Sister & Sewn Collective

Fabric Yardage & Remnant Guide

A collected reference for pillows, small upholstery pieces, and creative ways to use designer remnants. Yardages assume 54″-wide fabric and may vary depending on repeat, direction, motif placement, and construction details.

Section 01

Pillow Size & Yardage Chart

A practical starting point for decorative pillows and custom cases. These estimates assume front and back panels with standard seam allowances. Add yardage for self-welt, contrast welt, flange, fringe, centered motifs, or large-scale pattern matching.

Pillow Size	Common Use	Plain / Small Print	Large Repeat / Directional	Notes
12″ × 12″	Small accent	⅓ yd	½ yd	Best for very small remnants
16″ × 16″	Chair or small sofa	½ yd	⅔–1 yd	Add more for centered motifs
18″ × 18″	Sofa or bed accent	½ yd	⅔–1 yd	Popular decorative size
20″ × 20″	Sofa standard	⅔ yd	1–1¼ yd	Allow more for welt or matching pairs
22″ × 22″	Large sofa pillow	⅔–1 yd	1–1½ yd	Often needs extra with designer fabrics
26″ × 26″	Euro	1 yd	1½–2 yd	Standard euro size
12″ × 20″ lumbar	Chair, bed, or sofa	⅓–½ yd	½–⅔ yd	Excellent remnant size
14″ × 22″ lumbar	Sofa lumbar	½ yd	⅔–1 yd	Classic layered look
14″ × 36″ bolster	Bed or bench	1–1¼ yd	1½–1¾ yd	Includes body and end circles

Pattern repeat note: Designer textiles often require more than the mathematical minimum. Large repeats, centered motifs, pairs, welting, and directional prints can all increase yardage. When in doubt, allow extra.

Section 02

Beautiful Uses for Small Yardage

Designer remnants deserve better than sitting folded on a shelf. Even small cuts can become pillows, café curtains, cosmetic bags, travel pouches, fabric frames, lampshades, bench cushions, and other collected details that bring personality into a home.

Café Curtains

½–1½ yd per panel

Beautiful for kitchens, baths, and laundry rooms
Allow 1.5–2× fullness of window width
Add extra for hem and rod pocket
Small-scale prints work especially well

Cosmetic & Travel Bags

¼–½ yd

Perfect for small designer remnants
Great use for bold prints and trims
Add lining for structure and durability
Ideal for gifting or custom monograms

Fabric Frames

¼–1 yd

A beautiful way to showcase special textiles
Works well with florals, block prints, and large motifs
Lovely for bedrooms, nurseries, and hallways
Often uses less yardage than expected

Custom Lampshades

½–1 yd

One of the best uses for statement remnants
Small shades may require less than ½ yd
Pattern direction matters
Trim or tape adds a finished detail

Ottomans

1–2 yd

Small ottomans may need around 1 yd
Medium ottomans usually need 1½–2 yd
Add extra for skirts, tufting, or welting
Great for durable designer textiles

Bench Cushions

1–2½ yd

Window seats, entry benches, and mudrooms
Includes top, bottom, and boxing
Add extra for ties or welt
Performance fabrics are a smart choice

Dining Chair Seats

⅓–½ yd per chair

One of the easiest remnant projects
Most seats need less than ½ yd
Large repeats may require more
Great way to use a special fabric sparingly

Small Stools

½–1 yd

Works well for round or square stools
Simple tops need very little yardage
Add extra for skirts or gathered details
Perfect for playful pattern moments

Project	Yardage Range	Best Fabric Types	Difficulty
Café Curtains	½–3 yd total	Cotton, linen, ticking, lightweight prints	Beginner
Cosmetic / Travel Bags	¼–½ yd	Linen, canvas, cotton, performance	Beginner
Fabric Frames	¼–1 yd	Block prints, florals, large-scale patterns	Beginner
Custom Lampshades	½–1 yd	Linen, cotton, lightweight upholstery	Intermediate
Ottoman	1–2 yd	Velvet, canvas, outdoor, upholstery linen	Beginner–Intermediate
Bench Cushion	1–2½ yd	Performance, linen blend, outdoor, canvas	Intermediate
Dining Chair Seat	⅓–½ yd per chair	Medium-weight upholstery, woven, performance	Beginner
Small Stool	½–1 yd	Velvet, linen, woven upholstery, performance	Beginner

Sister & Sewn tip: The best remnants are often the pieces too small for full upholstery projects but perfect for layered, collected details throughout a home. A single yard can become a pair of pillows, café curtains, a lampshade, or custom travel bags. Large repeats, centered motifs, and welting almost always require additional yardage, especially with designer textiles.