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At The Cloth Shop we frequently respond to requests for unusual fabric. We will do our best to source the fabric you need for your application.
The Cloth Shop provides a curtain making service and recommends dressmakers, designers, upholsterers, loose cover and blind makers.
GUIDE FOR ESTIMATING FABRIC FOR DRESSMAKING
When you’re making clothes for yourself it is important to measure yourself accurately. It is surprising how many people take their waist measurement round their tummy. Good measurements help you to work out how much fabric you’ll need and contribute to well fitting garments. This diagram shows you where to place the tape measure.
If you are using a pattern don’t rely on the size guide numbers. These differ from the USA to Europe and you may not be the size you think you are. People’s sizes fluctuate. As well as size guide numbers, patterns will also give you bust, waist and hip measurements. Once you have measured yourself properly these are a much more helpful guide. Whether you are using a shop pattern or not, you can use your measurements to work out how much fabric you’ll need.
Rolls of fabric are usually standard widths:
45”/110 cm or
54”/140 cm
or 60”/150 cm.
You may need a longer length of fabric when the fabric width is only 45”/110 cm compared to a width of 60”/150 cm.
For example:
You are making a skirt that is 18”/45 cm long and your hip measurement is 46”/115 cm. If your chosen fabric is 54”/140 cm you will only need half a metre (50cm), the length of your skirt plus a little for seam allowance. You can fit the back and the front of the skirt on one width of fabric. If your chosen fabric is only 45”/ 110 cm wide you will need 1 metre, twice the length of your skirt because only the front or the back will fit onto the width so you must “go twice”.
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GUIDE FOR ESTIMATING FABRIC FOR CURTAINS
1. Measure across the width of your window from where you want the curtains to start on one side and finish on the other. It is usual but not necessary to hang the curtains so that they over lap each side of the window by at least 8”/20 cm (Increase this to suit bulk of fabric and available wall space). This creates the space that your curtains will hang in when they are open and prevents them from blocking the light.
2. Increase the Width measurement so that you’ll have enough fabric to create gathers. It is up to you to decide how gathered or “full” you’d like them. Your decision may be determined by the type of fabric you’re using and the style of your room. For example heavy drapes might benefit from more gathers. A sparser modern look might require fewer. A happy medium and for the purposes of an estimate, double the measurement you’ve taken for the width.
For example:
Width of window including extra at the sides is 230 cm.
90”/230 cm x 2 = 180”/460 cm
Curtain width = 180”/460cm
3. How many Drops? Rolls of fabric come in standard widths but can vary. The most common widths for curtain fabric are 54”/140 cm and 60”/150 cm. You must work out how many fabric roll widths or Drops you’ll need.
For example:
Curtain width = 180”/460 cm.
180”/460 by roll width at 60”/150cm = 3/3.06. So 3 drops are needed.
The curtain on each side of the window will be made from 1.5 drops and seamed together.
4. For the Length. Measure from your curtain fitting to where you’d like the curtains to drop to. It is desirable to have your fitting at least 6”/15 cm above the window and at least 12” 30 cm below. You might also consider the proportions of your room. Long narrow curtains can make ceilings look higher. Shallow horizontal curtains
can make your room look wider. This measurement is the Finished Length. For an example let’s say the Finished Length is 90”/230 cm.
5. Add 10”/25 cm to your Finished Length measurement for hems at top and bottom.
For example:
Finished length of curtains is 90”/230cm
90”/230cm + 10”/25 cm = 100”/ 255 cm
This is the Working Length.
6. Multiply the Working Length by the number of Drops.
For example
100”/255 cm x 3 = 300”/765 cm
Round it up and this will tell you how much fabric you need.
For the 90”/230 cm x 90”/230 cm with fabric that is 60”/150 cm wide you will need approximately 8.5 yards/7.75 metres.
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