How Much Fabric Do I Need

How to choose fabrics by the metre?
The research must start from the choice of types of fabrics to be used and in this case the choice is really wide: wool, silk, cotton, satin, linen, denim, viscose, cashmere, velvet ...

In order to choose a fabric correctly, it is necessary first of all to think about its destination and its use.

After having chosen the material also according to its characteristics, heaviness and composition, it's the color turn: solid color or patterned? Here too, it is essential to think about the use of the fabric, the season and all the other factors that may influence the choice and your style.

How much fabric to buy?
You can learn to calculate the amount of fabric you need to make a dress with a simple algebraic sum of the various lengths. Before starting any calculation of yardage, some considerations must be made:
- not all fabrics are equal, in fact, if the fabric is striped or patterned you need a larger amount of fabric so that the print is homogeneous and that the pattern fits perfectly;
- the size: the larger it is, the more fabric is needed.

In the meantime, let's remember that fabrics have:
- a length (direction of the warp) which is the one rolled on the roller and that you buy a lot per meter;
- a height (direction of the weft) which is the distance between the two selvedges or edges.

On the market there are fabrics of different heights depending on the type and use to which they are intended. The fabric for tailoring is usually 140/150 cm high.

Here is in two words the calculation to be performed:
Sum the measurements of the lengths of the garments you want to sew + the amount of CMs needed for sleeves + the useful CMs for cuffs + the CMs to get collars + the CMs for paramonture, belts and pockets and don't forget the sewing edges and hems.... the result will be how much fabric you need.

In the uncertainty it is better to abound of some centimeters in excess rather than in defect because sometimes for that much more, you can be left with an incomplete garment.

The table is INDICATIVE and based on simple garments with fabric in height 140/150 cm.