Blouse Fabric Yardage Calculator
Work out how much fabric to buy for a stitched blouse from your bust, the blouse and sleeve length, and the width of the cloth — with an optional lining.
Fabric to buy
A layout estimate that includes a 10% allowance for shaping curves and print matching. Directional prints, borders, and large repeats need more — buy a little extra and keep the offcuts for the neckline facing.
How the estimate is built
A stitched blouse is cut from a long strip of fabric of a fixed width. The two body panels — front and back — each span about half your bust plus seam allowance, and the two sleeves span roughly a quarter. How many of those panels sit side by side across the fabric decides how much length you use; the rest stack down the roll. That is why the fabric’s width matters as much as your measurements.
The result is a practical minimum for a plain fabric, plus a 10% allowance for the curves you cut away and for lining up seams. Prints with a repeat, borders, and one-way designs need more — when in doubt, buy a little extra and keep the offcuts for the neckline facing and the back tie.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much fabric does a blouse need?
It depends on three things: your bust, the blouse and sleeve length, and — crucially — the width of the fabric. On wide 112cm (44-inch) fabric the front and back panels often sit side by side, so a short-sleeve blouse can come from under a metre. On narrow 91cm (36-inch) fabric the panels stack and you need more. This calculator lays the pieces out for the width you enter and adds a small allowance for shaping and matching.
Why does the fabric width change the amount so much?
Blouse pieces are cut across the width of the cloth. If a body panel is 50cm wide and the fabric is 112cm, two panels fit across in one length; if the fabric is only 91cm, they stack and double the length used. That is why the same blouse can need 0.7m of one bolt and 1.2m of another — always check the width before you buy.
Should I add extra for the print or border?
Yes. Directional prints, large motifs, and border fabrics need matching across seams, which wastes cloth — buy 15 to 25% more than a plain estimate. The tool already includes a 10% shaping-and-matching allowance for plain fabric; add to it for anything with a repeat or a one-way design.
Does the lining option change the main fabric amount?
No — the lining is a separate piece of cloth. Ticking the lining box adds a body-panel length of lining fabric to the result and rolls it into the total, but the main fabric figure stays the same. Most tailors line only the body, not the sleeves.
Educational estimate only — not a cutting plan. Real fabric needed varies with the pattern, the print repeat, the tailor’s layout, and the fabric itself. Confirm with your tailor and buy a little extra before you cut.