question about enlarging a block
 

I am enlarging a quilt. My question is if I want to enlarge each block, can I just add the needed amount equally to each cut that goes into making that block. Example only: The block has components of 3 pieces to make the block.

Original block pieces to be put together to make the block:
2.5 x 4.5
4.5 x 4.5
3.5 x 4.5

I want to make it 2 inches bigger - would it work if I just add two inches to each cut -
4.5 x 6.5
6.5 x 6.5
5.5 x 6.5

Can You show us the block you want to to make?

Picture, drawing. Or link?

Then I think you will get more detailed help.

Can you point us to a picture of the block?

I'm drawing a mental blank on what could go together with those sizes, think some must be joined or stacked together to match others. While your basic concept is good, those pesky seam allowances can do odd things and not all shapes are created equal.

The quick answer is no. That 2 inch final increase has to be evenly distributed over the number of pieces in each direction - so increasing each sub cut by 2 could potentially increase the overall block by way more than you want!

Could you include a picture??

Some blocks are easier to enlarge two inches than others.

The above is just an example
the above example would be 3 rectangles joined together top to bottom to make a block 6.5" in width, and hence that is why the length is the same on all the rectangles.

So when the enlarged three rectangles are sewn together it would make an unfinished block - 15.5" x 6.5"

In the actual quilt, all the block components are squares or rectangles - the above is just a short example that has nothing to do with the actual quilt. I just want to know if I enlarge each piece the same inches, leaving the same 1/4" seam allowance around them if that would work. I'm not set on how big the finished block is, just that I don't want it to be as small as it is in the pattern. For example, I don't care if the finished block in the quilt is 10 or 15 or 20" I just don't want it to be a 5" finished block that it currently is. Depending on the size of the finished block, I can chose how many blocks in width and length I need for the size of quilt I want.

A picture or link to the block would still be helpful. Lots of folks on this board have EQ and on previous occasions, have been very quick to help a poster resize a block properly.

It may be easier to just add more blocks to the quilt top to me. What I've done in the past is add sashings and borders or larger borders to meet the size I'm aiming for. Otherwise if I want to enlarge the block, I'll take it into EQ8 and let it do all the figuring for me. But that's just me.

It sounds logical to me. As long as you increase the finished size and then add back the seam allowances

I think your rectangle will change shape a little.

Your first one above will end up 9x 4. The second will end up 15 x 6.

To get a proportion of L/W, I divided the larger number by the smaller and got 2.25 and 2.5.

Guessing the reason is because you are adding to the length only once and the width 3x.

Got graph paper?