What is a Half Yard?

For the image shown above, the entire rectangle (both the blue and the gray) represent one yard of fabric. The blue area shows the amount of fabric in a Half Yard.

Half Yard Width: always 18 inches
Half Yard Length: the entire Selvage Width

FYI: Selvage Width: Determined by the manufacturer when the fabric is woven at the factory.

Some standard selvage widths (shown in inches):
   ...32 ...43 ...51 ...55 ...59 ...67 ...71.

Hand-woven fabrics and some specialty fabrics may come in unique widths not shown above. When buying fabric, always check the Selvage Width to make sure you know exactly what you're buying.

Some stitchers confuse a Half Yard with a Fat Half. The Keepsakes Stitchery Store offers both cuts, and while each cut results in a half yard of fabric, the final dimensions for each cut are different.

If you're not sure how these two cuts are different, here's a page about Fat Half fabric cuts.