This is meant to be a guide only.  we can not be held responsible for any miscalculations. Please have a professional measure for you. Mahalo.

Calculating Yardage for Draperies

There are two important factors in calculating the amount of fabric (yardage) needed for making draperies:

1.     The repeat

2.     The width of the fabric

The repeat is the distance between the same two points on a print fabric. For example; if a fabric has a "flower motif" the repeat would be the distance from a point on one leaf to the same point on the next leaf (above or below it).

Our regular weight fabrics measure 44" wide. Our upholstery fabrics measure 56" wide the repeat on both types is 24"

To calculate the yardage of your material, you need to first have the finished width (or rod width), and finished length of your draperies. Then from there you need to calculate:

1.     The number of widths used to cover each window, and

2.     The amount of yardage for your fabric.

Calculating the number of widths for a window

To calculate the number of widths you take the width of your rod (R), add 12"; multiply that figure by 2.5 (this is the amount of fullness and can be varied), then divide by 54. So it would look like this

[(R + 12) x 2.5] � 54.

For a window with a rod width of 48" you would have

1.     48+12=60

2.     60 x 2.5= 150

3.     150 � 54= 2.77

so you would go "up to" three widths or 1 1/2 widths each side if it is a two way draw rod; or a single three width panel if it is a one-way draw.

Calculating the Amount of Fabric Needed

For Pinch-Pleated Draperies

To figure the amount of fabric needed (for a solid or stripe) you

1. Take the finished length of your draperies
2. Add 16"
3. Multiply this figure by the number of widths (previously calculated)
4. Divide by 36

So if your finished drapery length is 92" , and you have a window that takes 5 widths; you would take:

92 + 16 = 108" then 108 x 5 = 540 then 540 � 36 = 15

So you would need 15 yards of a solid fabric for that window. If we had ended up with an odd figure in this example (such as 15.376 ) we would round up to 15.50 or 15 1/2 yards of fabric.

For a print fabric with a pattern the calculation is a little different, but still easy.

You simply follow steps one and two above, then divide this figure by the amount of the repeat. Take that figure and round up. This is important. Take that figure and multiply by the repeat. This gives you the finished cuts. Multiply that by the number of widths, then divide by 36. This gives you the amount of yardage needed, as in the example below.

If your finished drapery length is 102" , your repeat is 27", and you have a window that takes 5 widths; you would take:

102 + 16 = 118 then 118 � 27 = 4.37 then round up to: 5 then 5x 27 = 135

So 135 is the length of your cuts. then 135 x 5 = 675 then 675 � 36 = 18.75

So in this example you would need 18 3/4 yards of fabric.

We suggest for fabrics with prints and patterns that you add an extra 1-2 yards for pattern/print variation.