Bed quilts – what size is your favorite?

Hi friends!

Today I wanted to chat about bed quilts and what is the size of the different bed quilts? Do you make twin bed size quilts? Queen size quilts? King size quilts?

What is your favorite size bed quilt to make?

Bed Quilts

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I make a lot of lap quilts because, first that is usually one of the sizes in my patterns and it’s a good size in a booth at a quilt show. Larger bed quilts are just too big; to big to hang, to handle and to ship.

But, if I wanted to make a quilt for my bed, or add a larger bed size quilt to a pattern, what size should it be?

This came up recently because, well, really it comes up every now and then! Everyone, and I do mean everyone, has a different idea what size a quilt should be for a bed quilt! whether we are talking about a quilt  for a double bed, a queen bed and a kind size bed, quilt size preferences vary.

Let’s start with the basics of how one might measure for a bed quilt.

Measuring

First you need to know the top dimensions of your bed. Many beds are a standard size when you measure the top of your mattress. For example, most queen bed mattress tops are about 60″ wide by 80″ long.

But then… things start to get tricky.

First, how much “drop” do you want? 

Let’s say you wanted the quilt to hang down past the bottom of the mattress by a few inches. Now you need to look at your mattress; do you have a mattress and a boxspring? A large mattress with a pillow top that makes it extra big? Or do you have one of the new fancy mattresses that doesn’t need a box spring for additional support?

Do you have a minimal, low to the ground bed frame? Or a large bed frame? How far off the ground is your mattress and how far do you want the quilt to go?

What about pillow tuck? Do you want your quilt to go over the top of the pillow or…?

Just by asking these questions, you can see that everyone’s idea of what size a quilt should be may differ.

Bed Quilt Sizes

Let’s review a few “standard” sizes for the different size bed quilts.

Twin Bed Quilts

A suggested size for a twin quilt is 70″ x 90″. But again, that all depends on how much of a drop you want, how big the mattress is and how big is the bed frame. 

And if you are talking about those longer twin beds, such as in college dorm rooms, then maybe 70″ x 95″ would be a better size.

Double Bed Quilts

A quilt for a double bed, or a full bed depending on how you refer to it, might be 84-86″ x 90″. But the same variations apply!

Queen Bed Quilts

The standard size for a queen bed quilt is 90″ x 95″. BUT this is one that is all over the map!

I know a quilter who likes her queen quilts 100″ x 100″; I know another quilter who wants her queen quilt more like a full bed size since she has a fancy new mattress and no boxspring…

King Bed Quilts

Quilts for a king size bed of course are the largest size; maybe 108″ x 95″ for a regular king and 102″ x 100″ for a California King. 

We had a California King for a while which was so great! My hubby is 6’4″+ and so the longer mattress meant more room for him! It was just so hard at the time to find sheets as it is not a common size.

Pattern Design

Clearly, there is no ONE size quilt for each bed size. So what is a pattern designer to do? 

Quilt sizes and preferences vary. If I design a quilt and the large bed size is 94″ x 94″, I would say that is a queen. Someone else might say it is too small and another quilter might say it is too large!

I usually plan my size on what looks best for the pattern and, in the case of a queen quilt, I personally like mine a little larger, maybe 94″ x 94″ or 96″. Remember, I have a tall hubby who tends to steal the quilt!

My advice? When looking at a pattern, be sure to look at not just what the designer calls it, a queen, a double or king quilt, but look at the exact size listed. You may find it is smaller or larger than you want. 

Sisterhood Quilt Along

The pattern for the Sisterhood quilt is done and at the printers! Yay! It was a big job to write that pattern- so many revisions so we could make it work with 12 half yards cuts and for 2 different styles of cutting and piecing!

There are also 3 settings; a lap quilt at 67″ x 80″, a “small” bed quilt at 83″ x 93″ and a “large” bed quilt at 90″ x 94″.

Did you notice we avoided saying full or queen?!

Want more information about the Sisterhood Quilt Along? Click here for my blog post about it and here for the general quilt along information page.

Be sure to sign up for the newsletter– you don’t have to make the quilt to get the special quilt along newsletter (though we hope you do!) and we have some great tips and giveaways scheduled for the subscribers to the quilt along newsletter.

happy quilting!

Kate