Many of you ask us how to calculate the amount of fabric needed for your projects. You want to make a dress, pants, or a bag, but you don't know how much fabric you need or how to calculate it. So today we're bringing you this post, which will be super useful for making that calculation.
1. Draft the pattern or take the measurements
The first step in figuring out how much fabric you need is to know the project's measurements or draft the patterns for the garment you're going to make. If you've never assembled a pattern from our PDFs, we recommend watching the tutorial where we explain, step by step, how to assemble a sewing pattern, inside Lulu Ferris.
Once we have all the pattern pieces or all the measurements for the pieces, we'll move on to the second step.
2. Measure and add up all the pieces/patterns
We're going to calculate the total of our patterns or pieces to find out how much fabric we need.
First, measure the widths to find out whether everything will fit across the full width of the fabric. To do this, measure from the farthest-left point of the pattern to the farthest-right point (or the other way around). Remember all patterns marked “On the fold”, because that means the pattern is only half of the piece, so the actual width will be twice as wide.
After that, measure the tallest/longest piece or pattern. In the case of a dress, for example, measure from the highest point (the shoulder) to the lowest point (the hem), and in the same way measure any pattern, whether it's sleeves, pants, or a bag.
We'll add these measurements together and write them down to make an overall calculation of the fabric we'll need.
3. Choose the fabric
Once we know which project we're going to make and have taken the measurements, we need to think about which fabric we'll use.
Not all fabrics have the same width, so knowing the width of our fabric is a very important detail to keep in mind.
When we talk about the fabric's “width,” we mean the entire width of the roll or bolt. As for “length,” we mean the total length we're going to use. The “length” is the amount of fabric we're going to buy: 1 meter, half a meter, or whatever total we need.
4. Decide how much fabric you need
Finally, once you know how wide the fabric you've chosen is and how wide and tall all your pieces are together, you'll have to calculate how much fabric you need so everything fits. Fabrics have a direction, a “grain.” This means the patterns can't be placed just any way; we have to place and cut each one while respecting the direction of the fabric.
You'll also need to consider whether it's a solid or printed fabric, and make sure the patterns are placed with the design facing the same direction so it isn't upside down once sewn.
If all the pieces don't fit across the full width of the fabric, you'll have to make two “rows” along its length. To give you an idea, look at the image.
This total fabric length is the amount of fabric you'll need for your project.
With the pattern already traced and cut, you can make marks with tape on the floor or table, taking into account the width of the fabric you'd like to use for the project, and sketch the layout there to make sure of what you'll need.
We hope these instructions make it easier for you to calculate your fabric requirements from now on. If there's any part you didn't understand or need clarified, you can write to us at info@luluferris.
And so you don't have to look for this post every time, we've made a summary PDF that you can download below and keep handy on your computer or print out and store with your patterns :)
How Much Fabric Do I Need? PDF
Happy sewing!