A simple way to figure out how much fabric to buy before you start cutting.

Starting a new quilt is exciting. You find a pattern you love, start imagining the fabrics, and then you get to the part that can feel a little less exciting:

How much fabric do I actually need?

If you've ever stood in front of a fabric shop wondering whether you need two yards, five yards, or an entire bolt, you're not alone.

The good news is that you usually don't have to figure it all out from scratch. A quilt pattern has already done much of the math for you. The trick is knowing what those numbers mean and what can affect how much fabric you'll need.

Here's how to make sense of it.

Start With Your Quilt Pattern

If you're making a quilt from a pattern, start there.

A well-written quilt pattern should give you the fabric requirements for the size you're making. It may tell you exactly how much yardage you'll need, or it may break the requirements down by fabric role:

• Background fabric
• Main or feature fabrics
• Accent fabrics
• Binding
• Borders
• Backing

The pattern's requirements should be your starting point rather than trying to calculate the total yardage based only on the finished size of the quilt.

Why? Because two quilts can be exactly the same finished size but require very different amounts of fabric.

The number and size of the pieces, the layout of the blocks, borders, sashing, and even the direction of a print can all change how efficiently the fabric can be cut.

If you're using a pattern, trust the pattern's yardage requirements first.

Quilt Size Is Only Part of the Equation

It's tempting to think that a larger quilt simply requires proportionally more fabric, and generally speaking, it does.

But quilt size doesn't tell you everything.

A simple quilt made from large pieces may use fabric very differently from a design made from hundreds of small pieces. A quilt with borders will have different requirements from one without them. A design with lots of half-square triangles may have different cutting needs from one made with simple rectangles.

Even two throw-size quilts can have noticeably different fabric requirements.

That's why you'll often see patterns give you specific yardage for each size rather than one universal formula.

What Else Affects How Much Fabric You Need?

There are several things that can change your fabric requirements.

The size of your pieces

Smaller pieces can sometimes mean more fabric is needed because of the way they're cut and arranged.

Large pieces can sometimes be cut more efficiently, but that isn't always the case.

The cutting instructions in your pattern take these details into account.

Borders and sashing

Borders and sashing can add quite a bit of yardage, particularly on larger quilts.

If you're modifying a pattern by adding a border or changing its dimensions, don't assume the original fabric requirements will still be enough.

Directional prints

This is an easy one to overlook.

A fabric with a clear direction may require you to cut pieces in a particular orientation. That can mean you can't arrange your pattern pieces as efficiently as you could with a non-directional print.

If you're using a directional fabric, it's worth checking whether your pattern accounts for that.

Fussy cutting

If you're intentionally cutting around a particular flower, motif, character, or other design element, you'll likely use more fabric than you would if you were simply cutting the pieces as efficiently as possible.

It's one of the many reasons that the amount of fabric needed isn't always as simple as the finished size of the quilt.

Understanding Quilt Fabric Measurements

Quilt patterns can use several different measurements, and they're not always interchangeable.

You may see requirements listed in:

• Yards
• Half yards
• Quarter yards
• Fat quarters
• Fat eighths

If you're newer to quilting, this can get confusing quickly.

A quarter yard and a fat quarter contain roughly the same amount of fabric, but they're cut differently. A traditional quarter yard is generally cut as a strip measuring approximately 9" × 44", while a fat quarter is created by cutting a half-yard of fabric in half across the width, resulting in a piece approximately 18" × 22".

That difference in shape can make a huge difference when you're cutting quilt pieces. If you're still getting familiar with fat quarters, learn more about what a fat quarter is and when to use one.

How Much Extra Fabric Should I Buy?

This is one of those questions where there isn't a single percentage that works for every quilt.

Your pattern may already include some allowance for cutting and piecing, so don't automatically add a huge amount of extra fabric to every requirement.

Instead, consider what you're making and how you're going to use the fabric.

You may want a little extra if:

• You're still learning to cut accurately
• You're working with a directional print
  
• You're planning to fussy cut
• You know you'll want extra fabric for future repairs
• You're making significant changes to the pattern

And if you fall in love with a particular fabric and know you'll be disappointed if you run out halfway through the project?

A little extra can be worth the peace of mind.

What If I'm Choosing My Own Fabrics?

This is where things get especially fun.

Once you have the pattern's requirements, you can start thinking about what role each fabric will play.

Maybe you have one bold floral you want to feature. You might pair it with a few supporting prints, a solid, and a blender. If you're not sure how to make all those different fabrics work together, here's a guide to mixing prints, solids, and wovens in a quilt.

The key is to figure out how the fabrics will be used before you start buying random amounts of everything.

For example, your pattern might call for:

• 2 yards of background fabric
• 1 yard of a feature fabric
• Several smaller amounts of coordinating fabrics

That gives you a starting point for building your fabric pull.

A blender can be especially useful here. These subtle fabrics can add color and texture without competing with your feature prints. If you're not familiar with them yet, learn more about what makes a fabric a blender.

And remember: you don't necessarily need to use the exact same amount of every fabric just because you're buying several fabrics from the same collection. The pattern's cutting requirements should guide you.

Ready to start your fabric pull? Browse North Star's curated selection of modern quilting fabrics and find something for your next project.
SHOP QUILTING FABRICS →

Looking for something subtle to help your feature prints shine?
SHOP BLENDER FABRICS →

Can I Use Fat Quarters Instead of Yardage?

Sometimes!

But this is one place where you don't want to make assumptions.

A fat quarter contains approximately the same amount of fabric as a quarter yard, but its 18" × 22" shape means it can't necessarily be substituted directly for a quarter yard.

Whether you can use fat quarters depends on the size and orientation of the pieces you're cutting.

Some quilt patterns are specifically designed around fat quarters and will tell you exactly how many you'll need. Others are written around yardage and may not work as a simple substitution.

If a pattern gives you a fat-quarter option, that's the easiest route.

If it doesn't, take a look at the cutting requirements before making the switch.

What About Backing and Binding?

Don't forget them!

When you're planning your fabric purchase, remember that the quilt top isn't the only fabric you'll need.

You'll also need fabric for:

Backing:
The amount depends on your finished quilt size and the way the backing is constructed. Your pattern may give you the required yardage or explain how to piece the backing.

Binding:
Binding generally requires much less fabric than the quilt top, but you'll still want to account for it when planning your purchase.

And if you're buying everything at once, it's worth checking these requirements before you place your order.

The Easiest Way to Figure Out Your Fabric Needs

If you're feeling overwhelmed by all of this, here's the simple version:

1. Choose your pattern.

Start with the pattern's fabric requirements.

2. Decide which fabrics you want to use.

Think about feature prints, supporting prints, solids, blenders, and backgrounds.

3. Match each fabric to a role.

Figure out where each fabric will appear in the quilt.

4. Check the cutting requirements.

Especially if you're substituting yardage for fat quarters or making changes to the pattern.

5. Add any necessary extras.

Consider directional prints, fussy cutting, pattern matching, or your own comfort level with having a little extra.

6. Don't forget the backing and binding.

They're part of the project, too!

And then?

Go fabric shopping.

That's the fun part.

You Don't Have to Get the Math Perfect

Quilting involves a surprising amount of math, but you don't have to be a mathematician to make a quilt.

Most of the time, your pattern has already done the complicated part. Your job is simply to understand the measurements, choose fabrics you love, and pay attention to the cutting instructions.

And if you're making changes to the pattern, that's when it's worth slowing down and doing a little extra calculating rather than assuming the original yardage will still work.

Once you understand the basics, buying fabric for a quilt becomes much less intimidating.

And honestly, a little extra fabric is sometimes a very reasonable price to pay for not discovering you're six inches short when you're halfway through your quilt.

Happy quilting!