Friday, May 18, 2012

MY NEW (ALMOST ACCURATE) TAPE MEASURE

Measuring a doll with a tape measure and getting accurate measurements is difficult.  And the smaller the doll, the more difficult it becomes.
The way I usually get the most accurate measurements on dolls  is to use narrow cotton tape.  It doesn't stretch  and  is narrow enough to get into the curves of small dolls.  Once I've marked the measurement, I lay the cotton tape against my tape measure and get a very accurate measurement.
But the other day, I was in one of our local quilt shops and I found this:


It's a narrow cotton tape that's being used as decoration on lots of quilts and bags and whatever else a quilter/sewer can think of. It's marked in 10cm (4") increments.  It's pretty accurate - over the space of 10cms it is 3mm out (which equates to an 1/8" over 4" for those still using  inches).


 However, if I use it to measure a doll and then use it to make the measurements on the pattern, the pattern will fit the doll.  And it is narrow and flexible enough to fit into the curves of a small doll so I can use it to measure small dolls (like Monster High and smaller) just like a tape measure.

 (It'a very hard to take a picture and make sure a tape is held straight. )

  And it gives Barbie a tape measure too!  (Doesn't she look professional?)

4 comments:

  1. That's a nice little tool. Debbie needs one of those in her shop. I will have to visit a quilting shop soon.

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    1. I'm sure it would be available in an inch version. In fact, I was surprised this was in centimetres as a lot of our quilt supplies and patterns come from America and so are in feet and inches. It would be good for Debbie - we could get photos of her measuring her clients.

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  2. Hello from Spain: you're right that measure the dolls is very difficult. Thank you for teaching as the Monster. Keep in touch

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    1. Hi Marta, it is difficult particularly with small dolls and I'm always looking for ways to make it easier. That's why I was so happy to find this tape.

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