The Nose Knows  

Back to List

Create a Tech-Savvy Pattern Library

Handy, Dandy Ruler

Jennifer Sauer, contributor

no recommendations

This handy mini ruler is a great sewing tool to keep right at your fingertips.

Photo: Jennifer Sauer

Add Comment
Print

Sew straight and carry a mini ruler. Judith Neukam and I somehow sweet-talked one of our favorite authors, Joyce Murphy, into lending us these mini rulers last year. They're six inches long, a skinny one inch wide, transparent, and printed with an eighth-inch grid. For both of us, this ruler has quickly become our favorite sewing and pattern-drafting tool. And it fits neatly in our pockets as we whirl around our Sew Stylish sewing studio! Here are our testimonials:

Pattern drafting made easy
The ruler is transparent, so I can perfectly align it on seamlines. And because it is a mere 6 inches long, maneuvering it around pattern curves to mark seam allowances is a breeze! And I love to use it when I mark darts. —Jen

I’ve been using an 18-inch see-through ruler for years and think it’s invaluable. But this little 6-inch version gives me the best part of that ruler—right at my fingertips, anytime. It fits into a book, a pattern envelope, behind my ear! No ripples or wobbles, and my cat doesn’t chase it. —Judy

Sewing perfection
I keep this mini ruler tucked underneath my sewing machine and whip it out whenever I need to check a measurement when sewing. —Jen

I also use the mini ruler to add seam allowances. I tape it to the table of my sewing machine and use it as a seam allowance guide. Oh, and it’s great for marking buttonholes. —Judy

Get your own!
Joyce doesn’t actually list the ruler on her Web site (www.jsmpatterns.com), but she keeps a good stock for her students. Email her, and she’ll be happy to sell you one. You can also buy the rulers on www.uniquetechniques.com.

And, hey, the mini rulers are inexpensive ($1.50), so buy a gaggle and give them away as party favors. You’ll be very popular in your sewing circle if you do!

Add Comment Print