The How Much of a Yard chart is my gift to subscribers of The Fabric Frame. The chart helps you determine how much yardage to ask for when you go to the fabric store.

You might be wondering how to use the chart.

Before I explain that, it?s important to understand how fabric is sold at a fabric store.

How to Buy Fabric from the Fabric Store

Fabric comes folded on a long rectangular piece of cardboard folded lengthwise.

This is called a bolt of fabric.

The ?raw? or open edges of the fabric are called the selvage.

If you measure the fabric from selvage end to selvage end, you will get the width of the fabric (WOF).

Remember this term. You?ll run across it as you get more involved with sewing and quilting.

You?ll find various WOF at the fabric store. The typical WOF on a bolt of cotton fabric is anywhere from 40-46 inches. (FYI: Some fabrics are 108 inches wide. These are typically used as backing for a quilt.)

The label on the end of the bolt will tell you the width, what the fabric is made of, care information, and other details.

The length of the fabric is wrapped around the cardboard.

And the length is what you request cut when you go to the fabric store.

????You tell the sales person how much length you need by yardage. For example, 1/8 yard, 1/2 yard, or 2 yards. (Remember, the ?width? of fabric is the folded fabric from selvage edge to selvage edge.)

How to Use the How Much of a Yard Chart

When you download the chart, fold it in half lengthwise so you can use the chart on both sides.

Then you need to figure out how much length of fabric you need in inches. The amount of length you need depends on your project. I don't know of any way to help you figure that out. But keep in mind that you're working with the folded WOF when determining the length you need.

Once you know how many inches you need, refer to the How Much of a Yard chart to help you convert those inches into the amount of yardage you need cut.

For example, let?s say you need 21 inches in length. When we go to the chart, we see that 21 inches falls within 5/8 yard. Therefore, ask for 5/8 yard at the fabric store. This will give you 1 ½ extra inches of wiggle room.

Here?s another example:

Let's say you figured out you need 26 inches. On the chart, 26 inches falls within 3/4 yard (with 1 inch to spare). So ask for 3/4 yards at the fabric store.

What if you only need 8 inches? According to the chart, 8 inches falls with 1/4 yard. So ask for 1/4 yard at the store.

I hope this chart is useful with helping you figure out how much yardage you need cut at the fabric store.

If you have any suggestions or feedback, please leave a comment below.

Yolanda