How Much Fabric do I Need to Recover a Sofa?

A non-traditional sofa like this requires some intricate measurements.

Twenty yards of fabric is the rule of thumb for recovering the average-size sofa. However, to avoid coming up short one yard or finishing with two yards too many, take measurements. The large, chain fabric stores run excellent sales on upholstery fabric several times a year. Take your measurements now, and keep them in your wallet, so you're ready to get in on the first day of the sale.

Main Sections of the Sofa

Main sections of the sofa include the outside back, inside back, the seat, the inside arm and the border. The border is the part your lower legs touch when in a sitting position. Draw a diagram for each section and write in the measurements. You can show it to the clerk at the fabric store if you are confused.

The Main Measures

Take the cushions off the sofa when measuring. Measure each piece from Section 1 at its widest and deepest points. If you aren't sure what the depth is, think of the sofa with the cushions on. You measure from the front of the cushion to the back, but remember you are measuring the sofa where the cushions go, not the cushions. After measuring the sofa, measure the cushions for width, depth and height. The height is measured on all four sides and a 5/8-inch seam allowance is added to all four corners.

Allowances

After you take the measurements, you must add seam allowances around the perimeter of each piece. The standard seam allowance is 5/8 inch. The pieces adjoining the back and sides of the seat section will have a tuck-in allowance. The standard tuck-in allowance is 6 inches. If you aren't sure about the meaning of the tuck-in, imagine throwing a sheet over your sofa and tucking it in on the three sides. Those are the tuck-ins.

Considerations

If you are going to include piping on your cushions, take perimeter measurements of the top and bottom of each cushion and any place else you plan to include it. If you plan to include a skirt on the sofa, figure in that measurement and include the extra 5/8-inch allowance. Plaid or any other fabric that needs matching requires purchasing extra yardage. Before buying extremely thick material, make sure your sewing machine can take the thickness.

References

• ""Do-It-Yourself Tailored Slipcovers"; Sofia Sevo; August 2008
• "Slipcover Magic"; Dorothea Hall; 1995

Resources

• "Simply Upholstery"; Editors of Sunset