How much fabric do I need?

Question

I have 2 cushions measuring:

One – 5H x 13W x 80L
One – 5H x 16W x 30L
One – 5H x 18W x 30L
Two – 5H x 11W x 80L
Two – 5H x 18W x 40L

I need to know how much fabric, in yards, I'll need to cover them all.

I did the math and got a number my husband did some mathematical equation and got something TOTALLY different and it was a much bigger number. SOO can anyone help us get the right number?


Also what would be the best fabric to use? The cushions are for the seats in our camper.

Also, the measurments I provided are in inches.

Answer 1

I've made lots of cushion covers, including for campers and boats. Most upholstery fabrics are 54" wide (some are 60".) I laid out the pieces you will need for what you described and you will need about 14 yards of fabric (this layout will work for stripes, solids or prints).

(note: the previous answer of 7 yards is much too little! Do the math -- your pieces are 14.5 square yards all together so the fabric would have to be wider than 72"!)

Remember, you need to add seam allowance to each cushion dimension and you will need BOTH a top and bottom piece plus a strip to wrap around all 4 sides.

I'd recommend the fabrics they sell for outdoor furniture if you can afford them (acrylic types will fade less than cotton fabric and are more stain resistant.) If you want to stay on a budget, go for washable cotton canvas weight with a tight weave and machine wash it before cutting it (you might have to take it to a laundromat that has one of those big front load triple-load machines.)

I recommend doing a box shape cover (a top piece, a bottom piece and a long skinny piece to wrap around the 5" sides) and sewing a zipper or velcro into the middle of one face of the 5" side so you can remove them to wash.

I did cushions for a friend's camper in plain tan canvas and then they let their kids decorate them with fabric pens with pictures of their vacation travels -- it wasn't stylish but very cute and colorful!

Answer 2

At least 7 yards of 60" wide fabric should do it.If it's narrower you'll need to make some adjustments but most upholstery fabrics are 60" wide. I'd get some tough and wearable like a twill, duck or even denim. Denim is more comfortable to sit on but any of them would work. Poplin could work but is generally a little lighter weight. Be sure to wash it all first to prevent shrinkage after they're made or make sure the fabric is a blend like 50/50 cotton polyester.

Answer 3

It depends on the width of the fabric you choose. Fabric comes in 36, 48, 54 inches..and others. You cant figure out the yardage unless you know the width of the fabric you want to use.