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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

How to Figure Fabric / Material With a Pattern Repeat for Home Decorating

Figuring the amount of fabric (material) with a pattern repeat that is needed for a home-decorating, sewing project is not as difficult as it may seem. The fabric manufacturer notes repeats in vertical and horizontal. Most home decorating applications such as drapes, etc. will use the vertical repeat. Once the cut lengths are determined, and how many panels are required, this worksheet can be used to calculate how much fabric is needed. Remember to think in inches and repeats, then convert into yards.

Check the WORKSHEET EXAMPLE at the bottom for a filled in worksheet.

Feel free to print and use the worksheet below to determine the yardage for your project.

Worksheet
Cut length ________divided by fabric repeat _______ =_______ # of repeats needed

Round up the # of repeats (from above). This is the number of repeats you will use for each cut. _________
Multiply the rounded-up number______ by the amount of the repeat ______ = ________your new cut length.
Take the new cut length _______ and multiply by the number of panels needed _________= __________Total fabric in inches.
Add one additional repeat to the total fabric in inches. (This is necessary because the first repeat or at least part of it will be wasted depending on where the motif should start.) Total fabric in inches ______ + _________ one repeat = _______ Grand total fabric in inches.
Divide this number _________by 36 = _________ the total number of yards.

Definitions:

CUT LENGTH - The cut length is the length of fabric including the top and bottom hems. Example: If a panel will be finished at 84", the cut length would include 8" for a 4" double top hem and 8" for a 4" double bottom hem for a total of 100" (84+8+8).

PATTERN REPEAT - This is the amount it takes to make one complete pattern (motif).

WORKSHEET EXAMPLE
The example below is for drapes for a window approximately 50 - 60 inches wide. It would be 3 panels (one and a half on each side of the window) finished at 84" long with a 4" doubled top hem, and a 4" doubled bottom hem.

Cut length ___100_____divided by fabric repeat ___27____ =___3.7____ # of repeats needed
Round up the # of repeats (from above). This is the number of repeats you will use for each cut. ___4______
Multiply the rounded-up number___4___ by the amount of the repeat __27____ = ___108_____your new cut length.
Take the new cut length ___108____ and multiply by the number of panels needed ___3______= _____324_____Total fabric in inches.
Add one additional repeat to the total fabric in inches. (This is necessary because the first repeat or at least part of it will be wasted depending on where the pattern starts.) Total fabric in inches ___324___ + ____27_____ one repeat = ___351____ Grand total fabric in inches.
Divide this number __351______by 36 = ____9.75_____ the total number of yards.
Each cut will only be 100" long, but because four repeats will be used (4 x 27=108), 8" will be wasted each time the pattern is matched up.