Newbie Question

These numbers refer to the width of the fabric in inches.

Jean

It is a reference to the fabric width you may choose. Typically, a bolt of fabric is either 45" in width or 60" inches in width. The width is folded in half on the cardboard center so when it stands up in the store it will be half that or 22 1/2" or 30". When you place the pattern on the fabric, it will be laid out differently depending on which width you are working with. Usually, you purchase less length when using wider fabric. The chart you are looking at is the length recommendation for your size based on width of fabric.

Fabric widths! Fabric for garment making usually come 45" or 60" wide. You might need different widths for different garments (some garment pieces are too wide for 45" wide fabric) and you'll almost certainly need more 45" wide fabric than 60" wide fabric for most projects.

Thank you everyone so much!!!! I made a new wrinkle in the old brain today! :)

When I am done I will post pics of the travesty. :P

Anything else you need/want to know, just ask - we love to help! :)

In practice, I'd likely buy the yardage for the 60" unless it was really expensive. Then I'd take the pattern and do a trial layout.

It's possible to find narrower fabric, but this is rather rare.

Go with the 45" yardage: better to have a little too much than not enough. Yardage layouts diagrams are in the pattern instructions. You get lay out diagrams for 45" and 60" where appropriate.

As you get better at this, and more experienced, you'll learn where to fudge things, but don't try it on the first few garments.

Oops, I am corrected. This is what I meant to say. Kate is right.

Thanks!!!