• Home
  • Suggest A DIY
  • DIY Newsletter

Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

  • About CraftGossip
  • Our Network
    • Bath & Body Crafts
    • Candle Making Ideas
    • Crochet Ideas
    • Cross Stitch
    • Edible Crafts
    • Felting Patterns
    • Glass Art
    • Home & Garden Ideas
    • Indie Crafts
    • Jewelry Making
    • Kids Crafts
    • Knitting Patterns
    • Lesson Plans
    • Needlework
    • Party Ideas
    • Polymer Clay
    • Quilting Ideas
    • Recycled Crafts
    • Scrapbooking
    • Sewing Patterns
    • Card Making
    • DIY Weddings
    • Not Craft Ideas
  • Giveaways
  • Roundups
  • Store
  • Search

“How Much Fabric” reference cards

September 12, 2009 by Anne Weaver

How Much FabricGwen from After the Dress (and now Gwyn Hug) is now offering her popular “How Much Fabric” reference tables printed on plastic wallet cards.  If you’ve ever found fabulous fabric while out shopping and then thought, “I’d love to make a shirt from this.  I wonder how much I’d need?”, then these cards are what you need. 

Her tables show the average amount of fabric needed to make different types of clothing and help take the guesswork out of buying fabric.  In order to come up with these averages, she researched the yardage requirements on over 2000 patterns. 

There is a separate card showing the average yardage for a different type of garment: skirts, pants, tops, dresses, and jackets.  Within each table, the yardage requirements are broken down by:

  • –Garment size
  • –Type of cut (minimum, average, and maximum), along with line drawings showing examples of styles that fit these categories. 
  • –Fabric width (45″ and 60″)

There is an additional “safety margin” table on each card showing “for several different amounts of add-on to the average, what percentage of the patterns that were used to build the table can be made with that new amount of fabric.” 

The credit card size means that they fit easily in your wallet so you’ll have them with you when you need them.

You can purchase the whole set of “How Much Fabric” reference cards from GwynHug.  Just $14.95 buys you the set of 5 cards.

[photo from After the Dress]

Technorati Tags: sewing, supplies, review, How Much Fabric, shopping, yardage, estimate

«
»

Have you read?

Sewing Pattern Saturday Review: Bookworm Tablet Sleeve Sewing Pattern

Sewing Pattern Saturday is where I take a closer look at Etsy sewing patterns that feel genuinely useful, well designed, and satisfying to make. Each review is written from a practical sewist’s point of view, focusing on how the pattern works in real life, not just how it looks styled in a listing photo. It’s also my way of supporting independent designers and small businesses on Etsy who are creating thoughtful patterns that fit into everyday routines.

First Impressions

The Bookworm Tablet Sleeve Sewing Pattern immediately feels sensible and well considered. The quilted finish gives it that soft, handmade look while still offering real protection for your device. It doesn’t try to be flashy or overdesigned. Instead, it focuses on doing its job well.

The overall shape looks clean and practical, with proportions that feel generous without being bulky.

Practical Use & Everyday Function

This is the kind of sewing project that quietly earns its place in daily life. The flap closure feels secure without the need for zips or hardware, which keeps the design simple and approachable. It looks easy to slide a tablet or e-reader in and out without fuss.

The finished sleeve feels ideal for:

  • Tablets and e-readers

  • Everyday carry in tote bags

  • Travel and commuting

  • Protecting devices at home

It’s lightweight but padded enough to give peace of mind when carrying electronics.

Skill Level & Sewing Experience

This pattern suits confident beginners and beyond.

You’ll want to be comfortable with:

  • Straight stitching

  • Layering fabrics neatly

  • Light quilting or working with padded layers

Nothing here is technically intimidating, but accuracy does matter, especially when quilting and assembling the layers. It’s very achievable if you’ve sewn a few basic projects before.

Instructions & Pattern Design

The instructions are clear and thoughtfully laid out, making the construction process easy to follow. This feels like a pattern designed by someone who actually sews and understands how people work through projects step by step.

It’s also the kind of pattern that becomes quicker and easier the second time you make it, which makes it ideal for batch sewing or gift making.

Fabric Choices & Customisation

Fabric choice really shines with this pattern. It works beautifully with:

  • Quilting cottons

  • Linen blends

  • Soft printed fabrics

  • Coordinating linings

Because the design is simple, fabric selection does a lot of the visual work. You can personalise it easily with favourite prints, subtle quilting patterns, or coordinated colour palettes.

Finished Look & Gifting Potential

Once finished, this tablet sleeve feels genuinely useful and well made. It’s not something that gets tucked away and forgotten. It’s the kind of handmade item you reach for every day.

It would also make a thoughtful handmade gift for:

  • Readers and book lovers

  • Students

  • Teachers

  • Anyone who carries a tablet or e-reader regularly

Is This Sewing Pattern Worth Making?

If you’re looking for a tablet sleeve sewing pattern that’s beginner friendly, practical, and genuinely useful, this one is a great choice. It’s simple, satisfying to sew, and results in something that becomes part of everyday life rather than a novelty project.

The Bookworm Tablet Sleeve Sewing Pattern fits perfectly into Sewing Pattern Saturday. It’s thoughtful, functional, and a great reminder that the best sewing projects are often the ones you use the most.

Pattern name: Bookworm Tablet Sleeve Sewing Pattern
Available on: Etsy
Best suited to: Confident beginners and intermediate sewists who enjoy practical sewing projects

 

RSS More Articles

  • 3 FREE Tablescape Coloring Pages
  • DIY Rose Water and Glycerin Facial Mist for Dry Skin Relief
  • A Single Skein Shawl to Knit for Summer
  • Book Review: Dear Math, We’re Not Friends
  • 7 Easy Ways to Upgrade Plain Tomato Sauce From a Squeezy Bottle
  • The Hattitude Beanie free crochet pattern
  • FREE Palm Leaf Font for Summer
  • 10 Quilted Bag Ideas to Make with Scrap Fabrics
  • Stitch a Silly Goose Wizard
  • 14 Crochet Pumpkin Patterns for Cozy Fall Decorating

Pick Your Blog

  • Sewing
  • Knitting
  • Quilting
  • Crochet
  • Home & Garden
  • Recycled Crafts
  • Scrapbooking
  • Card Making
  • Polymer Clay
  • Cross-Stitch
  • Edible Crafts
  • Felting
  • Glass Art
  • Indie Crafts
  • Kids Crafts
  • Jewelry Making
  • Lesson Plans
  • Needlework
  • Bath & Body
  • Party Ideas
  • Candle Making
  • DIY Weddings
  • Not Craft
  • Free Craft Projects

Copyright © 2026 · CraftGossip | Start Here | Contact Us | Link to Us | Your Editors | Privacy and affiliate policy