How Much Fabric Do I Need to Sew?
Pattern envelopes tell you how many yards to buy — but at one specific fabric width, usually 45 inches. If your fabric is 60 inches wide, buying the listed yardage leaves you with a costly surplus; if it's narrower, you'll come up short. Converting is just a ratio of widths.
Why width changes yardage
Wider fabric fits more pattern pieces across it, so you need less length. Multiply the listed yardage by the listed width divided by your width. Going from 45 to 60 inches, you need only about three-quarters of the listed length.
Napped and directional fabrics
Velvet, corduroy, and one-way prints must all run the same direction, which prevents efficient piece layout and adds roughly 10-15%. When in doubt, buy the extra — a quarter yard is cheap insurance against a ruined cut.
Frequently asked questions
- Pattern lists 45-inch fabric but mine is 60 — how much do I buy?
- Multiply the listed yards by 45/60 (0.75). Three listed yards becomes about 2.25.
- Do I need extra for napped fabric?
- Yes, about 10-15% more so all pieces run the same direction.
- Should I round up?
- Always — to the nearest eighth yard, since shops rarely cut finer.