Buying too little fabric is one of the most frustrating mistakes in dressmaking, and buying too much is money sitting in a cupboard. This guide gives you a quick-reference chart for the most common garments, explains what changes the amount you need, and shows you how to work it out yourself.
The quick answer
Most knee-length dresses need about 2 to 2.5 metres of 150cm-wide fabric. A maxi dress, wrap dress or jumpsuit needs about 3 to 3.5 metres. Long sleeves, full skirts, larger sizes and prints that need matching all add more.
Fabric quantity chart (150cm / 58" wide fabric)
| Garment | Typical amount | Length to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Pencil skirt | About 1m | 3m, with plenty left over |
| T-shirt or simple top | About 1.2–1.5m | 3m, often enough for two |
| Blouse with sleeves | About 1.5–2m | 3m |
| Shift or sheath dress | About 1.5–2m | 3m |
| Skater dress | About 2–2.5m | 3m |
| Full circle skirt (knee length) | About 2–2.5m | 3m |
| Wide-leg trousers | About 2.2–2.5m | 3m |
| Wrap dress | About 2.5–3m | 3m (4m for long sleeves or larger sizes) |
| Maxi dress | About 3–3.5m | 4m |
| Jumpsuit | About 3–3.5m | 4m |
These are typical amounts for UK sizes 10 to 14 with standard seam allowances. They're a guide, not a guarantee: your pattern envelope lists the exact amount for your size and fabric width, so always check it first.
Why fabric width matters
Patterns usually give two amounts: one for narrow fabric, around 112–115cm (45"), and one for wide fabric, around 150cm (60"). All our fabrics are 58" (150cm) wide, so use the wide-fabric figure.
On narrow fabric, the front and back pieces often can't sit side by side, so you can need half a metre or more extra. That's one reason wide fabric goes further.
What makes you need more fabric
- Larger sizes. From around UK 16 upwards, add about 0.25–0.5m, and more for long sleeves or a full skirt.
- Extra length. If you're tall or lengthening a pattern, add the extra length to every piece that runs down the fabric. Adding 10cm to a skirt can add 10–20cm to the total.
- Long sleeves. Allow about 0.5m more than for a sleeveless version.
- Directional prints. If a print has a clear up and down, all pieces must face the same way, which uses more fabric. Add about 10–20%.
- Pile fabrics. Velvet and velour look different depending on which way the pile runs, so they're cut like directional prints.
- Checks and stripes. To match them across seams, allow one extra pattern repeat per main piece, usually 0.25–0.5m.
- Shrinkage. Natural and semi-natural fabrics such as viscose can shrink in the first wash. If you pre-wash, allow roughly an extra 10cm per metre.
- Fitting changes. A full bust adjustment, a wider skirt or a toile all eat into your fabric, so leave a little spare.
How to work it out yourself
No pattern envelope to go on? You can estimate it in three steps:
- Measure the length of your main pieces. For a simple dress, that's from your shoulder to the hem, plus about 10cm for the seam and hem allowance.
- Check whether the front and back fit side by side. With the fabric folded in half lengthways, you have about 75cm of width to work with. If the front and back pieces both fit across that, you need one dress length. If they don't, you need two.
- Add the extras. Add sleeves, collars, facings, pockets and any frills or ties.
For example, a knee-length dress about 105cm long, in a size where the front and back fit side by side, needs about 1.1m for the body plus about 0.5m for short sleeves. That comes to about 1.6m.
3 metres or 4 metres: which length should you buy?
All our fabrics come in 3 metre and 4 metre lengths. A 3 metre length is enough for:
- most dresses, including wrap and midi dresses, in sizes 6 to 16
- a top and skirt co-ord
- two simple tops, or a top and a pencil skirt
- wide-leg trousers with enough left for a vest top
- two or three children's dresses
Choose a 4 metre length for:
- maxi and tiered dresses
- jumpsuits and wide-leg co-ords
- long sleeves, full skirts or sizes above about 16
- large prints or checks you want to pattern-match
Choosing fabric for your dress
The right fabric matters as much as the right amount:
- Structured and fitted: scuba and scuba crepe hold their shape and don't fray. See our guide to what scuba fabric is.
- Floaty and breathable: viscose is cool and soft, which is perfect for summer dresses. See our guide to the best fabric for summer dresses.
- Fluid drape: crepe moves beautifully for wrap and midi dresses.
- Easy-wear stretch: jersey is comfortable and quick to sew.
Shop dressmaking fabric
Browse all our fabrics. Every piece is 58" (150cm) wide and sold in 3 metre or 4 metre lengths, so there's a length for every dress. Many prints are one-off limited runs, so when they're gone, they're gone. Free UK delivery on orders of £30 and over.