Hello sew-friends! In today’s YouTube video, I’m answering one of the questions I’ve been asked most over the years – How do you know how much fabric to buy? I’ll be sharing my magic number for buying fabric, my best tips for deciding how much fabric you’ll need even when you don’t have a pattern in mind and the sewing supplies that I always stock up on.
I’ve been sewing for about 25 years now and have learned what works best for my sewing habits and the things I like to make. The more you sew, the better you’ll be able to estimate how much fabric you’ll end up using too. But in the meantime, read on and watch the video for my best tips to get you started.
Deciding how much fabric to buy
First, check the width of the fabric. The wider the fabric, the less you will need and the better value for your money. If I can’t decide between two otherwise equal fabrics, I always go with the one that is wider.
Next, is to consider the pattern and type of garment you want to make. If you already know what pattern you want to use, refer to the chart provided in the pattern. These charts are usually online as well, if you don’t have the pattern handy while you’re shopping. If you are tall or know that you’ll want to add length to the pattern, you may want to buy a little bit more than the pattern recommends. Usually, about half a yard more is all that’s needed.
If you don’t know what pattern you’ll plan to use, I recommend thinking about what types of garments the fabric is best suited for. Will this fabric make a good t-shirt or is it better for a skirt or dress? Not all fabric is suited for all garments and it’s always important to consider this before selecting a pattern.
Next, think about what you’d like to make with this fabric. Some fabric is well suited for a variety of garments but you may prefer to use it for a top versus a skirt versus a dress. For instance, you may prefer to use a very busy print as a top instead of a dress. Or, you may prefer a particular color as a bottom instead of a top.
PATTERN IDEAS BY YARDAGE
Ok. Now that you have all those things figured out. It’s time to think about yardage. Below are my estimates for how much fabric you’ll need for different types of garments. Remember, you’ll need more fabric if your fabric is narrow.
With 1 yard of fabric you can make, tank tops, simple tops, t-shirts short skirts and shorts. I recommend my Lou Box Top or the Lela Skirt patterns if you only have one yard of fabric.
With 2 yards of fabric you can make, blouses, long skirts, pants, simple dresses and sweatshirts. From my pattern shop, you can make the Lou Box Dresses, Nita Wrap Skirt or the Ali Sweatshirt.
With 3 to 4 yards of fabric, you can make voluminous dresses, outerwear or jumpsuits. I recommend trying my Dana Jumpsuit pattern, if you’re looking to try a more complicated project. It’s an intermediate level and has the option of shorts or full length pants.
If you still don’t know what you want to sew or justwant to keep your options open, my magic number when buying fabric is 3 yards. You can make pretty much anything with 3 yards and often get multiple garments from that amount.
Notions and supplies to stock up on
Last but not least, in the video I mentioned the supplies that I always stock up on. The list includes fusible interfacing, thread (in white, black, navy and gray), machine needles in a variety of weights and types, rotary blades and elastic in 1/4” wide and 1 to 1.25” wide. If you also have a favorite zipper type, it doesn’t hurt to stock up on those as well.
I hope that you find this tutorial helpful. These are my tried and tested methods for deciding how much fabric to buy and the more experience you get with sewing, the better you’ll know what magic number works for you. You can pin the image below to save these tips for later. And if you’re not already, you can follow Sew DIY on Pinterest right here. Happy sewing!
