How Big is a Yard of Fabric?
A yard of fabric is the length of the fabric, not the width. Therefore, a yard of fabric can be different in size based on the width of the fabric.
The length of the fabric is always measured and cut off the bolt in a yard measurement or fraction of a yard.
How Big is a Yard?
A yard is a measurement of length.
One yard = 36 inches.
As 12 inches are in one foot, one yard is also 3 feet long.
Fabric Widths
The reason why a yard of fabric will always vary in size is because fabric comes in different widths.
Fabric can be 41″ wide, 42″ wide, 44″ wide, 60″ wide, 72″ wide or even 102″ wide depending on the type of fabric and manufacturer.
While it can be frustrating with so many different widths to consider, the types of fabric are usually around the same sizes, which makes it easier to plan for how much fabric you will need to cut:
- General Fabric (Cotton, Quilting, Flannel, Linen): 41 -45 inches wide
- Home Decor Fabric (Upholstery, Curtains, Canvas, Outdoor Fabric): 54 inches or 60 inches
- Apparel Fabric: 60 inches
How Much Fabric in a Yard?
Because the width of fabrics vary widely, it is impossible to say how much a yard of fabric is unless you also know the width.
One yard of upholstery fabric that is 60″ wide will be bigger than one yard of quilting fabric that is 44″ wide. They will both be 36″ long, but their width will be different.
Therefore, the square inches of the yard of fabric will be different.
Some stores will actually give you a little more than a yard of fabric when it is cut, just to make sure that you receive the right size. So you may find that a yard of fabric is actually just a few inches longer.
If you prewash your fabric before sewing, you may find that a yard of fabric becomes smaller with shrinkage and therefore you will have less than a yard.
How to Get a Usable Yard of Fabric for Sewing Projects
If your sewing project requires a yard of fabric, you may actually need to buy more than a yard.
Surprising, right?! Here’s why.
A yard of fabric is cut to be 36″ long. However, you may not be able to use all of that fabric for several reasons, including:
- Size shrinks during pre-washing
- Fabric was cut crooked
- Measurement wasn’t exact
- Edges need to be straightened
If you need a yard of fabric and find out that it isn’t big enough, you will have to go buy ANOTHER YARD. It is always best to round up to the next fraction of a yard and buy too much fabric, rather than too little.
For instance, order 1.25 yards of fabric instead of just 1 yard. Then you have “wiggle room” in your fabric amount to straighten the seeds, cut off frayed edges, etc.
Extra fabric can always be used in scrap fabric projects, so don’t worry about having too much! It’s never a bad idea to have TOO much fabric!
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