Q&A Fabric Measurement

The width of a fabric item is written like this: 58”/60”. The first number refers to the “cuttable” width. And the second number refers to the full width of the fabric.

After a fabric is dyed, it needs to be dried and set. To hold the fabric in place, fabrics are either fixed on nails or starched to prevent curling. These methods create holes or hardened fabric edges that cannot be used.

So the usable width is called the “cuttable” width. And the full width is the actual width of the fabric.

A: 1 inch = 2.54 cm

1 cm ≑ 0.39 inch

inch = cm ÷ 0.39

cm = inch x 2.54

1 yard ≑ 0.91 meter

1 meter ≑ 1.09 yard

Meter = yard ÷ 1.09

Yard = Meter x 1.09

You can use this online converter for meters to yards here. And for yards to meters here.

gsm or g/m2 is a fabric weight measurement. This figure tells you how heavy a fabric is per square metre (100cm x 100cm). The weight is given in grams.

g/y is a fabric weight measurement. This figure tells you how heavy a fabric is per yard, despite the width of the yardages. The length is fixed – one yard equals 0.91 meters.

g/y = Full fabric width per inch x g/m² ÷ 43

g/m² = g/y ÷ full fabric width per inch x 43