Two years ago, in November 2011, I blogged about two great new seam allowance rulers I had purchased. One is for adding a 3/8" seam allowance and the other for adding a 5/8" seam allowance to your patterns.
Well, the inventor, Claire Tharp, continues to improve upon her tools for us sewists and to invent new ones.
She has developed new versions of her seam allowance rulers. These new rulers, which come in both 5/8" and 3/8" versions, have a wide variety of curves that you can match up to any curve on your pattern. The following video slide show, from her website, shows how to use one of her rulers:
One of her new tools has me very excited – a measuring wheel!!
This wheel, which comes in both metric and imperial versions, can be used to quickly and accurately measure curved seams. No more turning a tape measure on one edge to measure an armhole, or a sleeve cap. (And then repeating the process a few times because the tape measure slipped.)
If you want to copy RTW garments, it is so easy to whisk this wheel along a curved seam to determine its length.
I have a RTW coat that I want to copy, and this is going to be SO useful!
The following video slide show (from her website) shows how the wheel works. This demo shows the metric version.
This next video shows how to measure an armhole using the imperial version of the measuring wheel (after marking the seam line using her curved ruler):
I also see that she has posted a 20% off coupon on her website. You can purchase these tools via her Etsy store, SA Curve.
I've never met Claire in person, but I feel like I know her through Pattern Review. It's nice to support a fellow sewist!
that wheel is the coolest device I've ever seen! Just like those things the use when they are doing road work, only smaller! Thanks for posting about it!
ReplyDeleteOh. My. Goodness.
ReplyDeleteThat wheel is like, a necessity. OMG!!!!!
I have her first 2 rulers and now I will have to get the rest...so practical for use gals!
ReplyDeleteI have a few of her rulers and the measuring wheel as well, and I get a lot of use out of them. I really like them!
ReplyDeleteI have her first two rulers and I need to get that measuring wheel. Thanks for posting this information.
ReplyDeleteI also use the earlier ruler heaps and the new tools look very enticing! Thanks for the write-up.
ReplyDeleteOh cool! I use an adjustable Clover double wheeled tracing wheel to trace patterns with auto-magic seam allowance so the shapes are no use to me, but the rotary measure looks good. Great for cutting out exact bias binding. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI have Claire's curved ruler. It is fantastic. Am also interested in the rotary measuring wheel.
ReplyDeleteGotta' add the wheel......I do have the 3/8 and 5/8 inch curves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post.
What great ideas she has! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis will go on my Christmas list!
ReplyDeleteSo, so clever. I´ll let Santa know!
ReplyDeleteWow , love all of them!
ReplyDelete