Adjust a cut length so a patterned fabric repeats line up.
Rounds each cut up to a whole repeat so motifs match across panels.
Fabrics with a printed or woven pattern, such as stripes, plaids, and large motifs, look best when the pattern lines up across seams. Each piece must start at the same point in the pattern, so the cut length has to be a whole number of pattern repeats. This calculator rounds the cut length up to the next multiple of the repeat.
For example, if you need a length of 100 inches and the repeat is 24 inches, you must cut 120 inches, which is five full repeats. The extra fabric is the price of a clean match, so patterned fabric often needs noticeably more yardage than a plain one.
Some prints have a straight match, where the pattern lines up across the width at the same level, and others have a half drop match, where it steps down. Check the label for the type of repeat, since a half drop match may need even more fabric.
When you buy patterned fabric for several panels, add one extra repeat for each panel and plan where to position the main motif, so it appears centered or in the right place on each piece.