Thursday 22 May 2008

A Handy Tip


Over the weekend I was taking a bag order from a friend - in quite a hurry as we were running late - and in trying to determine dimensions without a tape measure to hand, she placed her finger on the fabric and measured quite accurately, safe in the knowledge that the finger she was using was precisley 3 inches long. A trick she learned from the London School of Fashion where she did a 2 year part time pattern cutting course. So I thought I'd pass it on as even though my new skill is only 3 days old, it has already proved very handy indeed!

14 comments:

Locket Pocket said...

What a fantastic tip - I'm off now to measure my fingers!!!!

Thanks!

Unknown said...

Get it..."handy"
Very clever tip!

Marmadaisy said...

My Marmadaisy uses the same method with his spread fingers- we get some funny looks in B&Q.
Congratulations for getting your bag featured on u-handblog!

jennyflowerblue said...

Yeah my Dad spreads his hand out for six inches but his hands are MASSIVE! (Not sure if this is heading to a smuty joke) Good tip though, I'm off to measure my pinkies!

Mrs Moog said...

That is a tip worth knowing!! Looks like I'll be measuring my fingers tonight too!!

xxxx

Kathi D said...

What a good idea! And why have I never thought of it before?

Fabric and Bags said...

I never knew this, how very useful to know. Thanks for the tip
Anne

Anonymous said...

Thats fantastic, great tip. You have been tagged hope you dont mind. Rules on my blog

NancyDaQ said...

This is a great tip that I learned years ago. I've noticed that I'm pretty good at "eyeballing" measurements with the assistance of body measurements. All those years of sewing I guess.

Anonymous said...

This is a great tip. I can also measure 1 inch between my knuckles on my first finger. These things come in handy...thanks!

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

That's a fabulous tip! My husband does it in forearm length, but I'd never thought to do finger lengths for smaller stuff.

dottycookie said...

Someone once told me that the foirst joint of your thumb (nearest the tip) is more or less an inch long. I use that all the time.

Brenda said...

How fun! I have been using my pointer finger knuckle as an inch and my handspan for 9 inches for years, but I never knew my finger was 3 inches (both ring and pointer) and my pinkie is 2.5 - neat!

Anniebeenz said...

Thanks for the tip. I have been using my height which is 5ft, to measure fabric( from one finger tip, across my arms to the other finger tip). Works great but this tip is great for those smaller measurements. So cool.