# Fabric Calculations ## Calculate Your Sampler's Fabric Needs Now that you've mocked up your perfect [**Ruby Star Sampler**](https://app.prequilt.com/rss), you might be ready to start making it! Right?!? The free block patterns have all the cutting instructions for each block, but if you're looking for a holistic calculation for the entire quilt, we got you! Usually the Fabric Calculator is a feature only available to PreQuilt subscribers. But for this collaboration, we've made fabric calculations available for free on all the Ruby Star sampler quilts. *** ## How to Use the Fabric Calculator {% hint style="info" %} All cutting instructions in PreQuilt match the Ruby Star Society block patterns. This means that cutting instructions are sometimes bigger than you'd expect. But this is to ensure you have enough fabric for trimming or for foundation paper piecing. {% endhint %} ### YouTube Video {% embed url="" %} ### Written Help Guide {% stepper %} {% step %} With the quilt open, click on the **Fabric Calculator button** on the central, vertical toolbar.
{% endstep %} {% step %} A separate tab will open for the Fabric Calculator. * Depending on how big the quilt is, the block images might take a little bit of time to load. Please be patient.
{% endstep %} {% step %} To view the fabric calculations for individual blocks, click on its **block card button**.
{% endstep %} {% step %} You will be redirected to that block's fabric calculation information.
{% endstep %} {% step %} An image of the block is at the top. Click on the **Blowout button** to enlarge the image. * The blowout denotes each piece of the quilt block with white circles labeling each type of cut piece of fabric in the block.
* Click on the **Hide All toggle** to clear the labels.
* Click on the **Circle Label button** in the legend to view that block piece in isolation.
{% endstep %} {% step %} Popular block units, like **Half Square Triangles (HSTs)** have multiple construciton method options. Click on the **dropdown menu** and **select your prefered construction method**. * The default for HSTs is 2 at a time with trim. This is also default for the RSS block patterns. * When you change the construction method, the fabric calculations will dynamically update.

Fabric calculations for 2 at a time (with trim) HST method

Fabric calculatiosn for 8 at a time (with trim) HST method

{% endstep %} {% step %} Click on the **name of the quilt block** on the left side directory to go directly to that block's fabric calculations.
{% endstep %} {% step %} To view cutting diagrams for each fabric, click on the **Fabric header** on the left side control panel.
{% endstep %} {% step %} The fabric information will be displayed for each fabric being used in the quilt. * You can **change the number** for the width of fabric (WOF) in the little box to use different sized fabrics.
* For example, to see how to cut the fabric on a fat quarter, change the WOF to 21. The cutting diagram will dynamically update.

Cutting diagram for regular 42" width of fabric

Cutting diagram for a fat quarter (21" WOF)

{% endstep %} {% step %} To download any of the fabric calculations, click on the **Print PDF button** on the top of any of the Fabric Calculator pages.
{% endstep %} {% endstepper %} *** ### Disclaimer & Alert Info {% hint style="warning" %} ALERT: Some of the Ruby Star Sampler blocks have special disclaimers. You can find these highlighted in yellow on the relevant quilt blocks. Sometimes, multiple block pieces that are identical will have the same label that is different from the quilt block pattern label. {% endhint %}
*** ## Subscribe to Save Your Sampler If you'd like save your progress on your sampler, please consider subscribing to PreQuilt. You can subscribe at any time and save your progress to your PreQuilt account. To do this: {% stepper %} {% step %} Click on the **Save button** on the central, vertical toolbar.
{% endstep %} {% step %} In the popup window, click on the **View PreQuilt Plans button**.
{% endstep %} {% step %} The plans page will appear. Click on the **button for the subscription plan and billing cadence** that you prefer. * **Basic Plan**: Are perfect for every and any quilter. It has everything you need to design, visualize, and plan your quilts. * **Market Plan:** Can do everything the Basic Plan can, PLUS help you commercialize your quilt patterns with custom digital coloring pages. * We offer monthly and annual subscriptions. * Billing currency is based on your location. We bill in CAD, USD, GBP, and EUR.
{% endstep %} {% step %} **Fill out the form** with your email address, username, and password. [**Review the Terms of Service**](https://app.prequilt.com/terms) (recurring subscription) and **agree to the use of** [**Google Analytics**](https://prequilt.com/privacy). Click on the **Submit button**. * If you're a business, use your business name as your username. This will be a public username.
{% endstep %} {% step %} **Review** your email and username. If correct, click on the **Checkout button**. If not, click on Edit and revise your information.
{% endstep %} {% step %} You will be directed to a payment portal.
{% endstep %} {% step %} If applicable, click on the **Apply coupon button**, **enter your coupon code** in the box, and press the **Apply button**.
{% endstep %} {% step %} **Review** and click on the **Proceed to Checkout button**. * **Please Note:** Your next recurring payment date is detailed here for your reference.
{% endstep %} {% step %} **Fill out the form** with your first name, last name, address, and payment method information. Click on the **Pay & subscribe button**. * We accept credit cards and PayPal.
{% endstep %} {% step %} **ATTENTION: DO NOT close or refresh the browser. This step will take time, we're creating your account.**
{% endstep %} {% step %} Hooray! Your subscription has been created. You will be diverted back to your sampler quilt and it will have been saved to your account. To be on the safe side, click on the **Save button**.
{% endstep %} {% endstepper %}