Usable fabric widths vs pattern yardage requirements
06-21-2011, 04:10 PM
#11
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Originally Posted by susie-susie-susie
I try to buy more than is called for to allow for mistakes in cutting. Then I can add to my stash if it isn't needed. Better to have too much than to be short a few inches. Ask me how I know that!!
Sue
Sue
06-21-2011, 04:10 PM
#12
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I have never went by the ammount the pattern says to buy, normally I change the pattern to make it the way I want it either adding to it or whatever. So I end up doing my own math to figure out how much I need and I just assume fabric is 40 inches wide!
06-21-2011, 04:56 PM
#14
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Originally Posted by Deb watkins
When I figure out my fabric requirements for any project, I base my measurements on the wof being 40"...it just works for me.
06-22-2011, 01:27 AM
#15
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it is important when fabric shopping to actually look at the information on the end of the bolt--there is a huge variation between fabric widths- and some vintage fabrics are only 30"-36" wide!
we need to get in the habit of checking-not taking for granted and purchase according to how much of that width we need---remembering 3-5% shrinkage.
we need to get in the habit of checking-not taking for granted and purchase according to how much of that width we need---remembering 3-5% shrinkage.
06-22-2011, 02:16 AM
#16
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Originally Posted by Shelley
I've always used the 40" amount when figuring fabric....
06-22-2011, 05:47 AM
#18
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Glad you brought the topic up.
Fabrics can shrink - when they do - either lengthwise, crosswise, and/or both ways.
There are so many things that one learns "the hard way" -
I think this is also one of them.
I haven't purchased a pattern recently, so don't know what the info on the back is -
I had "assumed" that ALL newer fabrics were at least 45 inches wide - until I tried to back a top with some fabric that was only about 42 inches wide. That learned me to not assume!
Fabrics can shrink - when they do - either lengthwise, crosswise, and/or both ways.
There are so many things that one learns "the hard way" -
I think this is also one of them.
I haven't purchased a pattern recently, so don't know what the info on the back is -
I had "assumed" that ALL newer fabrics were at least 45 inches wide - until I tried to back a top with some fabric that was only about 42 inches wide. That learned me to not assume!
07-29-2011, 06:33 AM
#20
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I was curious about what the widths of some of my fabrics are/were - so I made a table of all the ones I had for sale this year - some were purchased as recently as December 2010 and some were from ten to possibly twenty years ago. I don't think anything over 20 years old is in this compilation.
Interestingly enough, I found VIP/Cranston fabrics were usually among the widest in this group.
Excluded: Fabrics over 50 inches and under 36 inches.
These measurements include the selvages - which vary from almost non-existent to almost 3/4 of an inch. There are a few makers that print their "brand" almost 1.5 inches from the edge.
Interestingly enough, I found VIP/Cranston fabrics were usually among the widest in this group.
Excluded: Fabrics over 50 inches and under 36 inches.
These measurements include the selvages - which vary from almost non-existent to almost 3/4 of an inch. There are a few makers that print their "brand" almost 1.5 inches from the edge.
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