My mom is a quilter. For years, she used a pencil and graph paper to calculate fabric requirements for her projects.
Every time she messed up a calculation, it meant either a trip back to the fabric store or an awkward seam hiding the mistake.
From Graph Paper to Web App
I built Yardage Calculator over a weekend. The idea was simple: input your project dimensions, get back exactly how much fabric you need.
What I didn't expect was that 1,000 people a day would end up using it.
What It Does
The calculator covers four fabric scenarios:
- Quilting — calculates yardage from block count and size
- Curtains — accounts for pleat style, fullness, and repeat patterns
- Upholstery — estimates for chairs, sofas, and ottomans
- Sewing — general garment fabric estimation
Each calculator handles seam allowance, pattern matching, and fabric width — the stuff that makes real-world fabric math annoying.
Lessons From Building It
- Know your audience — I showed my mom every iteration. She rejected 3 designs I thought were brilliant.
- Mobile-first — 70% of visitors are on phones (standing in fabric stores!)
- Speed matters — fabric store cell reception is terrible; the page loads in 300ms
Check it out at yardage-calc.com — or share it with someone who sews.
What's a side project you built for one specific person that ended up being useful to many more?
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