Contents
- What is Fabric Yardage and Its Importance
- How to Calculate Fabric Yardage
- Frequently Asked Technical Questions
What is Fabric Yardage and Its Importance
Fabric yardage, is a measurement used in the textile industry to measure fabric by length meter (m) unit. When fabric is sold from the loom or stock, it refers to how much of that strip, whose width remains constant, is taken.
The accuracy of yardage calculation directly affects both raw material costs and production success. Incorrectly calculated yardage leads to either unnecessary raw material waste or material shortage in the project.
How to Calculate Fabric Yardage
The calculation method is based on standards that vary according to the type of product to be produced:
- Ready-to-Wear Clothing: An additional allowance of usually %10-15 (krum) is added to the total area of the product pattern. This allowance is for discarding fabric defects or pattern alignment.
- Curtain Textiles: For vertical curtains, to achieve the desired fullness, 1.5 to 2 times the window width is required as yardage (%50-%100 folding allowance).
- Sofa/Couch: Due to complex geometries, extra space should be allocated for seam allowances and folds in addition to the outer dimensions.
- Wholesale Purchase: When processing at an industrial level, the logic of converting to kilograms is used instead of selling in kilometers.
Technical Details: Width, Weight, and Repeat
There are three critical factors that are overlooked when calculating yardage but change the result:
- Fabric Width: Standard widths (140 cm, 150 cm, 280 cm, etc.) determine the yardage requirement.
- Weight (g/m²): This is the surface weight of the fabric; higher weight means a heavier product for the same yardage.
- Print Repeat: This is the interval at which the pattern repeats in patterned fabrics and creates an additional yardage requirement for alignment.
| Feature | Typical Value / Ratio |
|---|---|
| Additional Allowance for Apparel | %10 - %15 |
| Curtain Folding Allowance | %50 - %100 (i.e., 1.5x - 2.0x) |
| Standard Widths | 140cm, 150cm, 280cm |
| Weight Measurement | usually 110-140 gr/m² |
Frequently Asked Technical Questions
How Can I Convert Yardage to Kilograms?
The conversion between fabric yardage and weight cannot be a linear relationship because each fabric has a different density. Use the following formula to convert:
(Fabric Width [meters] x Purchased Yardage [meters] x Weight [gr/m²]) / 1000 = Total Kilograms. For example; 10 meters of fabric with a width of 150 cm and a weight of 100 gr/m² weighs approximately 1.5 kg.
Tips for Choosing the Right Yardage
- For a duvet cover set, you need to carefully plan the total area as a double bedspread, two sheets, and four pillowcases will be produced.
- When purchasing patterned fabric, you can prevent pattern mismatch by buying full multiples of the repeat size.
- Beyaznevresim check fabric widths and weight information from reliable sources, thus minimizing the risk of error.