How Much Upholstery Fabric to Measure for a Wing Chair

Measure

• Each upholstery section of a wing back chair starts with a rectangle or square of fabric. The measurements are taken in such a way that when placed on the fabric the design of the fabric will be correctly oriented. Remove the cushion, if applicable, before measuring. Measurements are always written as "width" by "length." For example, the inside back width is the distance across the back of the chair from inside one wing to the other and the length is the measurement from the top of the chair to the place on the chair where the seat and back meet. This measurement would be recorded as "inside back: 32 x 46." Measure and record the inside back, the outside back, each inside wing and outside wing. Record the wing measurements twice, once for each side. The arm width is recorded as the measurement from the front of the arm to the back of the chair; the length is recorded as the measurement from the seat on the inside of the chair, up and over the arm to the bottom edge of the chair. Record this measurement twice.

  Measure the seat width from inside one arm, across the seat to the other arm and the length from the place where the seat and back meet, over the front lip of the chair and down to the bottom front edge of the chair. Measure and record the width of the front of the arm and the measurement from the top of the arm to the bottom edge of the chair as the length. Record this measurement twice. Measure the cushion width and length; record this measurement twice. Measure the strip around the cushion as the width being the perimeter of the cushion and the length as the thickness of the cushion.

Make To-Scale Patterns

• On your recording paper add 4 inches to each measurement. Make to-scale patterns of each of these rectangles. It is helpful to use graph paper and a scale of 1 square to 6 inches. For example, to the inside back measurement of "32 by 46," add 4 inches to each measurement to equal 36 by 50. Using a 1 square to equal 6 inches scale, cut a rectangle of graph paper 8 by 12 1/2 squares. Write the name of the rectangle and the measurements on each piece, underlining which measurement is the width.

About the Fabric

• Most upholstery fabric is 54 inches wide. The design on upholstery fabric runs perpendicular to the long edge of the fabric. The width of the pattern pieces must be arranged along this long edge of the fabric.

Place Pattern Pieces

• Create a to-scale pattern of the fabric by drawing a rectangle to mimic a piece of fabric 54 inches wide and 6 to 8 yards long. (9 squares by 36 to 46 squares at the 1 square to 6 inch scale.) Arrange the pattern pieces as close together as possible on this to scale fabric pattern. When all the pieces have been arranged, calculate the amount of fabric required by counting the number of squares used along one long edge. Multiply this figure by 6 and divide by 36 for the yardage required. Add 2 yards for a skirt, if required.