bed quilt or a lap quilt so whatever the patterns says, r however it turns out if I’m not using a pattern, it is what it is. I made a quilt for my queen bed — a one block quilt. It’s nine blocks by ten blocks. Believe me there are times when I’m changing that bed that I WISH the danged thing was truly square because if you get it turned it doesn’t go as far up to the pillows as I want!
Katie Z. says
I prefer rectangles, but I’ll make either. I’m not dissuaded by square quilts, and if I want them longer, I will see if the pattern lends itself to longer!
Vickie VanDyken says
I never thought about it. My husband does though! whenever I have a quilt on the wall, if it is square he will invariable walk by and comment “that needs to be a little longer”. Usually I tell him it’s not for him, or it’s a wall hanging 🙂 It could be because he is 6’5″ tall and complains that nothing is long enough! So I make a lot of rectangles but I agree with the idea that squares are easier.
Diana in RR,TX says
Never really thought about it, have made both. But I do see your point about for the bed. We have a king and it would be easy to adjust for that. Of course as long as Galen sometimes plays with the girls on the bed, it’s fairly inexpensive spreads and machine wash! It would easier to break the girls of that than him. I tried and now the king size quilt is hanging in the closet!
Regina says
I make mostly throws -which I prefer to be rectangular. Many of them end up on my half of the king sized bed as hubby will kick them off – so rectangular is a better shape for that. I didn’t even think about a huge square being best for the entire bed though – it makes sense and then I don’t have to guess and spin and adjust to get the quilt on the right way. Hmmm…. I see a BIG square quilt in my future!
Penny says
I make all mine rectangle, and I change it by borders or more blocks to get it that way. don’t ask me why, maybe because I was always a little taller then my sisters so I could never get those blankets to cover feet and shoulders at the same time. good question and thoughts. GOD bless.
Lea says
I never gave it a whole lot of thought but have always made rectangle quilts are a bit more appealing to me. You raise some interesting points that are certainly worth keeping in mind. I have a quilt on the bed right now that is 73″ x 83″ and it was intended as a couch quilt. Somehow it ended up on the bed (it’s hand quilted and so soft) and is really a little bit to small for the bed but it looks pretty the way it is. I put it on the bed sideways so the 83″ hangs over the sides more. I have another quilt on the bed that is not a big quilt either and it is the “underneath” quilt but hangs down longer at the end of the bed. I like the look of these 2 quilts look together, even though they were made many years apart and don’t actually “go” together. Somehow the look works for me.
Karin says
I almost always make square quilts. I like the way they fit the bed too. Plus, they aren’t usually directional so you can just throw them on the bed without finding the top. I will make rectangular quilts on occasion, but like them longer side to side instead of length wise. Love the designs you have come up with!
Diana says
OH just call me an old fuddy duddy .. LOL I prefer square; but I have done rectangles. I really enjoy making the 10 minute blocks, and that is what is usually everyone asks me to make.
Those are usually made into square quilts unless someone specifically asks for a rectangle quilt.
Rebecca Grace says
I know what you mean — a square quilt looks totally different from a rectangular quilt, even the same design made up in the same fabrics. Thanks for pointing that out about sizing quilts for Queen beds. I always tend to go with guidelines for “standard” sizes, but that really doesn’t make sense since a quilt is about as custom made as you can get. It really ought to be custom SIZED as well to the bed it’s intended for, and yes, I do have one of those silly super thick pillow top mattresses. I’m going to go straight to the bedroom to measure how far I want the drop to come on my next quilt!
katie says
I have to have a rectangle quilt on my bed, as the hubby tends to roll and take it with him.
So either it is a king size on my queen bed or a rectangle so I can put it on sideways. Or my tush gets cold…