Tailoring & Fitting
Measuring Tape
A measuring tape is the first tool of tailoring and the one you use the most. It has to be flexible enough to follow a curve, stable enough not to stretch, and printed on both sides with both metric and imperial scales, because pattern companies and fabric shops do not always agree on which to use. A stretched or frayed tape silently ruins every measurement you take with it.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 150 cm / 60 in |
| Material | Fibreglass-reinforced, non-stretch |
| Scales | Dual, metric and imperial |
| Ends | Metal tips, some with a ring |
| Width | 18 - 20 mm |
| Use | Body, fabric, seam and hem measuring |
Technical parameters
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Non-stretch | Fibreglass core resists stretching |
| Dual scale | Read the same edge both sides |
| Zero point | Check the tip has not worn back |
| Curves | Stands in for a curve on a body |
| Care | Do not pull or fold sharply |
| Replace | When the print wears or it stretches |
Safety
A measuring tape has a metal tip and is safe to handle. Take care with a tape that has a metal end, and keep it away from a hot iron, which will melt or distort it.
What it is for
A flexible dual-scale tape. The tool that starts every project and checks every fit.
Compatible fabrics
Compatible stitches
Working notes
- Measure over light clothing or none, and keep the tape level and snug, not tight.
- Check the tape has not stretched by comparing it with a rigid rule.
- Use the same tape for the whole project; two tapes can disagree.
- Keep it away from the iron; heat stretches and warps it.
Related tools
Dress Form
An adjustable torso for fitting and pinning without a body inside it. The difference between guessing at a fit and seeing it.
French Curve
A flat drafting template with the curves a body actually has, for drawing armholes, necklines and hips.
Tracing Wheel
A spiked wheel that transfers pattern markings through to the fabric below by pressing, not by drawing.