First Time Buying Fabric? A Complete Guide to Taiwan Fabric Units, Width, and Yardage

The Short Answer: Taiwan Sells Fabric by the 'Chi' — and Width Determines How Much You Need

When buying fabric for the first time, most people don't struggle with choosing a print — they struggle with figuring out how much to order. In Taiwan's fabric market, the standard unit of measurement is the Taiwan chi (台尺), where 1 chi = 30 cm ≈ 11.8 inches. Get that conversion locked in and everything else follows.

But length alone isn't the whole picture. Fabric comes in different widths, and the width changes how much usable material you get. This guide breaks things down across three layers — units, width, and real-world yardage estimates — so you can place your order with confidence.

Fabric Units: Chi, Centimetres, and Yards

Taiwan's fabric trade runs on chi. Here's how the numbers stack up:

• 1 chi = 30 cm (roughly 11.8 in)
• 2 chi = 60 cm (roughly 23.6 in)
• 3 chi = 90 cm (roughly 35.4 in, just under 1 yard)
• 10 chi = 300 cm = 3 metres (roughly 3.3 yards)

When you place an order, you enter the number of chi you want. The seller cuts that length from a full bolt and ships it as one continuous piece — not split into separate sections.

Some imported fabrics — especially Japanese imports — are labelled in yards or metres instead. 1 yard ≈ 91 cm ≈ 3 chi. Always check the unit shown on the product page before calculating, or you may end up with far less (or more) than you planned for.

Fabric Width: 110 cm vs. 150 cm — What's the Difference?

Fabric comes off the loom at a fixed width set by the machine, so each fabric type has one standard width. The two most common widths in Taiwan's market are:

• 110 cm wide (≈ 43 in, called 'three-chi-eight' / 三尺八 in Taiwanese trade shorthand): Typical for printed cotton, Japanese imported fabrics, and quilting materials. Great for accessories, pouches, cushion covers, and children's garment pieces.
• 150 cm wide (≈ 59 in, called 'five-chi' / 五尺): Common for stretch fabrics, woven apparel cloth, and performance textiles. The extra width means you can often cut a full front or back panel without piecing.

Width directly affects the usable area you get per chi. Comparing price per chi without factoring in width is misleading. To illustrate: buying 3 chi (90 cm) of 110 cm-wide fabric gives you 110 × 90 = 9,900 cm²; the same 3 chi of 150 cm-wide fabric gives you 150 × 90 = 13,500 cm² — about 36% more usable fabric. Before ordering, always check the widest point of your pattern piece against the fabric's width, so you don't end up buying extra length to compensate for insufficient width.

How Much Fabric Do You Actually Need? Three Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Pouches, Drawstring Bags, and Small Accessories

A standard drawstring bag (finished size roughly 25 × 30 cm / 10 × 12 in) needs around 60 × 70 cm of fabric including seam allowances — about 2 chi of 110 cm-wide cloth. If you're cutting both an outer shell and a lining, budget 2 chi each, so 4 chi total. Add an extra 0.5–1 chi as a buffer; beginners especially benefit from a little extra when cutting.

Scenario 2: Children's Tops or Trousers

For a top sized for a 3–5-year-old, using 150 cm-wide fabric you'll typically need 3–4 chi (90–120 cm / roughly 1–1.3 yards) to lay out front, back, and sleeves. With 110 cm-wide fabric, plan for 1–2 extra chi to fit the same pattern pieces. If your print has a large repeat that needs matching at seams, add at least one full repeat length on top of your base estimate.

Scenario 3: Cushion Covers and Tablecloths

A 45 × 45 cm (18 × 18 in) cushion cover (seam allowances included) needs roughly 50 × 100 cm of fabric. With 110 cm-wide cloth, 3–4 chi is enough to cut both front and back panels. For tablecloths, measure your table first — add the drop (overhang) on all four sides to the table dimensions — then get in touch with us for a precise estimate rather than guessing.

cocochi's house Fabric Specs at a Glance

cocochi's house (咕咕雞的活力布坊) stocks fabric from two main sources:

• Taiwan-designed original print cotton fabric: Every pattern is drawn by our in-house design team, spanning series such as Taiwan wildlife, nostalgic Taiwan scenes, fairy tales, and seasonal celebrations. Most are 100% cotton, predominantly 110 cm wide.
• Japanese imported fabric: Sourced directly from Japan, including double gauze (二重紗), printed cotton, and performance cloth. Width varies by item and is listed clearly on each product page.

Off-the-bolt cuts (零碼布 / remnant lengths) start from just 1 chi — no large minimum needed to try a colour or hand-feel. For recurring commercial orders, wholesale B2B pricing is available; just get in touch to discuss your volume.

Custom Digital Printing: Your Design, Your Exclusive Print

Can't find the exact print you have in mind? cocochi's house offers custom digital printing, backed by the 40-year pattern-making team at our parent company, KAIYO FABRIC CO., LTD. (楷宥布料有限公司). That same team has produced fabric for leading brands including Best Pale (百事特, one of Taiwan's top childrenswear labels) and Betty Boop, among others.

The minimum order for custom printing is 20 yards. We offer strike-off sampling and small trial runs — a practical option for indie children's apparel brands, independent textile designers, OEM children's wear buyers, and individual studios looking for an exclusive print run.

Want a quote or want to understand the sampling process? Add us on LINE: @cocochishouse. Share your artwork file, estimated quantity, and preferred fabric type, and our team will assess feasibility and come back with pricing. Or use the button below to get in touch directly.

Three Things to Check Before You Order

• Confirm the width. Check whether the product page shows 110 cm or 150 cm, then calculate your chi requirement from there.
• Allow for shrinkage. 100% cotton typically shrinks 5–10% after the first wash. For dimension-critical pieces, either pre-wash your fabric before cutting or add shrinkage allowance to your order quantity.
• Factor in print repeat (for patterned fabrics). Large-scale prints need extra length for pattern matching at seams. Build in at least 1–2 extra chi when ordering a bold all-over print.

Not sure how many chi you need for your project? Send us your finished dimensions, how many pieces you plan to make, and the fabric width — add us on LINE @cocochishouse and we'll work out the numbers with you before you order.