How is fabric sold

Easier than loading your armchair into the car and driving it to the shop, this will give you peace of mind before investing in fabric. Keep in mind, however, that this is a guideline, not a rule. Many factors-including the fabric's pattern, the upholsterer's work style, and variations in individual pieces of furniture-can influence the yardage. Totillo provided the estimates here, based on inch-wide fabric with a short repeat.

Specific design details unique to your piece may influence yardage. When shopping for fabric , you'll find a tremendous variety of sizes, patterns, and materials-all factors that will affect how much you need. The most common width for fabric today in the United States is 54 inches; however, inch-wide fabric is found both here and in Great Britain, and and inch widths are standard for many imported fabrics, like Indian silks. Other fabrics such as garment textiles , may be wider: Oxford cloth and gingham are frequently sold in and inch widths.

If you can, choose inch-wide fabric. It produces the least cutting waste, and yardage estimates assume this width. Solid fabrics are the simplest to work with: Stripes , plaids , and other patterns must be matched at the seams to be consistent. Though this can be tricky for the upholsterer, a smaller stripe or plaid that is evenly spaced should not cause much cutting waste, so you shouldn't need to allow for extra fabric.

If you want welting-the cord that covers the seams-from the same fabric, you'll need a lot more. Often, you can cheat a little and get welting from cutting excess, but a stripe or plaid won't look right unless it is cut on a complete bias.

This makes the work simpler and usually saves money, since solids are generally less expensive than patterns. Some patterns will require extra yardage. Never skimp on fabric and assume you will be able to go back to the store and buy more if necessary. This might seem like smart shopping, but it's not: Never expect to get an exact fabric match the second time around.

If you end up just a bit short on fabric , you might be able to make it work by "cheating" a little in hidden places. One method is to use a false platform-the fabric that covers the seat of the chair beneath the cushion. Since it doesn't show, it can be made from a cheaper, solid fabric rather than from the same fabric as the rest of the chair.

Another option is to use what are called pulling strips or stretchers: There are a few hidden inches of material where the pieces covering the arms and back are pulled taut and tacked onto the chair frame.

Strips of less expensive but sturdy fabric can be used for the hidden portions. If all the options are exhausted, however, and there still isn't enough fabric, you'll have no choice but to scrap the original material and start over. Now multiply the length by the number you got. The patterned fabric looks elegant and stylish but is somewhat challenging to work with.

The calculations work for the average misses sizes from 10 till 14, with an average height of 5 feet and 4 inches.

Most patterned materials come in a single width, while double width fabrics are usually solid colors. A straight skirt requires less material than an A-line model. A straight skirt needs 2 yards of material of a single width fabric. You should add a quarter of a yard for an A-line or softly gathered model. A wider skirt requires more fabric. There are lots of online charts that can help you calculate the number of yards needed for a specific model or size. They sometimes have a row of tiny dots or writing inside them.

The selvage edges run along the length of the fabric. This is the width of the fabric. Gently pull the tape measure across the selvage edge. Note down the measurement where the fabric ended. Use blue tac or tape to temporarily stick your tape measure to the long side of a table. Then just let the rest hang off the end of the table. With your left hand, place the left edge of the fabric next to 0 on the tape measure.

Hold it there. Just make a note of the measurement where your fabric ended. Hold it in place. Make a mental note. Then just keep repeating this until you run out of fabric.

Your last length of fabric might be less than 1 yard. So look at the measurement where it stops. Then add that to your calculations so far.

Your fabric will have 2 cut edges on opposite sides. Pick one of those to measure. They run along the length of the fabric. If you have enough space, lay the fabric flat on the floor. As described above, measure one of the cut edges. Photos of a yard of fabric in different widths.

A conversion chart between yards, inches, feet, meters, and centimeters.