The sewing measuring tape: help or hinderance?
I have a love/hate relationship with my tape measure. I am a visual person and when I actually have to measure something I do it begrudgingly. From the beginning, I have fought the notion that I need to know exact measurements. When learning proper pattern making in school I was always eyeing my lines with my ruler while others were busily measuring. Granted there are times when exact measurements are necessary but I avoid those times! Yet, another reason I love LYCRA so much.
The problem with measuring is that it becomes a crutch. You stop trusting what you see and depend on the tape, right or wrong. In one sewing class I took away everyone’s tape measures
and saw terror in their eyes! I actually had to fight to get a few of the students to give them
up!