Free Fabric Swatch and Test Log (Excel)

Compare fabric swatches side by side, record wash test results and track which ones you approve.

By Apparel Search · Updated October 2026

Fabric choices pile up fast: swatches from several mills, each with a weight, width, price, minimum and lead time. This free Excel log keeps them in one place. It converts GSM to ounces per square yard, calculates length and width shrinkage from your before and after wash measurements, and tracks your decision for each swatch (shortlist, approved, reject or hold). A summary counts swatches by decision and shows the highest shrinkage.

Free downloadDownload Excel log (.xlsx)Free to use in your own business. Please do not sell or republish the file as your own. Opens in Microsoft Excel, and can also be opened in Google Sheets or LibreOffice, though some formatting may differ. The sheets are protected without a password so formulas and the Apparel Search credit are not overwritten by accident. To customize, choose Review > Unprotect Sheet.

Read how to choose fabric for your clothing line for the full process.

1. Log each swatch

Give each swatch an ID and enter the supplier, fabric name or code, fiber content, weight in GSM, width, price, minimum order and lead time. The sheet shows the weight in ounces per square yard.

2. Run a wash test and enter the measurements

Mark a square on the fabric, measure its length and width before washing, wash and dry it by the method you will use, then measure again. Enter the four numbers in the same units for every swatch. Use the wash method specified by your fabric supplier or customer.

3. Read the shrinkage

Shrinkage = (before minus after) divided by before. A positive number means the fabric shrank, and a negative number means it grew. Use it to decide how much allowance to add to your pattern, and to compare fabrics.

Free Apparel Search tools

Convert weights and widths with the Fabric & Textile Unit Converter, and estimate usage with the Fabric Consumption Calculator.

4. Add notes and your decision

Note the color, hand feel and any other tests, such as color fastness. Then choose a decision for each swatch. Approved swatches turn green and rejected ones turn red.

Common mistakes

Measuring before and after in different units or at different points.
Judging shrinkage from one test.
Comparing prices without checking weight and width.
Not recording why a fabric was rejected.

Questions

Is this fabric swatch log free?

Yes. It is free to use in your own business. Please do not sell or republish the file as your own.

How is shrinkage calculated?

Shrinkage = (size before washing minus size after washing) divided by the size before washing. A positive number is shrinkage and a negative number is growth.

How do I convert GSM to oz/yd2?

Divide GSM by 33.906. The log does this for you.

Which wash method should I use?

Use the method your fabric supplier or customer specifies, and use the same method for every swatch.

Keep going

For general information only. These templates are starting points for general use and are not legal, financial or compliance advice. Confirm specifications and requirements with your factory and qualified professionals. Apparel Search does not endorse any company listed in its directory. See our Legal page.