Here’s how to measure your seat to determine how much fabric to buy:
Begin with a flexible tape measure
If you don’t have a flexible tape measure, you can use a string instead – measure your final string length on a yardstick or carpenter’s tape.
Repeating pattern allowance:
If you choose a fabric with a repeating pattern, you will need to purchase additional yardage so that you can place the pattern on your piece for a balanced ‘look’. Be sure there is a full pattern repeat that can be centered on the top surface with enough to wrap around and staple to the seat base. Here is a basic guide for 54″ or 44″ fabric bolt width:
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Hi, I am Susan. i have a collection of old furniture from grandparents and parents, and friends. I love that I can work to coordinate with pillows and mats.
We are recovering dining seats. My question is I have 5 chairs and according to your advice I add 4 inches to length and width, so that makes each seat cover 24 x 28 inches.
So for 5 chairs and a table runner 52 inches long and 24 inches wide…how much fabric do I need. I picked out something that is paisley with a vertical repeat but I don’t think it really matters because it is a busy print. I don’t know how the wide the bolt is…I will find out this week. but I could use your help with figuring out the total needed. Thanks, Susan
Hi Susan,
Standard upholstery fabric width is 54″ – half of 54″ is 27″. The 4″ addition to width & length is a rough estimate, and meant to give lots of extra ‘wiggle room’, so I would say you would be safe to make your seat covers 27 x 27 inches, which would allow fitting 2 chair widths across one 54″ width of fabric. If you do this, then you will need 3 x 27, or 81″ of fabric for your 5 chairs, and you would end up with a 27 x 27 piece left over. Sometimes drawing out a map of the fabric helps me visualize how the pieces fit.
I hope this helps,
Carla