Once upon a time, I attended a sewing class where we were encouraged to check the fit of the doll’s dress as we worked, since – and I quote – “everyone’s quarter inch is different”.
Spots formed in my eyes as my brain exploded.
What???
Before you call me a drama queen, let me remind you that a long, long time ago I was a scientist. And while you can take the girl out of the lab, you’ll never get all the scientific method out of the girl.
So.
Here’s a fun fact: 1/8″ on the dress of a 14″ doll is equivalent to over 1/2″ on the dress of a 65″ (5’5″) woman.
I ask you – if you had a dress with seams that wandered willy nilly from half an inch, to a full inch, and back again – would you wear this dress in public?
I didn’t think so.
Which is why – as a pattern maker – the very idea that my 1/4″ and yours might be “different” isn’t something I can even wrap my head around. An eyeball is an eyeball, and a ruler is a ruler (and thank heavens, because if eyeballs were rulers, I’d never remove my clothes in a fitting room again.)
There’s only one tool designed to ensure accurate seam allowances. Holding a ruler in one hand while sewing with the other feels awkward at first, but anyone can do it. I promise! My saint of a mother forced me to learn this at the ripe old age of eight, and I still sew this way today – ruler in the left hand, needle in the right.
Every single seam.
Every single time.
Rulers are the one true friend you can count on to tell the truth about the size of things. And using one is the fastest way I know to instantly improve your sewing.