How Much Yardage to Recover a Sofa?

Pattern

• Deciding how you want to recover the sofa is very important when determining how much yardage of fabric you will need. Primarily, this comes from deciding whether the entire couch will be covered in the same material, or if you will use different material for the cushions. If you want to achieve a two-toned look, you will need separate yardage estimates for the different portions of the couch.

Removing the Fabric

• The next step is removing the fabric from the couch itself. Take the original fabric off as carefully as possible by pulling out staples or cutting it free in places where it is sewn together. It is important to note how the fabric covered the sofa as you work. Each sofa is covered differently and the method used by the original makers will likely work best when you recover it.

Estimation Method

• The first way to determine how much fabric you will need is through general estimation. Measure the dimensions of your couch carefully with a tape measure. Measure the height, depth, length, the size of the cushions and if possible, even take a few pictures of the sofa. Then, go into a fabric store. Ask for help or use their general estimation guidelines. Usually, these guidelines suggest around 13 yards of fabric for an 8-foot-long sofa, and two yards less for a 7-foot-sofa. Add extra material for features such as running skirts or taller backs.

Measurement

• The other way to recover the sofa is to measure the exact amount of yardage used in the original patterns. When doing this, be sure to take the dimensions of the fabric that you plan to buy into account when estimating the yardage. Most rolls should be 54 inches across. Make sure you allow enough room to lay out each piece of the pattern individually. Also, allow at least a yard of waste material in case you make small mistakes.