Fabric Yardage Calculator

Fabric width directly determines how many pattern pieces can fit across the fabric in a single layout row. Wider fabrics (58–60 inches) allow more pieces side by side, dramatically reducing the total length you need to buy. A dress that requires 3 yards of 44-inch fabric might only need 2.25 yards of 60-inch fabric. Always check the bolt width before purchasing and recalculate if you switch to a different width.

A pattern repeat is the distance before a printed motif or plaid stripe begins to repeat. When sewing garments from patterned fabrics, seams must match, requiring you to shift pattern pieces to align the print. For every seam that requires matching, you typically lose one full repeat of fabric. A 4-inch repeat on a 6-seam jacket can add 24 inches (2/3 yard) to your requirements. Always buy extra when working with large repeats.

Nap refers to the directional surface texture of fabrics like velvet, velveteen, corduroy, brushed fleece, and some wool coatings. All pattern pieces must be cut in the same direction so the light catches the pile uniformly. This restriction means you cannot flip pieces to nest them efficiently. Add 15–25% extra yardage for nap fabrics. Some printed fabrics with a one-way design (like a floral that only faces one direction) also require nap layout.

Natural fiber fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool can shrink 3–5% in length and 1–3% in width after washing or dry cleaning. Rayon can shrink up to 10%. Always pre-wash and dry your fabric before cutting to allow shrinkage to occur. As a safety measure, purchase an additional 1/4 to 1/2 yard beyond your calculated yardage, especially for natural fibers. Pre-washing also removes sizing chemicals that can affect how fabric handles during cutting and sewing.

Yes, but knit fabrics often allow more efficient layouts because patterns are sized with ease already incorporated and pieces can sometimes be rotated more freely than woven fabrics. However, some knits with a pronounced stretch direction may still require careful grain alignment. When calculating knit yardage, use the fabric's usable width (excluding selvages) and confirm whether the pattern was designed specifically for stretch fabrics, as knit-specific patterns are already sized differently than woven patterns.

Always calculate yardage for modifications before purchasing fabric. Adding pockets typically requires 0.25–0.5 yard extra depending on pocket style. Lengthening a bodice or skirt by 2 inches may add 0.25 yard. If you are grading between sizes (cutting one size at the waist and a larger size at the hips, for example), you may need slightly more fabric than the single-size estimate. Write down all modifications, mock up the layout, and add those pieces to your yardage total.

Pattern companies perform computerized or manual fabric layout simulations for multiple sizes and fabric widths, then list the minimum yardage required for each combination on the pattern envelope. However, their estimates often assume ideal cutting conditions and no pattern matching. If you are a beginner, adding 10–15% to the envelope recommendation is wise. The envelope yardage also does not account for pre-washing shrinkage, so factor that in separately.

The total bolt width includes the selvage edges — the tightly woven finished edges on either side of the fabric. Selvages are often printed with the manufacturer's name, color registration dots, and design credits. They should generally not be used in garment construction as they can shrink differently or show through light fabrics. Usable width is the fabric between selvages. For most fabrics, subtract 1–2 inches per side, so a 60-inch bolt typically yields 57–58 inches of usable fabric.