Hey, you!
When I started learning how to sew, I was surprised that: Basic math skills like understanding all those tick marks on a ruler played a part in the construction of garments.
Yes, if you want to unleash your dressmaking superpowers, you must have a basic knowledge of fractions and geometry.
And you need to know how to read a ruler.
You need to know things like…
- The crosswise grain must be perpendicular to the lengthwise grain (geometry);
- To protect your body standing at the cutting table or sitting in front of your sewing machine, you need to know how to create right angles (geometry again);
- Sewing patterns for the home sewer are drafted ½ of the front of our body and ½ of the back of our body (fractions); and
- If you need to add 1″ to the hip measurement of the pattern and you have four vertical seams, then you’ll need to distribute ¼ inch to each vertical seam (fractions again).
Yep! Surprising!
But don’t you fret! Because what we need to know is very simple and not hard at all.
I promise you that once you’ve used your ruler or measuring tape in a few projects, you’ll be thinking to yourself, “That was so easy! Why ever was I afraid?”
First, you should know that the two most common measurement systems are the Imperial System (fractions, inches, feet) and the Metric System (centimetre, millimetre, and metre).
In the U.S. (I know), we use the Imperial System of measurement, rather than the Metric System.
So if you’re ready, let’s do this…
NOTE: If you’re ready to begin this journey and would like to buy my recommended tools and supplies, please click HERE!
How to Read an Imperial Ruler
An inch can be divided into 8, 16, or even 32 parts. In this article we will learn how to read an inch that has been divided into 16 parts.
Inches…
The longest lines on a ruler or tape measure represent the inch markings — for example, 1 inch, 2 inches, 3 inches, and so forth:
Halves…
Each inch can be further divided into half, which is represented by the second-longest line. This gives us a ½ inch:
Fourths…
And each ½ inch can be divided in half to give us fourths: ¼, 2/4, and ¾. See in the image below…
Did you notice how the ½ inch mark is now 2/4?!
Eighths…
Now, if we divide each fourth in half, we get eighths: 1/8, 2/8, 3/8, 4/8, 5/8, 6/8, and 7/8!
Did you notice how the ½ inch mark is now 4/8?!
Okay, I think you’re probably beginning to see a pattern!
Sixteenths…
Alright.
We down to, yes, you’ve guessed it, sixteenths: 1/16, 2/16, 3/16, 4/16, 5/16, 6/16, 7/16, 8/16, 9/16, 10/16, 11/16, 12/16, 13/16, 14/16, and 15/16!
Yep, this is what we get when we divide eights in half. These will include the shortest lines on the ruler.
And in case you missed it, 2/16 is equivalent to 1/8 inch; 4/16 is equivalent to ¼ inch; 8/16 is equivalent to ½ inch; and so forth…
So in a nutshell, this is how we read an imperial ruler…
What did I tell you?! Easy, right!
Sew easy tip: Grid rulers are conveniently divided into eighths and sixteenths. And these rulers are lifesavers when it comes time to adjusting our sewing patterns to achieve a good fit!
Well, that’s it!
RELATED: Click HERE to learn the three essential measuring tools a dressmaker must have!
The End
When you started this article, you probably had no idea what every slash on an imperial ruler meant.
And now you do!
Yes, you actually know what all those slashes on an imperial ruler mean!
Which means…
We’re now ready to move onto learning the definition of a good fit and how to bring any sewing pattern into alignment with our body proportions.
Are you excited?! I hope so because I am.
And remember…
Life is the ultimate red carpet event. Dress for it!
RELATED: Click HERE if you’re ready to unleash your dressmaking superpowers and learn how to sew a simple dress! Warning: This is a MEGA 5-part series!