Variations
What prints with the starting settings
| Paper | US Letter — 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in) |
|---|---|
| Square size | 3.18 mm = 1/8″ |
| Squares per inch | 8 |
| Squares per cm | 3.15 |
| Grid on this page | 60 × 80 squares |
| Margins | 1/2″ |
| Line weight | 0.18 mm (bold 0.35 mm) |
| Print setting | Scale 100% / Actual size |
Planning a quilt on paper
Most quilts begin as a sketch. Graph paper turns that sketch into numbers: how big each patch is, how many to cut, how wide the sashing and borders should be. An eighth-inch grid with bold inch lines matches the way quilters measure, so every line on the paper can be read straight off the rotary ruler.
Ways to use it
Draft individual blocks at true size to check that points meet and seams line up. Plan a whole quilt at a reduced scale, with one quarter-inch square standing for an inch or two of fabric. Colour in patches to try fabric arrangements before cutting.
Printing tips
Print at 100% / Actual size and measure an inch square before drafting: accuracy matters when a small error is multiplied across many blocks.
More graph paper sheets
- 1/4 inch graph paper (Letter & A4)
- 5 mm graph paper (A4, Letter & A3)
- 1/8 inch graph paper (Letter, A4 & Legal)
- 1 cm graph paper (centimeter squares)
- Engineering paper (5 squares per inch)
- 1 inch graph paper (Letter, A4 & 11×17)
- A4 graph paper (5 mm, 1 cm, 2 mm & more)
- 1/2 inch graph paper (large squares)
- 1 mm graph paper (millimetre paper)
- 11×17 graph paper (Tabloid & Ledger)
- 2 mm graph paper (bold every centimeter)
- A3 graph paper for large drawings and plans
- Legal size graph paper (8.5 × 14 in)
Frequently asked questions
Why 1/8 inch squares?
Quilting measurements are often in eighths of an inch, and the standard seam allowance is 1/4 inch, two squares. Drawing at true size on an eighth-inch grid lets you see seam allowances and cut sizes exactly.
How do I draft a 12 inch block?
A 12 inch block is larger than the printable area of Letter, A4 and even Tabloid, so draw it to scale, for example one square per half inch, and note the scale in the corner. If you want a true-size template, draft one quarter of the block (6 × 6 inches) and, if the block is symmetrical, mirror it.
Can I colour in fabric placement?
Yes. The light grey variant keeps lines faint so coloured pencils show the design clearly.
How do I add seam allowances?
Draw the finished shape, then add a line two squares (1/4 inch) outside it all round; that outer line is the cutting size.
Is this good for paper piecing?
For English paper piecing shapes, use the EPP templates.
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