Tip #8 - Calculating Fabric Meterage for a Seamless Recover

Starting an upholstery project can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially if you're new to it. Tip #8 is all about figuring out how much fabric you'll need at the beginning. This step is super important for getting your project right.

First things first, take a good look at the fabric already on your furniture. It's easiest to measure how much fabric you'll need when the old fabric is still there. 

Grab a tape measure and measure the height and width of each part of your furniture that needs upholstering. Make sure you get all the corners and edges, including down the back and down inside the arms. This gives you a clear picture of how much fabric you'll need.

When you're measuring, include a bit extra for stapling, tucking and/or sewing. 

Add a rough 2cm for any part thats sewn (you can measure more accurately when making your patterns). Add about 5cm extra to stapled edges, so you have enough fabric to hold and staple securely. And add about 10cm for something that is tucked and you can't reach yet. Remember this is just an estimate for now. 

Write the dimensions of every piece down on a piece of paper. This will give you an approximate amount of fabric you'll need.  In my next blog I will share how to create a more accurate cutting pattern grid.