Guides / 07—08
Prepare fabric and check shrinkage
Dimensional change after care can undo careful arithmetic. Follow the care label and remeasure the fabric.
Read the care label
Cleaning depends on fibre, weave or knit, finish and manufacturer instructions. Do not wash a material that needs another treatment. For washable fabric, preparation before cutting can reveal changes in size and appearance.
Compare measurements
With a sample, measure length and width before care and again after drying as directed. Percentage change in each direction equals (initial size minus final size) divided by initial size, times 100. Length and width may change differently; one generic number does not describe every fabric.
Remeasure for the pattern
After preparation, measure usable width again and check whether edges remain straight. Use the fabric dimensions you will actually cut in the calculator. A sample does not guarantee an entire bolt is identical, but it is better evidence than a guess.