Subscribe
Subscribe
Convert yards to meters, inches to centimeters, ounces to grams, and more — every measurement conversion you need for reading sewing patterns, buying fabric, and tackling DIY home projects.
The most useful conversions for DIY sewing, quilting, and fabric projects
💡 Pattern Reading Tip: US sewing patterns use inches and yards. European patterns use centimeters and meters. This calculator converts between all of them instantly — just enter your value and pick your units.
| From | To Inches | To Centimeters | To Yards | To Meters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Seam Allowances | ||||
| ¼ inch (6mm) | 0.25 in | 0.635 cm | 0.007 yd | 0.0064 m |
| ⅜ inch (10mm) | 0.375 in | 0.953 cm | 0.010 yd | 0.0095 m |
| ⅝ inch (16mm) | 0.625 in | 1.587 cm | 0.017 yd | 0.016 m |
| 1 inch (25mm) | 1 in | 2.54 cm | 0.028 yd | 0.0254 m |
| Fabric Lengths | ||||
| ¼ yard | 9 in | 22.86 cm | 0.25 yd | 0.229 m |
| ½ yard | 18 in | 45.72 cm | 0.5 yd | 0.457 m |
| ¾ yard | 27 in | 68.58 cm | 0.75 yd | 0.686 m |
| 1 yard | 36 in | 91.44 cm | 1 yd | 0.914 m |
| 1.5 yards | 54 in | 137.16 cm | 1.5 yd | 1.372 m |
| 2 yards | 72 in | 182.88 cm | 2 yd | 1.829 m |
| 3 yards | 108 in | 274.32 cm | 3 yd | 2.743 m |
| 1 meter | 39.37 in | 100 cm | 1.094 yd | 1 m |
| From | Grams (g) | Ounces (oz) | Pounds (lb) | GSM Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ounce (oz) | 28.35 g | 1 oz | 0.0625 lb | — |
| 100 grams | 100 g | 3.527 oz | 0.220 lb | — |
| 1 pound | 453.59 g | 16 oz | 1 lb | — |
| Fabric Weight (GSM = grams per square meter) | ||||
| Lightweight fabric | 30–150 gsm | Chiffon, organza, voile | ||
| Medium fabric | 150–350 gsm | Cotton, linen, poplin | ||
| Heavyweight fabric | 350–600+ gsm | Denim, canvas, upholstery | ||
Different countries use different systems — here's what you need to know
US sewing patterns use the customary system: inches, yards, and Fahrenheit. European and Japanese patterns use metric units: centimeters, meters, and Celsius for pressing temperatures.
When buying fabric abroad or following a pattern from a different country, quick and accurate conversion is essential. Getting it wrong by even a few centimeters can throw off a garment entirely.
Washing and ironing labels use both Celsius (EU) and Fahrenheit (US). A delicate fabric labeled "wash at 30°C" equals 86°F — cool enough to prevent shrinkage. "Iron at 200°C" equals 392°F — appropriate for cotton and linen.
The Temperature tab in the calculator above handles all these conversions instantly, including Kelvin for technical textile applications.
The modern metric system (SI — International System of Units) was formally published in 1960 and is based on seven base units: length (meter), mass (kilogram), time (second), temperature (Kelvin), current (ampere), luminous intensity (candela), and amount of substance (mole).
It has been adopted by all developed countries except the United States, though the US uses it extensively in science, medicine, and military applications.
The imperial system, used in the United States and historically in the British Empire, developed over centuries from practical trade standards. The yard was once literally the distance from King Henry I's nose to the tip of his outstretched thumb.
Today, the US customary pound is officially defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms — showing how imperial units are now anchored to the metric system for precision.
From grains of barley to the speed of light — how humans standardised measurement
Arab civilisation used silver coins as weight standards. Ten dirhems (each roughly 45 grains of barley) made a Wukryeh — translated to Latin as "uncia," the origin of our word ounce. This formed the foundation of the pound system still used today.
During Queen Elizabeth I's reign, the avoirdupois weight system was adopted in England, based on the weight of coal. It defined 16 ounces to a pound (7,000 grains) — still the standard in US customary units. Since 1959, the avoirdupois pound equals exactly 0.45359237 kg.
John Wilkins proposed a decimal system linking length, area, volume, and mass — using a pendulum with a one-second beat as the base unit of length. Two years later, Gabriel Mouton proposed basing the system on the Earth's circumference, supported by Jean Picard and Christiaan Huygens.
After Thomas Jefferson's decimal system proposal was rejected by Congress, France formally defined the metric system in law in 1795, with official adoption in 1799. Napoleon's expansion spread the system across Europe — by 1875, two thirds of Europe and nearly half the world had adopted it.
The modern SI system was published in 1960, consisting of seven base units. It has since been adopted by all developed nations except the United States — though the US uses it heavily in science, medicine, the military, and international trade. Unit converters remain essential tools in a world of mixed systems.