Fabric Yardage Calculator
:root {
–primary-blue: #004a99;
–success-green: #28a745;
–light-background: #f8f9fa;
–dark-text: #333;
–border-color: #ddd;
}
body {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: var(–light-background);
color: var(–dark-text);
line-height: 1.6;
margin: 0;
padding: 20px;
}
.calculator-container {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 40px auto;
background-color: #fff;
padding: 30px;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
border: 1px solid var(–border-color);
}
h1, h2 {
color: var(–primary-blue);
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.input-section, .result-section, .article-section {
margin-bottom: 30px;
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid var(–border-color);
border-radius: 6px;
background-color: #fff;
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
flex-wrap: wrap; /* Allow wrapping on smaller screens */
}
.input-group label {
flex: 1; /* Grow to fill space */
min-width: 150px; /* Minimum width for labels */
margin-right: 15px;
font-weight: bold;
color: var(–primary-blue);
}
.input-group input[type="number"],
.input-group select {
flex: 2; /* Input takes more space */
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid var(–border-color);
border-radius: 4px;
box-sizing: border-box; /* Include padding and border in the element's total width and height */
font-size: 1rem;
min-width: 180px; /* Ensure inputs have a decent minimum width */
}
.input-group select {
cursor: pointer;
}
button {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 12px 20px;
background-color: var(–primary-blue);
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1.1rem;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
margin-top: 10px;
}
button:hover {
background-color: #003366;
}
#result {
margin-top: 20px;
padding: 15px;
background-color: var(–success-green);
color: white;
text-align: center;
font-size: 1.5rem;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 5px;
min-height: 50px; /* Ensure it has some height even when empty */
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
}
.article-section h2 {
margin-bottom: 15px;
color: var(–primary-blue);
text-align: left;
}
.article-section p, .article-section ul {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.article-section li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
/* Responsive adjustments */
@media (max-width: 768px) {
.input-group {
flex-direction: column;
align-items: flex-start;
}
.input-group label {
margin-bottom: 8px;
margin-right: 0;
}
.input-group input[type="number"],
.input-group select {
width: 100%;
min-width: unset; /* Remove min-width on small screens */
}
.calculator-container {
padding: 20px;
}
}
Fabric Yardage Calculator
Understanding Fabric Yardage and Calculation
When embarking on sewing projects, from creating garments to quilting and home decor, accurately calculating the amount of fabric needed is crucial. This prevents costly trips back to the store and ensures you have enough material to complete your vision. The "Fabric Yardage Calculator" helps simplify this process by converting your project's linear measurements into the total yardage required, taking into account fabric width, desired length, pattern repeats, and a buffer for wastage.
Key Factors in Fabric Calculation:
- Fabric Width: Fabrics come in various widths, commonly 44/45 inches (standard quilting cotton) or 54/60 inches (home decor, apparel). Wider fabrics can sometimes mean you need less linear yardage for the same project size.
- Total Fabric Length Needed: This is the sum of all the individual pattern pieces or fabric strips you need to cut for your project, laid out end-to-end. For example, a simple quilt top might require multiple strips sewn together.
- Pattern Repeat: If your fabric has a large printed design that needs to be matched across seams (like in wallpaper or some large-scale prints), you must account for the repeat. Each time the pattern repeats, you need to add that length to ensure the design flows correctly. If your fabric has no discernible repeat or you're using a solid color, this value can be set to 0.
- Extra Wastage (%): It's always wise to add a buffer for unforeseen issues, cutting errors, or slight shrinkage after washing. A common recommendation is 10-15% extra.
How the Calculator Works:
The calculation involves a few steps:
-
Total Linear Inches Needed: The calculator first determines the absolute minimum length of fabric required in inches. This is the Total Fabric Length Needed.
-
Adjust for Pattern Repeat: If a Pattern Repeat is specified, its length is added to the Total Fabric Length Needed. This accounts for aligning the design across cuts.
-
Add Wastage: The specified Extra Wastage (%) is calculated based on the adjusted total length and added. This provides a safety margin.
-
Convert to Yards: Finally, the total adjusted length in inches is divided by 36 (since there are 36 inches in a yard) to give you the final yardage required. The width of the fabric, while important for understanding how you'll lay out your pattern pieces, is not directly used in this calculation of *linear yardage* needed; rather, it influences *how efficiently* you can cut those pieces from the total length.
For example, if you need 72 inches of fabric length, have a pattern repeat of 18 inches, and want to add 10% wastage:
Base Length = 72 inches
Length with Repeat = 72 + 18 = 90 inches
Wastage Amount = 90 inches * 10% = 9 inches
Total Inches Needed = 90 + 9 = 99 inches
Total Yards = 99 inches / 36 inches/yard = 2.75 yards
This calculator provides a straightforward way to estimate your fabric needs, helping you buy accurately and sew with confidence. Always consider pre-washing your fabric before cutting, as some fabrics may shrink.
function calculateYardage() {
var fabricWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fabricWidth").value);
var fabricLengthNeeded = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fabricLengthNeeded").value);
var patternRepeat = parseFloat(document.getElementById("patternRepeat").value);
var extraWastage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("extraWastage").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = ""; // Clear previous result
// Input validation
if (isNaN(fabricWidth) || fabricWidth <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Fabric Width.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(fabricLengthNeeded) || fabricLengthNeeded <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Total Fabric Length Needed.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(patternRepeat) || patternRepeat < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Pattern Repeat (0 or more).";
return;
}
if (isNaN(extraWastage) || extraWastage 0) {
// If there's a pattern repeat, we need to calculate how many repeats fit into the length needed
// and add the full length of one repeat for each instance.
// A simpler approach for estimation is to just add one repeat length if it's significant.
// For precise yardage with complex layouts, this might need adjustment based on how pieces are cut.
// For general estimation, adding the repeat value once if > 0 is a common approach.
// Alternatively, if the pieces are long and narrow, you might need the repeat per piece.
// We'll use a simplified approach: add the repeat length if specified.
totalLengthWithRepeat = fabricLengthNeeded + patternRepeat;
}
var wastageAmount = totalLengthWithRepeat * (extraWastage / 100);
var totalInchesNeeded = totalLengthWithRepeat + wastageAmount;
var totalYards = totalInchesNeeded / 36;
// Format the result
resultDiv.innerHTML = totalYards.toFixed(2) + " Yards";
}