Thursday, May 9, 2013

The Original How Much Fabric? Reference Cards: review and giveaway


Today I want to tell you a but more about my new sponsor, Gwen from GwynHug, and her product, the Original How Much Fabric? Reference Cards. As a disclaimer, I didn't pay for this product, I received it for review purposes, but I am giving you my honest opinion. If this bothers you, please don't read this post, but if you have followed me for a while, you know that when I don't like something, I don't have ANY problem to say it. 

So, what are these cards and what do they do?
The name says it all, really: these cards will help you figure out how much fabric you need to make a certain garment. They are both available as physical cards or in e-book format, measurements are Imperial OR Metric and they come in different sets (Women's Clothes, Plus Sizes, etc.). I have the Women's Clothes e-book ready to use in my smartphone.

Consulting these cards is easy, and very similar to using the tables on the back of a pattern envelope. The big difference is that here you don't have just one number, but three for every size: minimum, average and maximum. By using the sketches on the back of the card (or on the following page, for the e-book version) you can easily figure out if the amount of fabric you need falls in the minimum, average or maximum section depending on the garment you want make, and on factors such as length, fullness, presence of sleeves, etc.
There are five sections respectively for dresses, pants, skirts, blouses/shirts and jackets/coats, so basically everything is covered.
The number you get is thought to be as precise as possible, but there are are also safety margins that you can add to your number in case you want to be extra careful.
If my explanation wasn't clear enough, here's a very helpful video to see how they work.

So, why not just using the fabric requirements on the back of a pattern envelope?
Well, I don't always never carry patterns with me when fabric shopping, so I'll often see a fabric and think: "That would be perfect for that pattern I bought last year". The cards not only help me figure out how much fabric I need, but also not to overbuy, which is something I always do, worrying that I won't have enough fabric, and end up with remnants too small for a project, but too big to throw away with a clear conscience. I have a huge pile of those, believe me.

I was very impressed by the amount of work and research behind the creation of these cards: the fabric requirements from 8000 patterns were used to give the most accurate estimate possible.
If you’re like me, and you frequently buy fabric with an idea of the garment you're going to make, but you don't carry the pattern with you, these can make your life so much easier! I also often buy pre-cut lengths of fabric, and the cards can help me figure out what I can and cannot make out of them.

Want to win a set of The Original How Much Fabric? Reference Cards?
Gwen was so generous to offer two sets to my readers: one for a US reader (in yards) and one for an International reader (in metres.) You can choose between e-book or physical format and which set of cards you’d like.

How to win:
Go on Gwyn's website and choose the set that you prefer. Leave a comment on this post, stating which set you would like to win (metric or imperial) and an email where I can contact you in case you win.
You can enter from now until Saturday, May 18th at 11:00am GMT.
One entry per person. Winners will be picked randomly.

Good luck, everyone!

96 comments:

  1. I already own them!

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  2. These are a cool idea...I've lost count of the number of times I've bought too much or too little fabric. A genius idea.

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  3. This sounds like a fab idea - I've been trying to store pattern info, including fabric requirements, on the sewing kit iphone app but have a feeling it will be hard to stay disciplined keeping it up to date. These would be a great alternative. I think the metric ebook version would be most useful for me. Thanks

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  4. These cards would be so helpful! Imperial.

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  5. ΕΙΡΗΝΗ ΠΑΥΛΙΔΟΥMay 9, 2013 at 7:30 PM

    It really is a good idea! I wouldn't mind the metric cards-most times I buy fabric with a more or less vague idea of the garment I would like to make.

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  6. Erin LeuenbergerMay 9, 2013 at 7:40 PM

    Wow these are really cool! I would love to own the American Women's Set #1! I have a tendency to stare blankly in fabric stores and forget how much I might really need. Very great idea!

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  7. so handy! i'd love to have a women's set american version.

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  8. I'd love to win the women's Imperial version. Fingers crossed!

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  9. What a fantastic idea! I'd love to win the imperial version for women's clothing. I'd use it all the time!

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  10. Women's clothes, metric! Then I wouldn't end up with so many remnants... hopefully

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  11. Wow, these really would be so useful - might have to get myself a set even if I don't win! I always seem to buy too much fabric. The one that would be most useful for me would be the metric women's clothing.

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  12. Women's Clothing, Imperial.
    This would definitely be a useful thing to have. I have a huge box of leftover fabric that is in pieces too big to throw away and too small to be that useful. Maybe someday I'll make a quilt or something.

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  13. Great giveaway! Women's clothes (metric, physical) please! These look dead useful!
    sinophie(at)hotmail.com

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  14. Women`s clothes ,metric please :). This will help me so much not to buy so much fabric .I always have fabric to much and it is always a stress thinking what to do with that piece that is not big enough for anything .c.debruin@live.nl. Thank you.

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  15. Women's clothing, in yards. This would be a fun item to have on hand, though I don't need help with buying even more fabric. Thanks!

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  16. Women's clothing in meter, e-book please ... Thanks so much for the chance

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  17. I would love to have the card set for women clothing, metric version! I think it would be a great help when I'm shopping for fabric, since I buy at least 1m too much - every time :). And - of course - I'm always too lazy to bring a pattern with me. So, fingers crossed!
    lizecrauwels@hotmail.com

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  18. Interesting idea! Thanks for bringing it to our attention!

    Women's clothing, physical cards, U.S. metric system.

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  19. Oh, great giveaway. I would love to have the metric paper cards for women's clothes. I don't have a smartphone :(

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  20. women's clothes, metric version - would be great to have these in my bag - thanks!

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  21. How useful! I'm pretty cheap and tend to buy almost too little fabric, and then spend ages moving pattern pieces around to make them fit. If I win I'd like the women's clothing e-book in metres, please! sissiri at hotmail dot com

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  22. Eleanor (undeadgoat)May 9, 2013 at 9:47 PM

    Women's clothing in imperial, physical version.

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  23. What a fantastic idea and giveaway! Please can you enter me for a copy of the metric version please? Email found at http://asewingodyssey.blogspot.co.uk/p/about.html

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  24. I'd love the women's clothes in a real form! This sounds like a very practical thing to have around!

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  25. Thanks for the review! I would choose women's in metric as e-book...

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  26. wow! Those are so helpful. I would like to win the women's cardset metric. Thanks!

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  27. Great idea, I'd love women's in imperial, fingers crossed!

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  28. What a genius idea! I would love to win the women's metric version.

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  29. As a fellow owner of piles of too-small-but-too-big fabric remnants, I would love the women's imperial set! :)

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  30. This is the first time I've heard of these cards, but they sound great! I'd love to win the Set #1: Women's Clothes, sizes 6-18, metric version in PDF format. Thanks for the review!

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  31. Hi to all, how is everything, I think every one is getting more from this website, and your views are nice in favor of new viewers.


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  32. i would make very good use of the Women's Clothing American in an actual set of cards !

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  33. Hi! I would love to win an e-book in metric! Awesome idea and great giveaway, thanks!

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  34. (In Women's clothing please)

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  35. Oh what a fab product! If I won I would love the Women's Metric Version in e-book :D

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  36. Thanks, Anna and Gwen! I would love Women's clothing, US ebook.
    Ledys
    ledys(dot)e(dot)chemin(@)gmail(dot)com

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  37. Reference Card Set 1: Women's clothes in e-book please! Metric, International reader. Forgot my envelope the other day and bought twice as much fabric as I needed. Sigh.

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  38. Hey,
    These look really handy. Please put me in the draw.
    Metric, Women's Clothing, Ebook.
    asimplefibrelife(at)gmail(dot)com
    Thanks


    P.S. Loved the video :)

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  40. Hi, what a great and very practical giveaway. I'd like to enter to be in with a chance of winning the metric physical cards please.
    Good luck everyone!

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  41. These sound so useful! Women's clothing in metres, physical cards please. dottiedoodle at gmail dot com

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  42. These cards sound awesome. Women's Clothing, cards in yards, please.

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  43. I would like women's clothes in metres, the physical version. Keeping my fingers crossed.

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  44. What a great idea! I would like the women's clothes, meters, physical version please.

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  45. Awesome giveaway, thanks! I'd love the women's clothing metric ebook version if I was so lucky as to win please :) erin_083 at hotmail dot com

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  46. I just found your site last week and am so glad I did! I'd love a metric set of the set #1 for my IPhone. I have a mountain of remnants that are too small and yet too big after making things. This would be a godsend. Thanks

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  47. Hello ! I would love the metric version of Woman's clothes. I would prefer a physical version if possible.

    Just a few days ago I purchased fabric and worried buying too much of too little !
    So I really like the idea.

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  48. Hello! Thanks for the giveway. The metric cards will be swell.

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  49. I'd definitely need the Women's Clothes one (metric version)!
    this is an excellent idea, by the way :)

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  50. Оксана ТитоваMay 10, 2013 at 11:58 AM

    Hello! Thank you for the opportunity!

    I would like cards in meters. As I am from Russia I think it would be more convinient for you to send the e-book not spending money and time for international shipping of physical cards.

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
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  53. Oh, I would like one for women's clothing in meters for my e-reader

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  54. I would love a physical set in Imperil! Thank you! For woman's. :)

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  56. Women's Clothing -- the physical set with inches and yards. :) What a great thing to have! (casehanks@gmail.com)

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  58. They sound really interesting! Id like womens clothes in metres as e-book if I win! Thanks!

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  59. Having these would be so helpful. Thanks for the give away!

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  60. Oh, I love these cards! Women's, clothing, imperial size, fingers crossed :)

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  61. I have to admit, I wasn't convinced about how useful these would be originally.. I thought that they wouldn't be able to be very specific, and I'd still end up buying more than I needed for a pattern, just in case, but I didn't realise that the cards already factor that in, and I certainly didn't realise how many patterns had been used to create the estimates!

    I think you've convinced me! I think the metric cards would be most useful for me, I love the idea of being able to buy a more or less precise amount of fabric, instead of just arbitrarily saying ',,,,umm.... 2 metres please!'

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  63. What a great idea! I'd love to enter for women's clothes, American inches/yards, ebook set, please. polkadotoverload [at] me [dot] com

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  65. I would love to win the metric women's clothing one! What an awesome giveaway these would come in super handy! (sara.berkes@gmail.com)

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  67. I'd love a non-virtual, metric women's clothing. They sound very handy to have!

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  69. I never know exactly what I'm going to use the fabric for. These cards would help me decide how much I should buy. I'd lie to have a metric set for women's clothing, as an ebook. Thanks!

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  70. Metric women's clothing please! Ebook format, what a great idea!

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  71. An absolutely wonderful - brilliant - idea! I would love womens in metric!

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  72. What a fab idea! Card Set #1: Women's Clothes Metric Version: Sizes 32 - 44 printed version (hsnorton@gmail.com) I'll keep my fingers crossed!

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  73. I would love to have the printed womens in imperial. Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway!

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  74. Women's clothing american version, printed copy please!

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  77. Thank you for the giveaway. I'm always popping into the fabric shop when I'm passing just to see what's new (or on sale, haha) and these would come in very handy in my handbag! I would love to win Card Set #1: Women's Clothes. Thanks again.

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  79. Ohh! I'd love the metric version! Such a cool giveaway!

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  81. Women;s clothing in metric ebook please!! What a great idea! Walking around with my own wonky set of measures but this would be so helpful!

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  82. This is so helpful!Women's clothing in metric ebook!Thank you so much for the opportunity!

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  83. I never carry patterns with me, this would be so useful in e=book Women's clothing - meter... Thanks!

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  84. Women's clothing in imperial, e-book please ... Thanks so much :)

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  85. What a great "gadget" :-) I would love to win the metric plus size women's set. I usually use inches when I sew and I sew from lots of American sewing patterns but as I live in Europe, I normally use the metric system when I buy fabric ;-)

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  86. What a really great giveaway! I would love set #5 Children's clothes, printed.

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  87. I'd love the Plus size in metric ebook! silverdaisy at gmail dot com

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  89. Please put me in the drawing for the women's imperial ebook version. Fisforflamingo at gmail dot com thanks!

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  90. Women's clothing please ! Thanks and wish me luck ! :)

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  91. I'd go for the meter women's clothing card
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  94. Women's clothing, imperial, hard copy. This would be so helpful!

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