How To Use Your Seamstress Gauge
Hi! My name is Barbara and I am a sewing obsessed, professional perfectionist. This is a not so very serious condition that I’ve had since I was 16. I’m currently stitching my own dream wardrobe and I like to make my garments look just as pretty on the inside as on the outside. Having good sewing tools are essential for this and the one tool I’ve never been able to live without is a seam gauge. Throughout my sewing journey I have used many different ones, but I always had ideas to make them better and even more functional. After lots of trial and error I was finally able to create the sewing tool of my dreams!
I called it the Seamstress Gauge because it is a multifunctional sewing gadget that every seamstress needs in her life! The gauge is made from acrylic and has 3 main features with their own specific uses.
Quick and accurate measuring
The edges can be used to quickly measure 1cm, 1.5cm, 2cm, 3cm and 4cm. This is perfect for when you’re pressing up hems, adding seam allowance or measuring seams, darts or other small bits. The bottom edge measures 10cm and looks like a normal ruler.
Marking patterns and fabrics
The gauge is see-through and has little engraved dots every 0.5cm to make marking buttonholes, seam allowances, pleats and tucks very easy and accurate. You can also use it to draw parallel lines when you need to lengthen or shorten a pattern. Or use the dots to mark something at a right angle by lining up the dots with the edge of your project
Make sewing straight lines a breeze
When sewing straight lines it’s helpful to use one of the lines on your sewing machine as a guide. However, some sewing machines have too many lines which makes it difficult to choose which one to follow, and some machines have no lines at all. The Seamstress Gauge will make it easy for you to find the right seam allowance. Let me explain how:
Step 1: After you decide on the seam allowance you need for your project you carefully drop your needle into the desired hole. Choose from 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 or 3.5 cm seam allowance.
Step 2: Turn the gauge towards you so that it’s vertical and at a right angle with your machine. Carefully place your presser on top so that the gauge stays in place.
Step 3: Take some washi or masking tape and stick it along the long side of the gauge onto your machine.
Step 4: You can now use the tape as your seam guide. Just make sure you line the edge of your fabric up with the tape and you’ll get nice and straight stitch lines!
I hope you and your Seamstress Gauge become best of friends and you’ll have fun discovering all the different ways it can help you! Please share your experience on social media using the hashtags #RockingStitch and #SeamstressGauge. Happy sewing!