Quilt Design and Fabric Estimating Calculator Model 8400 Pocket Reference Guide
INTRODUCTION The new Quilter’s FabriCalc Design and Fabric Estimating Calculator is perfect for all of your design needs. The Quilter’s FabriCalc easily calculates your material yardage so you can focus on creativity.
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION GETTING STARTED ................................1 Basic Operation and Entry Keys ............1 Fabric Default Values ............................2 Yardage and Meterage Keys ..................3 Converting Fractional Yardage to Decimal Yardage ..............................4 Converting Yardage to Meterage ........4 Dimensional Measurement Unit Keys ....5 Entering Linear Dimensions ................5 Entering Area Dimensions ..................6 Additional Functions ...............
MEMORY OPERATION ..........................30 Basic Cumulative Memory (M+) Example ............................................31 CALCULATING COST OF MATERIAL ....32 Fabric Cost Example ............................32 UNIT CONVERSIONS .......................... 33 Converting Fractional Inches to Decimal Inches ..................................33 Converting Inches to Centimeters, Millimeters ............................................33 Area Conversions ................................34 BASIC MATH ........
GETTING STARTED Your calculator is designed to work with common fabric measurements for easy calculation of various quilt requirements. Your calculator is defaulted to display the calculated results in fractional format. You can also set your calculator to display in decimal or metric format (see Preference Settings for details on how to change formats). Basic Operation and Entry Keys N — On/Clear Key Turns on power. Pressing once clears the display. Pressing twice clears all temporary values.
0 – 9 and • Keys used for entering digits. / — Fraction Bar Used to enter fractions. Fractions may be entered as proper (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/8) or improper (7/6, 9/3). They will be displayed in 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, or 1/2 increments. You can also use / to toggle between fractional and decimal displays. c Used to convert between units of measure or access secondary functions. R Used for recalling entered or stored values.
c 8 — Binding Cut Stores the Binding Cut Width (default: 2 1/2 Inches). This value is used in the Binding calculation found in the Total Quilt Yardage function. This value should be stored with seam allowance included in the stored value (no seam allowance adjustments are made to the Binding calculations). c - — Fabric Width Stores the Fabric Width (default: 40 Inches). This value is used in all of the material functions for providing the proper Yardage based on the stored Fabric Width.
(Cont’d) Note: Repeated presses after c toggle between fractional and decimal values (e.g., 4 y 1 / 2 c y converts to 4.5 linear Yards (“yardage”); press y again to return to fractional Yardage). m — Meterage Enters or converts to linear Meters. Meterage is based on the stored Fabric Width (default is 40 Inches, but you may store any fabric width desired (e.g. 1 Meter). Convert Fractional Yardage to Decimal Yardage Convert 8-1/8 Yards to Decimal Yards. Then convert back to Fractional Yards.
Dimensional Measurement Unit Keys The following keys are used for entering units of measure, with ease and accuracy: i — Inch Enters or converts to Inches. Also used with the / key for entering fractional Inch values (e.g., 9 i 1 / 2 ). Note: Repeated presses after c toggle between fractional and decimal Inches (e.g., 9 i 1 / 2 c i converts to 9.5 Inch; press i again to return to Inch-Fractions). ç — Centimeters Enters or converts to Centimeters. c 9 — Millimeters Enters or converts to Millimeters.
(Cont’d) CENTIMETERS KEYSTROKE 5 Centimeters 5.5 Centimeters MILLIMETERS 5 Millimeters 5.5 Millimeters 5ç 5•5ç KEYSTROKE 5c9 5•5c9 Entering Area Dimensions You can enter or calculate area values for Inches, Centimeters, or Millimeters. For instance, if you are working with a piece of fabric that is 40 Inches x 10 Inches (400 sq. Inches), you can enter this area for use in the Square, Triangle, and Diamond functions (see sections for examples). INCH KEYSTROKE 400 sq. in. 25.5 sq. in.
Additional Functions c % — Pi (π) Constant = 3.141593. c • — Access Preference Settings Used to access various customizable settings. See Preference Settings for details. c x — Clear All Clears all stored values, including Memory, and resets to default values (except Preference Settings which are retained). Note: Use only when necessary, as it deletes all stored values. CALCULATING QUILT YARDAGE The following keys are used to calculate Yardage including backing, binding, borders, and drops.
ƒ Enters the finished Border Width (4-sided border). This value then calculates, upon repeated presses, the following: Press 1 2 3 Result Border Yardage Number of Strips (to cut for the Border) Border Strip Cut Width Note: Border values are based on the Corner (Miter vs Straight) Preference Setting (default: Mitered Corners). See Preference Settings for details. d Enters the finished Drop Width (3-sided drop).
q Consecutive presses of this key calculate: Press Result 1 Top Quilt Yardage 2 Backing Yardage* 3 Border Yardage** 4 Number of Strips to cut for Border** 5 Border Strip Cut Width** 6 Drop Yardage** 7 Number of Strips to cut for Drop** 8 Drop Strip Cut Width** 9 Binding Yardage*** 10 Quantity of Strips to cut for the Binding*** 11 Stored Binding Strip Cut Width*** Note: Continued presses of q will repeat above sequence. *Backing Yardage does not include repeats.
Quilt Top Length, Top Width, Border and Drop Find the top Yardage of a standard queen-size quilt (80 Inches length x 60 Inches width), with a finished Border width of 4 Inches, and a finished Drop width of 18 Inches.
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY 1. Enter finished top quilt measurements: NN 0. 60it WIDTH 60 INCH 80iT LNGTH 80 INCH 2. Enter finished Border width: 4iƒ BORDR 4 INCH WIDTH 3. Enter finished drop width 1 8 i d DROP 18 INCH WIDTH 4. Find top Quilt Yardage: q TOP 4-1/2 YD 5. Find backing Yardage: q BKNG 9-1/2 YD 6. Find Border Yardage: q** BORDR 1 YD 7. Find Border number of strips: q** BORDR 8. QTY STRIPS 8. Find Border cut width: q** BORDR 4-1/2 INCH CUT WIDTH STRIPS 9. Find drop Yardage: q*** DROP 4-5/8 YD 10.
(Cont’d) 11. Find drop strip cut width: q*** DROP 18-1/2 INCH CUT WIDTH STRIPS 12. Find binding Yardage: q BNDNG 0-7/8 YD 13. Find binding number of strips: q BNDNG 11. QTY STRIPS 14. Display stored binding strip cut width: q BNDNG 2-1/2 INCH CUT WIDTH *Continued presses of q will repeat above sequence. **Border values are not displayed if Border is not entered. ***Drop values are not displayed if Drop is not entered.
CALCULATING BLOCK YARDAGE The following keys are used to calculate the Yardage of material required for a number of blocks. B Enters the Block Width for calculating Total Block Yardage via the b key. A second consecutive press of B also displays the diagonal of the Block. If no Block Height is entered, the entered block is assumed to be square (e.g., 4 i B stores a 4 x 4 block to calculate Block values). c B — Block Height Enters the Block Height for rectangular-shaped Blocks.
Rectangular Block Quick-entry method: you can enter a 4 x 6 Inch Block by simply entering the Block Width and Height values as 4 x 6 (Inches are assumed). For instance, enter the Block Width value, followed by the x key, and then the Block Height value, and then press the B key (e.g. 4 x 6 B stores the Block Size of 4 Inch Width by 6 Inch Height). A Enters the number of Blocks that will be placed across the width of the quilt (e.g., the number of blocks in one row).
Press 1 2 3 Result Sashing Yardage Number of Strips (to cut for the Sashing) Sashing Strip Cut Width Note: Sashing is calculated, by default, to include Sashing surrounding the perimeter of the Blocks (see Preference Settings for details) in addition to the Sashing between Blocks. You may select not to include the Sashing surrounding the Blocks and only calculate the Sashing between Blocks (see figure below). See Preference Settings for how to change this Sashing Preference Setting.
Blocks (Square-Shaped), Including Sashing Find the total Yardage of material required for Blocks if the finished Block width is 10 Inches and the quilt will have 3 Blocks across and 4 Blocks down. The finished sashing width is 2 Inches.
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY 1. Enter finished Block width in Inches: NN 0. SIZE 10 INCH 10iB 2. Enter Number of Blocks Across: 3A ACRSS 3. QTY 3. Enter Number of Blocks Down: 4D DOWN 4. QTY 4. Enter Sashing (finished) width: 2iS SASH 2 INCH WIDTH 5. Find total Block Yardage: b TOTAL 1-1/4 YD 6. Find total number of Blocks: b TOTAL 12. QTY 7. Find the number of Block strips: b TOTAL 4. QTY STRIPS 8. Find Block cut width: b TOTAL 10-1/2 INCH CUT WIDTH STRIPS 9. Find Sashing Yardage: b** SASH 0-3/4 YD 10.
(Cont’d) Note: Continued presses of b will repeat above sequence. **Sashing values are not displayed if Sashing is not entered. Note: You can also view Sashing calculations with multiple key presses of S upon entry of the Sashing width. Blocks (Rectangular-Shaped), No Sashing Find the total Yardage of material required for Blocks if you will have 3 Blocks Across and 4 Blocks Down. The Block width is 10 Inches and the Block height is 8 Inches. There is no Sashing.
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY 1. Enter finished Block width in Inches: NN 0. SIZE 10 INCH 10iB 2. Enter Block height in Inches: 8icB HGHT 8 INCH 3. Enter number of Blocks Across: 3A ACRSS 3. QTY 4. Enter number of Blocks Down: 4D DOWN 4. QTY 5. Clear previously entered Sashing: 0 S* SASH 0 INCH WIDTH 6. Find total Block Yardage: b TOTAL 0-7/8 YD 7. Find total number of Blocks: b TOTAL 12. QTY 8. Find the number of Block strips: b TOTAL 3. QTY STRIPS 9.
Calculating the Block’s Diagonal Find the Block’s diagonal if the Block size is ten Inches (square). Strip Cut Width Block Width and Height Fabric Orientation Selvage Edge Block Cut Width 40 Inch Fabric Width Block Cut Height Selvage Edge KEYSTROKE DISPLAY 1. Enter finished Block size in Inches: NN 0. 1 0 i B* SIZE 10 INCH 2. Find diagonal of Block: B DIAG 14-1/8 INCH *You may also calculate the diagonal of a rectangular Block.
Additionally, these keys can also be used to calculate the quantity that can be cut from a given size of fabric. For example, if you have a Yard of fabric, you can calculate how many squares, triangles, or diamonds can be cut from that piece of fabric. Note: These are “smart” keys that allow you to enter a unitless value, a length, or an area. If a length is entered, the fabric area is calculated based on the stored Fabric Width and it calculates a quantity.
o Calculates the Yardage required based on an entered number of 1/2 Square Triangles. Also calculates the number of 1/2 Square Triangles that can be cut from an entered amount (length or area) of fabric. O Calculates the Yardage required based on an entered number of 1/4 Square Triangles. Also calculates the number of 1/4 Square Triangles that can be cut from an entered amount (length or area) of fabric. f Calculates the Yardage required based on an entered number of 45˚ Diamonds.
Number Entries Consecutive presses of the s o O or f keys calculate: Press Result 1 Fabric Yardage 2 Number of Strips 3 Strip Cut Width 4 Diamond Cut Length (Diamonds only) Length and Area Entries Consecutive presses of the s o O or f keys calculate: Press Result 1 Quantity of Squares, Triangles, or Diamonds 2 Number of Strips 3 Strip Cut Width 4 Diamond Cut Length (Diamonds only) POCKET REFERENCE GUIDE — 23
Yardage Required for a Number of Squares Find the Yardage of fabric needed to make 25 six-Inch squares. Then calculate the total number of Strips and the Strip cut width. Strip Cut Width: 6-1/2 Inch 1 7 13 19 2 8 14 20 3 9 15 21 4 10 16 22 5 11 17 23 6 12 18 24 KEYSTROKE 25 Fabric Layout Selvage Edge 40 Inch Selvage Edge DISPLAY 1. Enter finished Square Size in Inches: NN 0. SIZE 6 INCH 6iß 2. Enter number of Squares and calculate Yardage: 25s TOTAL 1 YD 3.
Strip Width Diamond Fabric Layout Selvage Edge Diamond Cut Length 40 Inch Selvage Edge Number of Squares Calculated From Fabric (“Stash”) Find the number of four-Inch squares that can be cut from an 18 x 40 Inch piece of fabric. Then calculate the total number of Strips and Strip cut width. KEYSTROKE DISPLAY 1. Enter finished Square Size in Inches: NN 0. 4iß SIZE 4 INCH 2. Calculate area of fabric: 18ix40i= 720. SQ INCH 3. Calculate number of Squares: s TOTAL 32. QTY 4.
(Cont’d) 5. Calculate cut width of Strips: s TOTAL 4-1/2 INCH CUT WIDTH STRIPS Note: The Square calculations are based on the stored fabric width (in this example it is based on the default of 40 Inches). If you have a different fabric width (e.g., 18 Inch width x 22 Inch height), you can enter your “scrap” width (e.g., 18 Inches) as fabric width.
FABRIC STORAGE Your calculator has six individual, cumulative registers for storing up to six different types of material Yardages. You can easily calculate various Yardage requirements for each type of fabric you are working with and store them in the fabric registers. This provides the flexibility of storing various Yardages for a particular fabric. In addition, the total of these storage registers is viewable via the Total Fabric function.
c 4 — Fabric 4 Adds the displayed value to Fabric 4. Pressing R 4 displays the value stored in Fabric 4. c 5 — Fabric 5 Adds the displayed value to Fabric 5. Pressing R 5 displays the value stored in Fabric 5. c 6 — Fabric 6 Adds the displayed value to Fabric 6. Pressing R 6 displays the value stored in Fabric 6. c 0 — Total Fabric Displays the accumulated value from the Fabric 1-6 keys. c 7 — Clear Fabric Clears all values in the Fabric Storage registers (Fabric 1-6).
Find the Yardage for each color of fabric and store these into the Fabric 1-3 registers. Then find the total, accumulated Yardage. KEYSTROKE DISPLAY 1. Enter finished Square Size in Inches: NN 0. 5iß SIZE 5 INCH 2. Enter number of Squares for Fabric 1 and calculate Yardage: 10s TOTAL 0-1/3 YD c1 FAB-1 0-1/3 YD 3. Enter number of 1/2 Square Triangles for Fabric 2 and calculate Yardage: 25o HALF 0-1/2 YD c2 FAB-2 0-1/2 YD 4.
MEMORY OPERATION Your calculator has a standard, cumulative memory M function that is separate from the individual Fabric storage keys (FAB-1 through FAB-6) identified in the Fabric Storage section. You can store values of the same dimension (unitless values that are added to existing linear or area values will assume the previously stored dimension). You can recall stored values, calculate the average of all the stored values, and display the total number of entries that have been stored in memory.
R R — Memory Recall/Clear Displays and clears the value stored in memory. c R — Clear Memory Clears the cumulative Memory without disturbing the existing display. Note: Semi-permanent means the value is cleared when the calculator is shut off. Memory is also cleared when a Clear All (c x) is performed, but use this with caution as it clears other stored values, as well. Basic Cumulative Memory (M+) Example Store 100 into M+, add 200, and then subtract 50. Recall the Memory total, Average, and Count.
CALCULATING COST OF MATERIAL The Cost function provides the total cost for material, based on a stored unit cost (e.g., dollar per Yard in US Display Mode, and dollar per Meter in Metric Display Mode) and an entered quantity of material. Fabric Cost Example Find the yardage for 20 five-Inch squares. How much will the material cost if the material is $9.99 per Yard? First, calculate the Yardage required to make ten squares. Then calculate the total fabric cost. KEYSTROKE DISPLAY 1.
UNIT CONVERSIONS You may enter lengths in Inches, Centimeters, or Millimeters, and convert between these units. You may also enter in an area (e.g., Square Inches, Square Millimeters, Square Centimeters) and convert between units. Converting Fractional Inches to Decimal Inches Convert 5-1/2 Inches to decimal Inches. Then convert back to Inch-Fractions. KEYSTROKE NN 5i1/2 ci ci DISPLAY 0. 5-1/2 5.5 5-1/2 INCH INCH INCH Converting Inches to Centimeters, Millimeters Convert 5-1/2 Inches to Centimeters.
Area Conversions Enter 100 square Inches and convert to Centimeters and then Millimeters. KEYSTROKE NN 100ii cç c9 DISPLAY 0. 100 SQ INCH 645.16 SQ CM 64516. SQ MM Note: You will notice in the above example, you maintain the area dimension when converting between Inches, Centimeters, and Millimeters. If you are converting from area values (e.g., Square Inches, Square Centimeters, or Square Millimeters) to linear values (e.g.
Add 5-1/2 Yards to 10 Meters. KEYSTROKE 5y1/2 +10m = DISPLAY 5-1/2 YD 10 M 16-1/2 YD Subtracting Values You have 8 Yards of fabric, but you only need 4-1/4 Yards to finish the blocks on your quilt. How much fabric will you have left? KEYSTROKE 8y -4y1/4 = DISPLAY 8 YD 4-1/4 YD 3-3/4 YD Subtract 32 Inches from 81 Inches. KEYSTROKE DISPLAY 81i -32i = 81 32 49 INCH INCH INCH Multiplying Values Your fat quarter is 18” x 22”.
Your quilt consists of ten different types of Squares from various fabrics, and each type of Square requires 2-1/2 Yards in order to make the squares. What is the total Yardage? KEYSTROKE 2y1/2 x10 = DISPLAY 2-1/2 YD 10 25 YD Dividing Values You have 1-1/2 Yards of material that you need to cut 7-Inch strips from. Divide 1-1/2 Yards by 7 Inches to calculate the number of strips to cut. KEYSTROKE 1y1/2 ÷7i = DISPLAY 1-1/2 YD 7 INCH 7.
Percentage Calculations The percent % key is used to find a given percent of a number or to perform add-on, discount or division percentage calculations. You may also perform percentage calculations with dimensional units (Yardage, Inch, etc.), in any format (Linear, Square, or Cubic).
APPENDIX A – DEFAULT SETTINGS After a Clear All (c x), your calculator will return to the following settings: STORED VALUES US MODE Seam Width Fabric Width Binding Cut Width Backing Overage (+) 1/4 Inch .635 cm 40 Inches 101.6 cm 2-1/2 Inches 6.35 cm 4 Inches METRIC MODE 10.16 cm Note: The default values for Metric are equivalent to the US mode default values, but you may store any value for each of these items.
APPENDIX B – PREFERENCE SETTINGS How to Set Preferences Enter the Preference Setting Mode by pressing c • (Prefs). Access each category by pressing the • key until you reach the desired setting. Within each category, press the + or - keys to toggle between individual selections. Press N to exit and set your Preference. Note: Press + to advance and press - to back up. Pressing the • key repeatedly in this mode will cycle through all of the Preferences.
To Select between Sashing Border (Include or Exclude): KEYSTROKE DISPLAY • (Prefs) – 2nd press of • SASh+ bordEr + (plus sign) SASh- bordEr + (repeats options) SASh+ bordEr Sashing + Border Sashing - Border To Select Display Output of Fractions (US), Decimal (US), or Metric values: KEYSTROKE • (Prefs) – 3rd press of • + (plus sign) +* + (repeats options) DISPLAY FRAC UnitS DEC UnitS METRC UnitS FRAC UnitS Note: Press N at any time to exit the Preference Mode.
You may want to perform a Clear All when first setting your calculator to display in Metric units so that these values also display in Metric units to begin with. See Page 38 for a list of US and Metric default values. APPENDIX C – OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS Please follow the guidelines listed in this section for proper care and operation of your calculator. Not following the instructions listed below may result in damage not covered by your warranty. Refer to the Repair and Return section for more details.
Replacing the Battery Turn the calculator over and open user guide door located at the top. Pull battery holder out (top left corner) and turn over. Remove old battery and slide new battery under tabs. Turn holder over (negative side facing you) and insert into calculator. APPENDIX D – ACCURACY, ERRORS AND AUTO SHUT-OFF Accuracy/Errors Accuracy/Display Capacity – Your calculator has a seven digit display. You may enter or calculate values up to 9999999.
Error Codes DISPLAY ERROR TYPE OFLO DIV Error DIM Error ENT Error TYP FABRC Error Overflow (too large) Divide by 0 Dimension error Invalid entry error Type error Fabric error* * Block or square height (with seam) exceeds fabric width Auto-Range – If an “overflow” is created because of an input and calculation with small units that are out of the standard seven digit range of the display, the answer will be automatically expressed in the next larger units (instead of showing “ERROR”) – e.g.
APPENDIX E – REPAIR AND RETURN WARRANTY, REPAIR AND RETURN INFORMATION Return Guidelines 1. Please read the Warranty in this User's Guide to determine if your Calculated Industries product remains under warranty before calling or returning any device for evaluation or repairs. 2. If your product won't turn on, check the battery as outlined in the User's Guide. 3. If you need more assistance, please go to the website listed below. 4.
WARRANTY Warranty Repair Service – U.S.A. Calculated Industries (“CI”) warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of original consumer purchase in the U.S. If a defect exists during the warranty period, CI at its option will either repair (using new or remanufactured parts) or replace (with a new or remanufactured calculator) the product at no charge.
Repair Service – Outside the U.S.A. To obtain warranty or non-warranty repair service for goods purchased outside the U.S., contact the dealer through which you initially purchased the product. If you cannot reasonably have the product repaired in your area, you may contact CI to obtain current product repair information and charges, including freight and duties.
FCC Class B This equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device, pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules. Looking For New Ideas Calculated Industries, a leading manufacturer of specialfunction calculators and digital measuring instruments, is always looking for new product ideas in these areas. If you have an idea, or a suggestion for improving this product or User's Guide, please submit your comments online at www.calculated.
INDEX Accuracy/Errors, 42 Auto Shut-Off, 43 Basic Math with Dimensions, 34 Basic Operation Keys, 1 Battery, Replacing, 42 Blocks, 16, 18, 20 Conversions, Unit, 33 Converting Fractional Inches to Decimal Inches, 33 Cost, of Material, 32 DEFAULT SETTINGS, 38 Diamonds, 45˚ and 60˚, 20 Dimensional Measurement Unit Keys, 5 Dimensions (Linear), Entering, 5 Dimensions, Adding, 34 Dimensions, Dividing, 36 Dimensions, Multiplying, 35 Dimensions, Subtracting, 35 Error Codes, 43 Memory Operation, 30 Percentage Calcula
This equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device, pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules. Software copyrighted and licensed to Calculated Industries, Inc. by Specialty Calculator Technologies, LLC, 2006. Pocket Reference Guide copyrighted by Calculated Industries, Inc. © 2006. FabriCalc™ is a trademark and Calculated Industries® is a registered trademark of Calculated Industries, Inc.
