What To Consider When Choosing A Measuring Tape for Sewing

You never want to go into a new tailoring project unprepared. Whether it’s fabric in the right color or the proper thread, the necessary tools are the key to making a successful garment adjustment. However, if there’s anything more crucial than fabric and thread, it’s the core measurements of your client’s figure. After all, without accurate sizes, you won’t be able to craft something that fits them properly, and no fabric or thread in the world can fix incorrect measurements. Here are a few things to consider when choosing measuring tape for sewing and how these factors impact the tape’s effectiveness.

The Type of Tape Measure

One of the primary things to think about when buying a tailor’s tape measure is the model type. From exposed, flexible tape to encased, retractable products, there are several to pick from, and each has its own distinct advantages. Flexible tapes make accounting for an individual’s curves much easier, while retractable tape measures are very effective for conserving storage space as well as yielding accurate and fast results. So, depending on your needs, you may opt for one over the other.

The Product’s Materials

It’s also crucial that you think about the materials that your tailor’s tape consists of. You’ll want a tool that won’t shrink, tear, or stretch as you use it. Otherwise, you risk it warping over time and giving you incorrect measurements. Look for tape measures made with reinforced vinyl-coated fiberglass. These materials won’t break down or stretch, ensuring that you get consistent and accurate results every time.

Extra Features

It’s also important to consider if you’ll need any added features with your tailor’s tape—either things that are a necessity or just make the job easier. For example, will you be taking lots of inseam measurements? If so, you might opt for a tailor’s tape with a “crotch piece” or “crotch card.” A crotch piece will allow you to take inseam measurements without having to extend your hand into uncomfortable or awkward places on the body. Will you be measuring a large population where there might be a number of extra tall or wide subjects? If so, you might opt for a tape with extra length—either a 72”, 80”, or 120” tape, all of which are available in our online store. Will you be taking your own measurements or asking people to take their own measurements? If so, you might want a tape that makes self-measurement easier, like our waist and body tape, which allows for easy and error-free body circumference measurements, or our inseam tape, which provides a simple way to take your own inseam measurements with one hand.

Tape Color and Measurements

Another vital factor to consider when choosing measuring tape for sewing is the color and measurement markings of the product. The background coloring of the tape can greatly influence your ability to see the markings along its surface. This is why the most popular models have maximum contrast—like white on black or black on white. Branding needs may necessitate any range of colors, but you’ll want to take a close look at each tape before you buy it to see whether you can read the measurements clearly. If not, look for something with greater contrast. You’ll also want to consider if you need inch/imperial markings only, or whether you need metric measurements as well. Are you prone to making measurement errors or will you be asking customers who are unfamiliar with body measurements to take their own measurements? You might love our newest tailor’s tape—the TR16 Fractional Tape. It spells out the inch fractions clearly and easily so that the user doesn’t need to count tick marks to arrive at the correct measurement—it’s written out clearly on the tape.

Overall Product Quality

Above all, though, you want a product made with quality in mind. Cheaply made tailor’s tape measures can degrade over time, causing key markings to fade and the tape itself to lose its shape. As such, finding a manufacturer devoted to creating a quality product is vital. When you buy from these professionals, your product won’t fray, and the markings will last for as long as you need.

Perfect Measuring Tape has the widest assortment of professional tailor measuring tapes in the industry. We want to ensure that every seamstress and tailor has access to the quality tools they need to yield the best possible results for their clients. As such, we’re always looking for innovative ways to make taking measurements easy, fast, and most importantly, accurate.