UK fabric retail: metres, not yards , despite the tool name
Despite being called a "yardage" calculator (the term comes from the quilting world, where US patterns still use yards), fabric in the UK has been sold by the metre since metrication in the 1970s. John Lewis, Minerva Crafts, Ray Stitch (London), and Fabricland all sell fabric per metre. If you are following a US pattern that specifies yards, note that 1 yard equals 0.914 metres , close enough that 1 metre is often used as a practical substitute for 1 yard, but the 8.6% difference matters on larger projects.
UK quilting cotton is typically 110-115 cm wide (matching the US 44/45 inch standard). Dressmaking fabrics from John Lewis or Liberty run 140-150 cm wide.
Standard widths in the UK market
| Width | Fabric type | Typical UK source |
|---|---|---|
| 90 cm | Voiles, linings, sheers | Specialist fabric shops |
| 110-115 cm | Quilting cotton | Minerva, Fabric Godmother |
| 140-150 cm | Dressmaking, jersey, coating | John Lewis, Cloth House |
| 150-160 cm | Upholstery, heavyweight canvas | Swatches, Plush Addict |
What this calculator does not account for
Pattern matching (stripes, plaids, large prints) requires extra fabric , typically one full pattern repeat per cut. This calculator assumes plain or small-scale fabric. For fabrics with a repeat larger than 10 cm, add one full repeat per major piece. Fabric with a nap (velvet, corduroy, certain knits) also requires cutting all pieces in the same direction, which reduces yield significantly , add 15-20% for nap fabric.
The calculator also does not account for selvedge waste. Most UK retailers include selvedge in the stated width, but selvedge fabric (1-2 cm each side) is not usable for most projects.
Pre-washing: what to do before cutting
Cotton quilting fabric typically shrinks 3-5% on first wash. Linen shrinks more (up to 10%). Pre-wash at the temperature you plan to use for the finished item. Dry and press before measuring and cutting. Skipping pre-washing is the most common cause of finished garments or quilts becoming misshapen after the first wash.