How much fabric is required?

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Thu, 10/21/2010 - 20:33
didi
User offline. Last seen 14 years 4 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 09/13/2010
Posts: 20

Hi! Nehzat,

I was wondering if there is some specific way to calculate how much fabric is needed for any outfit I design and how much extra should be bought. I make mistakes here. Please help.

Thanks

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Wed, 10/27/2010 - 17:42
#1
Nehzat
User offline. Last seen 1 year 12 weeks ago. Offline
Instructor
Joined: 10/27/2007
Posts: 1026
Re: How Much Fabric to Buy

Hi didi,

The best way to calculate how much fabric you need is to use your pattern to figure it out. The average fabric is from 45 to 54 inches wide. Imagine that the fabric we want to by is 45 inches wide. If you need to fold the fabric to cut the pieces, divide 45 inches by 2 which gives us 22.5 inches. Place a measuring tape parallel with the longer edge of your dining table with a distance of 22.5 inches. Imagine that the measuring tape is the folded edge of your fabric and the table edge is the aligned selvedges. Now Place all the pattern pieces within this area as best as possible. This is basically like placing your pattern on your folded fabric which is 45 inches wide.

The lengthwise grain line on your pattern pieces should be parallel with the edge of the table or the measuring tape. The fold line marks on your pattern should be placed by the measuring tape. Now that the pattern pieces are in place, measure the length to see how much fabric you will need. 

Since the fabric may not be cut straight at both ends, we need to always buy extra to be able to square the fabric at both ends before cutting.

Also if you plan to wash your garment at home, you need to buy extra fabric to pre shrink your fabric before cutting it.

Repeat the steps for a 54 inch wide fabric as well and write down how much you need to buy both the 45 and 54 inch wide fabric before going to the store.

Happy sewing,

Nehzat 

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