How do I know how much fabric is required?

In order to buy enough amount of fabrics, to design a new look, you should consider the following:

• Individual growth;
• Features of chosen fabrics;
• Characteristics of fabric pattern, structure of fabric and properties on fabric texture;
• Usable width of fabric.

If you are planning to make a new outfit by couturier, it is better to consult a professional, how much fabric is necessary, taking into account, all the above-mentioned factors.

Either, you decided to sew at home, using clothing patterns provided by a specialized magazine; there you may find instructions for a fabric amount for the chosen design and other notes. Such information can be found, for example, in the magazine "Burda".

Whether, you are only designing the look, and the rest will be later, you may use next calculations. Those calculations refers to 135cm – 150cm or even more wide fabrics, either, so-called “dual-wide” fabrics. The fabric should be at least 20cm longer, than the largest measurement (usually circumference of hips or chest ). For 100-130cm wide fabrics, the amount is doubled. This calculation, mostly is suitable for S-L sizes.

If you wish to use the simplified method for determining the amount of fabrics, you should take into account:

• For a straight or A-line dress required amount of fabric is determined as follows = total length of a dress (from shoulder to floor) + length of a sleeve + at least 10cm for length adjustment;
• For a suit with a straight skirt = total length of a skirt + length of a jacket or a cardigan + length of a sleeve + about 20cm;
• For a straight pants = length + 20cm;
• For a bulk skirts or skirts with pleat, length must be multiplied on 2 or even 3 (very important to know the length of a skirt).

Fabric amount for clothes with a complex cut, fancy rolled and a drapery, also for compound fabrics and extra clothing, determined individually.

When purchasing a fabric, you should definitely pay an attention to the pattern specifics, which direction has the pattern and should the pattern be adjusted, etc.

Still, the best way, to buy enough amount of fabric and avoid disappointment - specify required amount of fabric for each model of clothing individually. We suggest consulting with professionals in purchasing a fabric, for example, for a wedding dress; because it's a risk, to buy an insufficient amount of fabric, that limits you in the dress chose.

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