Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Go to Page: 1 of 22 of 2

How much do you buy? You find a fabric you must have, but you have no idea what you will make.
solveg   Beginner MN USA Member since 2/16/12 Posts: 366	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/21/12 1:30 AM I can see this happening to me.... I find the perfect pattern for the fabric, but I'm a 1/2 yard short. Or I end up buying 4 yards and have 1-1/2 yards left over. Or worse. How do you decide how much to buy so you don't waste fabric, or be broken-hearted?
Mikgirl Member since 2/24/10 Posts: 299	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/21/12 2:26 AM I kinda have an idea of how much fabric I need. Usually 1 1/2yd is enough for a top and 2yds for a dress. (I'm very petite... 4'11") So when I shop for fabrics I at least decide if I want to make a top or dress. I know some patterns call for much more fabric (layered tierred skirt, or something on a bias), and for those patterns I just end up buying a new fabric... Or not make it at all!
Member since 12/31/69	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/21/12 2:49 AM I have the GwynHug's How much fabric series. NAYY, but I use the heck out of them. They did the averages and what not. Matter of fact, I need to replace mine since they're starting to show their use. Using them, I don't have a lot left over, which is a good thing and most of the time enough to make what I want.
hazelnut   Beginner USA Member since 1/7/09 Posts: 2286	Login to reply to this post In reply to solveg << 1 member likes this. Date: 6/21/12 3:08 AM For me, it depends on the width of the fabric. I usually purchase 2 yds for tops, regardless of the width, allowing for shrinkage and cutting/sewing mistakes. I'm not purchasing *expensive* fabrics, so I would rather have extra than not enough. I purchase about 2.5-3 yds for pants and 3 - 4 yds (5 yds if it's only 45" wide and a woven) if I fall in love with a fabric, but clueless as to what it may someday become. I purchase fabrics almost exclusively online, so I tend to go with more fabric rather than less, and stock up on the sales as I come across them for making trial garments (muslins) rather than using actual muslin fabric, which doesn't work for knits anyway. Here are a few links to similar questions regarding how much fabric to purchase, that should be of more help than I am. :) how much fabric 1 how much fabric 2 how much fabric 3
PattyE   Intermediate MI Member since 9/7/10 Posts: 652	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/21/12 8:47 AM I usually always buy 2 yds. If it's a bottomweight I'll get 3. If it's a coating weight I get 4.
threaddy   Advanced WY USA Member since 4/22/09 Posts: 2313	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 6/21/12 9:20 AM I keep a slip of paper in my wallet for all the various garment fabric needs. I can usually tell what the fabric could be used for. ------ "The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." Theodore Rubin "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life's about creating yourself." George Bernard Shaw Bernina vintage and embroidery serger 234 and BLcoverstitch
heathergwo Advanced Beginner CA USA Member since 11/14/11 Posts: 766	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/21/12 1:14 PM I use a combo of all the methods described above. For tops vs pants vs tee vs dress, I have a general idea of how much fabric I will need and so buy appropriately. I recently purchased the GywnHug's cards (NAYY) and they are VERY nice & helpful! And sometimes if I have NO IDEA what I might make of it, I'll buy either just a little or quite a bit depending on how much I love it and the price. HTH! ------ Brother Innovis 1250D Singer Curvy 8763 Brother 1034D Janome 385.19606 Brother 2340CV
Courtney Ostaff   Intermediate WV USA Member since 11/23/10 Posts: 624	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 6/21/12 4:14 PM I'm a plus size, so I do 2.5 yds for a top, 3 yds for a bottom, and 5 yds for a dress (I like maxi dresses). I don't think of the leftovers as waste, because I keep them for another project, eventually: a purse, a tote, an item for my 4-yr-old daughter, etc.
JEF   Intermediate VA USA Member since 7/27/05 Posts: 2443 Board Moderator	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 6/21/12 4:24 PM Hadn't heard of GwynHug fabric cards before but what a cool idea! JEF ------ "The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine." --Abraham Lincoln
TanyaMT   Intermediate CA USA Member since 4/28/04 Posts: 539	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/21/12 5:03 PM Well, I learned something new and just purchased a set of those cards. In general, I do have an idea of how much I need for certain types of garments, and the type of fabric would determine what type of thing I would make (pants, tee, etc). ------ My sewing blog: weebeaks.blogspot.com

Go to Page: 1 of 22 of 2

Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Printable Version

* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.