How much fabric is needed for bed linen - calculation algorithm from A to Z

One of the tasks of a seamstress or an ordinary housewife when sewing any fabric products, let it be bed linen, trousers, dresses, covers, etc., is the correct calculation of the roll cut.

First, it is necessary to determine how much fabric is needed for each such garment, and then the question arises of determining the total amount of fabric for the pattern of all these elements.

So, our goal is:

It is necessary to sew a set of bed linen with a certain number of bed elements of different sizes !

To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the 4th task.

1. How much fabric does it take to sew a duvet cover ?
2. How much fabric does it take to sew a sheet ?
3. How much fabric does it take to sew a pillowcase ?
4. How to cut and how many meters of rolled fabric of a certain width should be bought , taking into account the optimal location of all these bedding elements and their quantity ?

Let's go through the entire calculation procedure using a real example.

How to determine how many linear meters of fabric you need to buy in a store to sew a set of bed linen for the following bedding elements:

• Duvet cover 145 x 200 cm – 1 pc.
• A sheet with an elastic band under the mattress 87x194 with a height of 20 cm – 1 pc.
• Pillow cases 47 x 66 cm – 2 pcs.

It is assumed that the fabric will be satin, 100% cotton, roll width 220 cm.

Step-by-step calculation algorithm:

1 step – we determine what sizes the duvet cover, sheet and pillowcase should be for our blanket, mattress and pillow, respectively, taking into account the possible shrinkage of the new fabric.

• Duvet cover 145 x 200 cm – 148 x 211 cm
• Bed sheet with elastic band under the mattress 87 x 194 c height 20 cm – 90 x 200 x 20 cm
• Pillow case 48 x 67 cm – 50 x 70 cm

step 2 - we determine how much fabric is needed for sewing each product.

Duvet cover (148 x 211 cm)

Cutting options:

1st – 300 x 215 cm

2nd – 152 x 426 cm

It can be seen from the dimensions that it is preferable to cut with a piece of fabric (for a roll width of 2.2 m) - 300 x 215 cm. With this cutting, the consumption of the original fabric is less.

Elastic bed sheet (90 x 200 x 20 cm)

A piece of fabric 165 x 275 cm is required, and elastic bands - 190 cm (95 cm will be needed on each side of the mattress).

Pillowcase (50 x70 cm)

A 53 x 170 cm piece of fabric is required. Based on the required total number of pillowcases, 2 such cuts are necessary.

step 3 we determine how to cut and how many meters of rolled fabric will be needed for sewing all our bedding elements with a roll width of 220 cm.

As a result, for sewing our kit, you need the 4th cut of the canvas:

• 300 x 215 cm - under the duvet cover
• 165 x 275 cm - under the sheet with an elastic band
• 53 x 170 cm - 2 cuts for pillowcases

We proceed to the cutting of our elements relative to the 220 cm wide roll fabric and the calculation of its required total length.

We take for the initial size of the roll a fabric measuring 10 m (10000 mm) by 2.2 m (2200 mm).

We will lay out all our workpieces along the entire length of the roll and determine the required running footage of fabric for sewing the entire set.

We determine how much fabric is needed for sewing our kit - 6 meters 28 centimeters

Next we go directly to sewing duvet cover, sheets and pillowcases.

This algorithm allows you to calculate the required number of meters of fabric of any width (not only 2.2 meters) for sewing sets of various sizes and any number of bedding elements in them.