Yardage to make a whole-cloth quilt top of a given size.
Joins full fabric widths to reach the quilt width. Add separately for backing and binding.
A whole cloth quilt top is made from large pieces of fabric and not from small patches, so the yardage depends on the quilt size and the width of the fabric. The calculator divides the quilt width by the width of the fabric to find how many lengths are needed, and multiplies by the length of the quilt. A 60 by 80 inch top from 42 inch fabric needs two lengths of 80 inches, which is 160 inches, or about 4.5 yards.
Add allowances for the seam that joins the panels and for a little shrinkage, and buy extra if the fabric has a print that needs to be matched. Remember to trim the selvages, which reduces the usable width.
To avoid a seam down the middle of the quilt, join a full width panel in the center and half panels on each side. The seams then fall in less noticeable places and look more balanced.
Whole cloth quilts show off the quilting stitches, so choose a fabric with a smooth surface and a color that shows the pattern well. Pre wash and press the fabric before you start, and make sure the top is square before you layer it.