The Great Cover Up

Karol Butcher
2907 Chesterfield
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-546-1839

Patterned fabric additional yardage estimate chart

To use this chart, first add the fabric's vertical and horizontal repeats together (for example, a 10" vertical repeat plus its 17" horizontal repeat gives a 27" total). Then find the appropriate entry on the chart, and increase the yardage estimate by the percentage indicated.

For example: The yardage estimate is 8 yards of 54" wide fabric to cover a chair and the pattern on the fabric repeats horizontally every 17" and vertically every 10". Add up the repeats (17" + 10" = 27") and find the appropriate entry - 20% in this example. Twenty percent more fabric is needed to cover the chair while matching the pattern at the seams: 8 yards plus an extra 20 % is 9.6 yards.

Fabric Width Plain Fabric 3" - 14" Repeat 15"-19" Repeat 20"-27" Repeat 28"-36" Repeat 37"-45" Repeat 46"-54" Repeat
54" 0% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
50"-52" 10% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%


Railroaded fabric/pattern

Railroading refers to the direction of the pattern: up the roll or across the roll. Railroaded fabric is preferred for upholstering larger pieces of furniture without having to include seams (along the back of a couch for example).


Railroaded fabric - across the roll Non-railroaded fabric - up the roll

Most fabric samples will specify "Railroaded" if the pattern runs across the roll.