Fabric yardage calculator
Choose a garment, a standard size or your own measurements, and a fabric width: the calculator drafts the pattern pieces with Sewly's engine, lays them out on folded fabric and tells you how much to buy, in meters and yards.
Fabric to buy: A-line skirt
By fabric width
| Material | 45 in (110 cm) | 55 in (140 cm) | 60 in (150 cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main fabric | 2 1/8 yd 1.9 m | 1 3/4 yd 1.6 m | 1 3/4 yd 1.6 m |
Quantities include about 8 % plus 10 cm for shrinkage and squaring the ends, rounded up to 10 cm or 1/8 yd. Buy more for one-way prints, nap, or stripes and plaids to match.
How much fabric you need depends on the garment, its length and sleeves, your size and the width of the fabric. This calculator does not read a generic chart: it drafts every piece for your size with the engine behind Sewly's patterns, lays the pieces on folded fabric and measures the length they use. As a guide, a knee-length A-line skirt in EU 38 (US 6, UK 10) takes 1.6 m (1 3/4 yd) of 140 cm (55 in) fabric.
How is fabric yardage calculated?
- The pattern is drafted from your measurements, or from a standard size, with the ease the garment and its options call for.
- Seam and hem allowances are added: 1.5 cm (5/8 in) seams on woven fabric, 1 cm (3/8 in) on knits.
- The pieces are laid on fabric folded selvedge to selvedge, each grainline parallel to the selvedge. Pieces marked "place on fold" go against the fold; pairs are cut through both layers at once. A piece too wide for the folded fabric is placed opened out after the others.
- The length used gets about 8 % plus 10 cm for shrinkage and straightening the cut end, then is rounded up to the next 10 cm or 1/8 yd.
Each material gets its own figure: main fabric, lining, contrast or ribbing.
Typical fabric quantities by garment
These come from the calculator for EU 38 (US 6, UK 10) with each garment's default options. Your own figure moves with your size and choices.
| Garment | 110 cm (45 in) wide | 140 cm (55 in) wide |
|---|---|---|
| A-line skirt, knee length | 1.9 m (2 1/8 yd) | 1.6 m (1 3/4 yd) |
| Gathered skirt, midi | 2.5 m (2 3/4 yd) | 2.2 m (2 1/2 yd) |
| Circle skirt, knee length | 2.7 m (3 yd) | 2.7 m (3 yd) |
| T-shirt, short sleeves | 2.0 m (2 1/4 yd) | 1.6 m (1 3/4 yd) |
| Woven top, short sleeves | 2.0 m (2 1/4 yd) | 1.2 m (1 3/8 yd) |
| Shift dress, knee length | 3.1 m (3 1/2 yd) | 2.0 m (2 1/4 yd) |
| Pull-on trousers, full length | 2.9 m (3 1/4 yd) | 2.6 m (2 7/8 yd) |
| Kimono jacket, hip length | 2.4 m (2 5/8 yd) | 1.7 m (1 7/8 yd) |
Why narrow fabric takes so much more
Folded, 110 cm (45 in) fabric is only 55 cm (22 1/2 in) wide. A front and a back that sit side by side on 140 cm (55 in) fabric have to go one after the other on narrow fabric, which can add a whole piece length. That is why the shift dress above needs 3.1 m on 110 cm fabric and 2.0 m on 140 cm. A knee-length circle skirt takes the same 2.7 m (3 yd) on all three widths: each piece is about as wide as the widest folded fabric or wider, so the pieces always go one after another.
When should you buy more?
- One-way designs: directional prints and fabrics with a nap, such as velvet or corduroy, need every piece facing the same way. Allow roughly one extra piece length.
- Stripes and plaids: pattern matching across seams takes about one pattern repeat more per main piece.
- Shrinkage: the margin covers the usual shrinkage of cottons and linens. For fabrics known to shrink a lot, buy a little more and pre-wash the fabric before cutting.
- A test garment: if you sew a toile first, use inexpensive fabric of the same width.
Every Sewly pattern lists these quantities for 110, 140 and 150 cm fabric, with the cutting layouts. For more on reading fabric requirements, see how much fabric do I need?
Frequently asked questions
How many yards of fabric do I need for a dress?
Most knee-length dresses take 2 to 3.5 m (2 1/4 to 3 3/4 yd), depending on the style, your size and the fabric width. For a shift dress in EU 38 the calculator gives 2.0 m (2 1/4 yd) of 140 cm (55 in) fabric and 3.1 m (3 1/2 yd) of 110 cm (45 in) fabric. Longer skirts, long sleeves and fuller skirts add to it.
Does the fabric width change how much I need?
Yes, often a lot. On wide fabric, pieces sit side by side on the fold; on 110 cm (45 in) fabric they often have to go one after another. Compare the three widths in the table before you buy.
Are the quantities exact or rounded?
They are the length the drafted pieces use, plus about 8 % and 10 cm for shrinkage and squaring the cut end, rounded up to 10 cm or 1/8 yd. Buy more for one-way prints, nap, or stripes and plaids you want to match.
What if my size is not in the list?
Choose My measurements and enter your bust, waist, hip and height. The other measurements a pattern needs are filled in from the nearest standard size and scaled to yours, as in Sewly's pattern editor.