What Jules Is Wearing | Hippolyta

Why You Need A Sewing Gauge In Your Sewing Kit.

What's My Favourite Item In My Sewing Box? My Sewing Gauge!

I have had my sewing gauge for quite some time now. In fact I can’t actually remember purchasing it or even when it came to live in my sewing box it's been around for so long. But I wouldn't be without it now.

I always have it within reach, next to my machine or over on the ironing board. Tape measures are great particularly when worn as a skinny fashion accessory around your neck but a proper metal sewing gauge is just that bit easier to pick up and use. Especially when it has that lovely little red slider that will remember how deep your hem is even if you forget. 

But this is also a Multi tool! Measuring is only one of its many uses. I love the point at the end which is perfect for using as a point turner and pushing out little corners. It is pointy enough but with a rounded tip so it won’t poke through your fabric.  

The funny horseshoe shape at the other end is actually a button shank spacer. Yes, who knew that was even a thing! There are two of them so you can use it ‘double height’ or slide one out of the way if you have a smaller button to sew on. Laying the button over the top of the horseshoe and sewing through the gap will lift the button off the fabric slightly. So you can wind the sewing thread around the thread shank to allow the opposite side of  the garment to sit nice and flat underneath the button when it's buttoned up. How fabulous is that!

You can even use this wonderful invention to draw circles just like a pair of compasses. The outer corners of the little red slider have a hole in them so you can pop a pin through that to hold it in place at the centre of your soon to be drawn circle. Just under the point of the sewing gauge there is another slightly larger hole, you can put your marker through this hole to draw out the circle ready for cutting out. 

You really do need one of these in your sewing kit and make more use of it. 

Happy sewing,

Jules x

Do you have a sewing gauge in your kit? No? No problem! You can buy one here.

 

Don't forget to share the makes you've made using your sewing gauge by tagging us on Instagram @sewmesomething and using the hashtag #smspatterns.