Fabric yardage

How much fabric to buy for a given piece, with allowances for shrinkage and seams.

Estimate assumes pieces laid lengthwise on the fabric. For napped, plaid, or directional fabric, add 10–25% extra.

Inch ↔ cm

Type in either box. Inches accept fractions like 5/8, 1 1/2, or 1-1/2.

Bias binding

Find the size of fabric square needed to make a given length of continuous bias binding.

Buttonhole spacing

Evenly distribute buttons along a placket.

Needle chart

Match needle type and size to your fabric. Sizes shown as European/American (e.g. 80/12).

A fresh needle every 6–8 hours of sewing dramatically reduces skipped stitches and snagging.

Thread weight

Lower Wt = thicker thread. Tex and Denier go the other way (higher = thicker).

Tex ≈ 1000 ÷ Wt (cotton). Denier ≈ Tex × 9. These are approximations — manufacturers vary.

Stitch lengths

Sensible defaults. Always sample on a scrap before committing to a full seam.

Care symbols

Common laundry care symbols and what they mean.