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2001 Sept 11
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Katrina |
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Sizing How big? What size? How many squares do I use to make an afghan? These are all very good questions but with no definitive answer. How many squares you need for a particular afghan depends on your answer to a few questions. Before I get into that, however, I'll give you a very general guide to sizes. Remember if you are donating these somewhere, check with the coordinator of the project as there may be specific guidelines for that organization. Before I give you the info I've gathered, I will mention there are many sites with sizes. Here are a couple.
Linda's - She gives number of squares in various sizes as well. Note that
this site uses Canadian sizing. Blankie approximate sizes (based on bed size). Preemie (NICU preemies, tiny) - about 15" square
To cover Isolette - 36" square (some hospitals have asked specifically
for blankets large enough to cover the isolette and keep the light out so babies
can sleep even when nurses must have light to see adequately) Additional note: If you are making an afghan for a larger bed, but two people share the bed, you might prefer to make two afghans so each can wrap individually and not be pulling covers off each other through the night. Awww, that never happens, right? :-) There are other kinds of beds and I'll talk about those later. Here are the questions I was talking about and some possible answers. 1) What will you use the afghan for or what is its primary purpose? a) to lay
over a bed as a bedspread The last two would also affect what kind of yarn (material and thickness) that you would choose for this project. 2) How big do you want to make your squares? Any size square can be used. Most notably I've seen requests for 6", 7", 8", and 12" squares It is important that your squares are the SAME size since you will be joining them. A common question is how to measure squares. Squares are to be measured both horizontally and vertically. NOT diagonally. I suggest using a hard ruler rather than a flexible measuring tape. CORRECT - Measure horizontally - CORRECT
CORRECT - Measure vertically - CORRECT
WRONG - Measure diagonally - WRONG
3) What size is the person or object you want to cover? A larger person will need a larger ghan obviously. Below is a list of sizes from bassinet to king including rollaway cots The finished size of your afghan will depend on what joining and border you use. If you are bordering each square and adding a border around the entire thing, that adds several inches to your overall size. If you are whipstitching as opposed to join-as-you-go, that will change your finished size as well. If you are working with your own squares, you likely have them already bordered included in the 12" size. If you are collecting 12" squares for a charity effort, then each square you receive is 12" and the border you add to give a common color will increase size. A good way to figure how many squares you need would be to measure the area you want to cover. Then decide what size squares you want to make. For example, say you have an area 36 x 75 that you want to cover. You just want your afghan to sit on top of the thing, not necessarily drape over. You want to use 9" squares. Since 9 x 4 = 36, you could use 4 of the 9" squares across, and since 9 x 8 = 72, you could use 8 squares down, allowing that you will have the borders for your squares. Your completed afghan, with dc borders around each square, would be approx. 38-40" ( a little more than you need but not much) across and about 74-75" down, allowing you to drape over slightly at the sides. Keeping in mind, that if this is a bed, one assumes there is a pillow at the head and the afghan would likely be folded anyway. On the other hand if you were using 6" squares, you would need to allow for at least 6 across (6 times 6 = 36) x 12 down (6 times 12 = 72). Note that the size of your border will make a difference in your finished size. Sometimes, if it is a charity effort where you are collecting squares from others, you will find some squares won't "fit" into your color scheme or they won't all be the same size. I have handled this two ways. As to color scheme, one way is to just grab a square and join them with no particular color scheme. If you use black yarn to join, you get a stained glass look, which is quite lovely. The other is to place a cream or white square in between each square. That way there is a "buffer" so that squares that don't go together won't be so obviously out of place. It actually looks really nice both ways if you are careful in placement. If the squares are not the same size, you may have to adjust the border you place on them or add a complementary or contrasting color to the square. Try to get them all within a quarter inch of each other to make it easiest to join them. I always put a border using same color yarn around all of my squares first so that the joining will not be so visible if I am whipstitching. Your border can also be a part of the overall decorative effect if you use, for example, single crochet joining. Think about who is going to be the recipient of your afghan. If it is a child, he/she might enjoy lots of smaller squares of different colors than just a few large ones. Depending on the child, they might prefer brighter colors as well. Some children do have a favorite color so if you know the recipient it is helpful. If it's for a charity effort, you likely will not have particulars about the person. Most of the information below regarding sizes comes from the JC Penney bedding standards (in their Fall/Winter 2000 book), although I did use other sources as well. I also took measurements of our beds. Please use this as a guide only. Everything is approximate and also depends on if I did my math correctly. If you find any errors, do give me a holler but be gentle. :-) Why not pay a visit to JC Penney yourself? No, I am not affiliated, just a satisfied customer. :-) I have put the approximate number of squares necessary to complete an afghan to fit the measurements. In some cases this will mean just covering the top of a mattress. In others it will mean draping over or tucking under depending on the piece. Keep in mind always that the border you choose may change the number needed to get the proper size. Also, it depends on if you are covering the entire bed or just the area below the pillow. The pillow takes up about 18" at my house. Use the figuring method above if you need a different area covered. Usually, I use a double crochet border around the entire afghan to bring all the sides of each square in line, adjusting where necessary along the ends if a square sticks out a bit and such, and then I do an additional, more decorative round to finish it off. As noted before, if you do this it will add a few inches to your completed piece. These are merely my personal suggestions, so feel free to change anything as you need or want to. I believe bigger is better so I am including more than one choice where necessary. Do keep in mind how high off the ground your bed is, particularly in the case of bunk beds. You don't want the afghan trailing along the floor. The more often you have to wash it, the sooner you'll be maker a new one though I still have afghans I made for my husband before we got married, 20+ years and my Mom has some I made even before that. Note: These suggestions are meant for afghans you are making for yourself or a loved one. If you are joining squares in bulk, or are part of a charity ministry, the sizes are determined by your group leader who knows the scope of the project and what can reasonably be managed with the resources available.
Bed size standards (sizes approximate) There are several other sites that have sizes. I think About.com has this information and I have seen it on other sites as well. Note that for the twin size, a larger afghan width is preferred so it can comfortably and fully cover a person lying in the bed. For the other sizes, it is not as critical if one person is in the bed as the afghan is larger anyway. If two people are in the bed...well, we won't go there. LOL One will likely end up with most of it. Or you can make two twin size afghans so each will have their own. Two twins equal a king size bed in size. If it is the same pattern and colors, they can just overlap and the bed will look fine. If you don't care about decor, make each person's afghan in their preferred colors. A king size afghan, while gorgeous, is cumbersome to handle while working and difficult to wash. Baby afghans, especially those
for a bassinet or cradle, should probably be worked in a fine yarn, like
fingering yarn, so it won't be too heavy for the baby.
Be very careful,
of course,
not to cover the baby's face and to keep a close eye, so the baby doesn't
chew on the yarn or get little fingers caught. Also, be sure to wash the item (to get rid of the sizing and such) and don't
use a heavy scented softener.
Reminder: Borders add to the overall size so you might be able to make fewer
squares than that listed. Jenny Lind Cradle:
39 x 22.75 x 34.5 inches (this is how
it was listed. Not sure which is the height and which is the length) Crib: 28 x 52 Rollaway beds: 30" 39" or 48" wide You want to fully cover the person. Rollaways are not that comfortable to begin with. You don't want your guests freezing too. Trundle: 35
x 70-75 Daybeds: vary, but generally about a twin bed size. (My daughter's daybed mattress is approx. 37 1/2" x 74" So see twin beds. Blow up beds (no, not bombs, the kind where you stick a hair dryer in the hole to get air into it and it increases in size until you can lie down and sleep on it *grin*. I'm sure they have an official name too.) These come in different sizes. See the size you have below. For only the first section I will figure for 12" squares. For the rest only 6 and 9 inches. Twin: 39" x 75"
Here are the sizes for other items which you can use to judge your own project. Keep in mind whether you are going to cover the entire bed
or just the area below the pillow. Count about 18" for the pillow area. Sizes
given include the entire bed.
My full and king size beds were 21" from floor to top of mattress but
I do not have a real thick mattress. The daybed was 23" from floor to top of
mattress.
03/04/08
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