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You are visiting: Home » Decorating/DIY » Create Your Decor » Estimating the Fabric Yardage on a Bolt

Estimating the Fabric Yardage on a Bolt

by Lindsay Ballard on April 19, 2010 23 Comments

Should you ever find yourself in a fabric store wondering if there is enough of that must-have fabric left on the bolt, I have a little trick for you.  A kind lady at the cutting table taught me this trick years ago, and I use it nearly every time I go into a fabric store.

Instead of asking the cutting table gals to measure out the fabric to make sure there is enough yardage for your project, you can just count the layers of fabric wrapped around the bolt like the rings on a tree.  For a medium-heavy fabric, such as cotton and burlap, two wrapped layers equals approximately one yard.  For thinner fabrics, such as silk or lace, three wrapped layers equals approximately one yard.

Country Living

This trick only works for fabric on a rectangular bolt, such as the delicious Amy Butler fabrics shown above.  Sadly, I don’t know of a similar trick for the home decor fabrics that are displayed on bolt rolls – do you?

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.

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Comments

  1. Marian says

    April 19, 2010 at 5:15 am

    MMM that is a great trick, thanks ♥

    Reply
    • Valerie gilmour says

      August 23, 2023 at 5:51 pm

      But the closer to the core, the less fabric will be in the layer.A v rough measure.

      Reply
  2. Jess @ Frugal w/a Flourish says

    April 19, 2010 at 5:58 am

    Great tip! I always wonder so that is a good way to guestimate! Would love to know on the decorator fabrics!

    Reply
  3. Carla says

    April 19, 2010 at 6:30 am

    Smart tip to share! I had the absolute pleasure of working in a quilt/needlework store for several years, and that’s exactly how we did it. It’s a pretty “right-on” estimate, too. No more guessing at the fabric store.

    Reply
  4. Lynette says

    April 19, 2010 at 8:27 am

    Thanks so much for the tip! I was wondering how to tell just the other day. Now I know! Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Jo says

    April 19, 2010 at 8:35 am

    Great tip. My mom would always measure the fabric from her nose to her hand (extended out). She always knew that that was a yard. Funny, but it works.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 19, 2010 at 8:43 am

      That’s how I do it, too! Once it’s off the bolt, it’s certainly the easiest way to estimate how much you have in front of you. Love it!

      Reply
  6. joanne b. says

    April 19, 2010 at 10:03 am

    ahhh. The old nose to the extended hand trick. Thanks for bringing back a sweet memory of my Mom too. I still do it today, and people (even the sales ladies at Joann’s!) look at me funny. Seems like back then life was simpler…

    Reply
  7. the BLAH BLAH BLAHger says

    April 19, 2010 at 10:39 am

    I wish I sewed…Amy Butler fabrics are divine!

    Reply
  8. Sylvia says

    April 19, 2010 at 12:18 pm

    Great tip , never knew.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  9. Amanda @ Serenity Now says

    April 19, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    Good tip!! I found myself guessing just last week. 😉

    Reply
  10. Tiffany says

    April 19, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    Aww, thanks for the tip. I knew there had to be a better way to find out yardage.

    Reply
  11. Gretchen T says

    April 19, 2010 at 4:44 pm

    I learned that trick when I worked at a fabric store during high school and use it whenever I have to buy fabric!

    Reply
  12. Bobbinoggin says

    April 19, 2010 at 5:59 pm

    Thanks for the tip! Very helpful indeed! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Jude from DolceCapeCod.blogspot.com says

    April 20, 2010 at 5:48 am

    I…love…it!

    Now, err, does someone have a way of measuring how many zillions of yards of oh-I-just-love-this-and-must-have-it fabric is stored on the shelves and Rubbermaid boxes in my sewing room?

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 20, 2010 at 8:11 am

      This is my problem, too. I have so much that I don’t even know what I have. Sigh…

      Reply
      • Debbie Crain says

        July 11, 2018 at 7:01 am

        “She who dies with the most fabric, wins.”

        Reply
    • CJ says

      August 5, 2016 at 11:04 am

      I would say not enough. Go out and buy some more. It doesn’t eat much!

      Reply
  14. Sanity Fair says

    April 20, 2010 at 8:13 am

    That is SUCH a great idea! This is what drives me crazy about fabric stores – it is always so hard to get someone to help. Eliminating a step makes it that much easier.
    -Sanity Fair

    Reply
  15. Pink and Polka Dot says

    April 20, 2010 at 7:51 pm

    Oh my! this is extremely helpful! Thanks so much for this tip!

    Reply
  16. Virginia St.Marc says

    November 11, 2010 at 11:03 am

    I took the time and energy to roll out and measure heavy cotton twill upholstery fabric and found this to be the case: the fabric on the roll measuring 6.5″ in diameter gave me a yard of fabric for every two layers on the roll. As you get closer to the cardboard you will need to increase the proportions to four layers per yard of fabric and finally to five layers. Hope this helps.

    Reply
  17. Gina says

    February 1, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    Hey,
    I was wondering if you could answer my question.. Im getting married next yr and I actually went to a Linen store to find out prices to rent the table cover. To be honest its pretty expensive and Im working on a budget. We calculated about 1200.00 for 100 tables and thats only the table covers. I would like to know if you know any website that sell fabric by rolls instead of by the yard. I would like to compare priceses. Hopefu;;y you could help me out …

    Thank you for taking your time to read this email…
    Att..
    ~Gina~

    Reply
  18. Christina Robertson says

    December 17, 2019 at 4:44 pm

    Anyone figure out how to calculate a large roll (round one)? Possibly if measured by the diameter? I have a gorgeous fabric I acquired, no way to unroll it to measure. It is about6.5″ in diameter, mid weight upholstery fabric.

    Reply

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About Makely

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.


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