Did that exciting post title get your attention? Well, it’s been consuming my attention for the past several days. As you may know, I am working on a sewing book for Chronicle Books and am actually nearing completion — hurray! Anyway, there’s been some discussion about how/if to include metric conversions. Yes, I apologize for our vastly inferior standard of measurement in the U.S., but we have given it our name and it’s ours. The customary units are quaint and familiar — it would indeed be difficult for me to hand over the yard stick.
Anyway, if you use the metric system and you sew, I need your opinion. If you don’t live in the U.S., Liberia or Myanmar, then I’m talking to you! Do you ever sew from patterns using U.S. measurements? If so, how do you make the conversions? Do you go online, use a tape measure, or actually do math? Have you ever had a pattern come out wrong due to the conversion?
Would you like to see conversions in a U.S. sewing book? Would you mind flipping to the back of the book or do you want the measurements right there on the page? Do you need all the measurements or can you figure some out on your own? My concern is that having too many measurements on the page might make you more likely to misread a number and make a mistake. But of course I don’t want to be a solipsistic American, so let me know what you think.
Pictured above: Linen Measuring Tape Ribbon from Cotton Blue.
hi
well thank you for considering the metric system at least! when you’re quilting you get quite used to the Imperial measurements, even for me who was born quite a while after Australia abandoned them.
Perhaps if you had something at the back of the book, or maybe a little book mark that you could use to mark your place and convert? And probably not every conversion, just the basics. When I buy a pattern that states a Yard of fabric, I just buy a Metre. Then I know I’ll always have enough as a Metre is slightly bigger than a Yard.
thanks
Bree
Whenever I have measurements in inch, I’ll convert to cm/mm on my computer. I’m using a Mac so it’s super handy with the built-in conversion tool on the Dashboard itself. I would prefer to have the measurements right on the page of a pattern instead of flipping to the back for the conversion – this way I wouldn’t be distracted!
P/S: Saw your tweet and thought I could give my thought. I’m writing from Malaysia. 🙂
I’m actually the reverse of who you’ve asked to answer. I’m an American that occassionally uses patterns with metric measurements. Australian Smocking and Embroidery magazine (their website is countrybumpkins.au I think) does an excellent job of using both systems as well as having a very simple chart of common measurement conversions. It might be worth looking into.
I’m in Australia and when a pattern is written in inches, I sew in inches, when it is in centimetres, I sew in centimetres. I have a tape measure with both and cutting tools in both. I just can’t ever seem to get a conversion as close as I would like it. Obviously, I have to buy in metres not yards but I just do the conversion in my head and get near as dammit. Hope this helps.
I’m in Canada, but I use US patterns all the time and have never had a problem. That being said though, I buy most of my (non-online) fabric and notions using the imperial system and then I’m sure to always have more than needed! I think a simple conversion chart in the back could be helpful – I can definitely see how it could be confusing to have them on the same page.
Another Canadian friend…As the previous gals have mentioned it is quite easy for us metrics to convert. Especially since tape measures and quilt mats etc…all seems to be in the inch/yard system. I’ve never had a problem doing conversions if necessary but it would be nice to have a simple table in the back…just in case.
I actually use both systems. If I really need to do a conversion I’ll either look at my tape measure/ruler/cutting mat which has both or will use an online converter. I don’t think I’d use a conversion table if it was in a book to be honest. I guess I am just used to thinking in both systems now 🙂
I grew up leaning and using metric. It took me a while to get used to yard/inches but now I’m okay with both. I usually just use this method. Inches devided by 2.5 = cm OR cm X 2.5= inches Never had a serious prob, and I prefer not to have both in a book. As you mention here it’d be confusing. I would just go with this 2.5 method and use whichever suitable for the project. Usually big item is easier to make by inches and smaller items that needs precise measurement works better with cm.
I had to look up solipsistic …oy! 🙂
I use both. I grew up metric, but if a pattern is non-metric.. I use that. Most of my rulers, tape measures have both, so I just use the other side. So maybe a reference in the back.
Canadian, BTW! 🙂
Chipping in with my 2 cents from Australia.
I think if you put overall fabric purchasing requirements in metric, that would be helpful. Most Rotary Patchwork rulers are still in Imperial measurements, and measuring tapes usually have both, so when it comes to cutting fabrics up, we are pretty used to using your measurements.
If you did decide to put a conversion table in the book, could you put it on an fold in flap on the front or back cover, so you could look at it while looking at any project.
I’m from New Zealand but don’t find it difficult. Most quilting mats, tape measures have both cm and inches for easy conversion. Plus it is easy enough to convert on line… But thanks for the consideration!
Hi, I’m from Holland and to be honest I don’t think I would buy a book if the conversions were’nt on the same page as the pattern. That would be too much fuss, while I should be enjoying myself. Good luck with your book!
I live in Australia, the same goes for me, I grew up with the metric system, I use either/or when I am sewing and just convert when I need to. A conversion chart at the back of the book would be great. Thanks for considering us. Now if we were talking about crochet that would be a whole different thing, the US/rest of the world thing is really confusing.
I also am from Australia and I sew from metric and imperial based patterns.My tape measure (and I am sure most tape measures) have both so it is a non-issue.I have far bigger problems than what is 8″ in cm’s…..like when am I going to use all this fabric?And when is GOOD fabric in Australia going to be less than $25/metre(about US$20/yard) You see???Bigger fish to fry….
I’m in Belgium and I’m metric.
I get really confused by yards and inches but I look it up when needed.
I’m not a sewer but I do measure lots of stuff I need to know. I always have my good IKEA-measuretape at hand because on one side, it measures metric and on one side and the other measurement is on the other side.
I think it’s great! I would not mind looking it up either – it’s more confusing to use both I think. Goodluck with your book! 🙂
oops sorry for my spelling being terrible – I see I messed up an entire sentence – but it’s very early here so I obviously need more coffee! 😉
I prefer craft/sewing books that have both units of measurement. Although as a sewer/quilter I usually work in imperial measurement, it is particularly useful when purchasing fabrics/supplies to have the metric equivalent. Lisa(from Australia)
I was going to say pretty much the same as Bree did (right up at the top there ^).
🙂
Hi! And congratulations on the book!
I’m french and based in Luxembourg so use the metric system. Like Huey, I use the conversion widget on my dashboard, but would prefer to have a second listing of measurements on the same page in the book for less confusion.
I have had a few mistakes due to wrongly converting inches into centimeters, the sewing machine cover I have made is way too big.
Good luck!
I think Bree’s bookmark idea is a wonderful suggestion! It does bother me to have to convert from inches to cm and from cm to inches.
Looking forward to the book Ellen! 🙂
I’m from Switzerland and I work with cm and mm. I would appreciate a conversion table at the End of the book.
I use both systems. I’m in Canada. I don’t bother with converting, I just use whatever system the book, pattern is in.
Thanks for considering us metric users, indeed 🙂 I’m in the Netherlands and I convert everything when I use a pattern with a non-metric system. So I would love it when you would put both ways of measuring in the book, right there with the pattern, because, just like someone else above said, I think I would find it distracting if I had to flip through the book (or use my computer) to converse every measurement. I have to confess it is a factor for me when I decide whether or not to buy a book or pattern. Although, on the other hand, when I want a pattern bad enough I probably would go through the trouble of conversing myself anyway 😉
Very thoughtful of you to consider adding a chart. I already tweeted to you about this but in case you missed it I’m just going to bore you with another account of my metric adventures (and 140 characters is just not enough to tell a proper story…)I’m Dutch (so I’m ‘metric’) and I just use whatever the pattern calls for (often inches) I buy my quilt rulers with inches on and have a tape measure with centimeters on one side and inches on the other. I don’t convert. I think in Amy Karol’s Bend the Rules sewing book both inches and cm measurements are given with the patterns but I didn’t think that was very helpful for me in the end.
I’m in Australia and do all of my sewing using imperial. Like others have said though, giving metric for fabric requirements would be handy.
I’m from Australia, In quilting I use the imperial measurements straight off the rulers and cutting boards. When doing other types of sewing or purchasing fabrics, it would be great to have the conversions at hand. Great to have it included on the page, if that is not too cumbersome.
Another Aussie Metric here and like some of the others all my tools – mat, rulers etc are Imperial – so Ive never had to worry about conversion.
I’m a beginner with sewing and quilting, so the imperial messurements are highly confusing to me. I did indeed had my first tiny project go wrong because of this. After which a friend of mine in the US sent me a tape measure with inches, now i just use that. And an online converter.
I think it would be very cunfusing indeed if you had both measurements on the page/pattern, but i would love both in the what to buy list. The rest is not so hard anymore to figure out.
I live in the UK where we have only changed to metric in the last 30 years or so. Altho stuff bought now is in metric my old sewing stuff is in Imperial. My tape measure has imperial on one side and metric on the other. So long as you stick to one or other throughout a single project its fine. i never have problems with US patterns.
I am in Germany, and I love patterns who have always both numbers, as it saves me work. But I got me a two sided tape measure, so I am happy to follow along inch only patterns. I think that if you go for use both, you have to give all measurements in both units, so if that is too much, go for the inches and maybe have a conversion chart in the back might be the next best thing.
Hi i’m from England and i’d find it handy to have metric measurements in your book (on the page or at the back). Although its pretty simple to convert it would put my mind at rest knowing that i hadn’t made any calculation errors. When i do convert its either with the tape measure or calculator. Thanks for the consideration and looking forward to the new book x
I live in Germany. I know several people who sew. Most say they don’t have access to a US measuring tape, so they either A) give up and are hardcore wishing books/patterns like these would be printed either w/metric or, even better w/metric and in German OR B) they just try to fudge it themselves if they’re confident in their sewing abilities or C) as to borrow one of my US measuring tapes. MOST PEOPLE I know fall into category A.
One thing I have to say (as American living in Germany) is that sewing in metric is SO much easier for me b/c I stink at math and metric is just so ‘even’, none of this fraction business, which has always been so off-putting to my sewing-with-patterns desire. I think I might move beyond home dec projects if more cute clothing were to go the metric route.
Possible solutions to your problem:
– have the book come with a free measuring tape. (I’m not even kidding. Land’s End in Germany sends a cute plastic roll-up Imperial/Metric measuring tape when you request their German catalog so you can do the measurements yourself. I often lend this tape out to German friends who have yet to request a LE catalog, ha.)
-print general conversions in the back for reference, and a highlighted box on the project page of anything especially odd/unique to the particular project.
-print conversions on the project page, but in a highlighted box, as stated above. I think a defined visual element will keep people in the space they need to be in.
I think it’s really cool that you’re considering this issue!! SOO SOOOO SOOOO many international sewing books have really cute ideas, but LAME-O presentation. I find US books and Japanese books to be really great at explaining things in detail. I know a lot of people who would agree with me. (see this post, and esp the one it links to at the top, over at Craftypod: http://www.craftypod.com/2010/01/18/some-high-value-us-craft-books/ )
Also – I think it behooves book companies to be thinking internationally as many living outside of English-speaking countries know enough English to work from a craft book. I’m not even kidding. So even to keep producing in English, but to add metric, will seriously widen the audience.
Looking forward to seeing this project! =)
i said book companies – oh my…. PUBLISHERS is what I meant…wakey wakey… =)
Hi from Metric Australia. I don’t actually convert it usually. I mostly just work in whatever the pattern is in. Because most of the quilting patterns and stuff come from USA I have learnt to think in both quite easily even though I learnt metric only all the way through school. But that’s just me.
I am from the UK and was brought up with metric at school, yet always sew in inches. The throat plate on my machine, as is usual over here, is marked in both metric and imperial, so seam allowances are never a problem. I’m not too bothered about having conversions in a book.
When I follow American patterns I do use inches and my tape measure is labelled with both so it is easy. The only problem is that I think in centimetres and metres and you have to convert before buying supplies.
I was brought up with metric at school (I am 45) but tend to use both systems as my parents still use Imperial- I use both systems interchangably but tend to use cm for smaller measurements (I struggle a bit when working with my dad who works in sixteenths of an inch etc) and feet and yardsfor bigger. My 8 yeat old daughter uses 1lbs etc when cooking -I think the UK is generally a bit of a hybrid and many people are comforatbel with both systems-a conversion chart would be useful but only once.
Hi there! =) I am from Austria and we use the metric system. But for sewing, I always use the original measurements and do not convert them. My sewing machine is marked both with inches and cm, so I am able to adapt quite easily. The only real conversion is the one for the fabric requirements, as the shopping still has to be done in metrics. 😉 So I would appreciate this being given in metric as well as imperial. In the sewing process itself I wouldn’t use converted values.
I’m Italian so I use the metric system and I have to say that understanding yards and inches was really tough at the beginning. Now, I just convert all the measurements before starting to work and write them down on the book near the yards/inches but I sometimes gets confused…. I buy patterns and sewing books even they don’t fgure the metric system. Maybe a table converter could be handy. You just have to get used to it!
Hi from Scotland!
To be honest I just use a ruler/tapemeasure with both cm/inch on…but it is very helpful to have a conversion chart tucked away somewhere as I ‘think’ in metric. I use the internet as I have never bothered to print a table off but then of course i get distracted in blog land! Crochet conversions are the most annoying ones – why on earth are UK and US crochet names different? *sigh*
Anyway, congrats and good luck finishing off the book! I would recommend a small conversion table at the back?
See you soon! Tara
(sewgorgeous)
Im in the UK and I just use the old system of inches & yards when using an American pattern. Im able to flick between the two no problem.
Being from Australia I find it much easier to visualise how long 15 centimetres is as opposed to 15 inches; although both my tape measure and big desk pad thingy have both metric & imperial increments so I just use whichever the pattern I’m working from is using.
I am from Australia – metric system – but a lot of the pattens I use are in imperial, I prefer metric as you can be so much ore precise with millimeters than fractions of inches in my opinion.
I have a great ruler – old school one – it is metal and on the back there is a very comprehensive conversion table which goes from 1/32 – 36 inches with every increment in between all converted, I use this all the time.
I would suggest a book mark style conversion chart that could be used in the book as an actual book mark and have a dual purpose of a conversion table on it. Maybe plastic coated and attached to the book?
Hey,
I’m in England and grew up just after the big switch to metric teaching. Although I think in centimetres and would generally use them for any work I was creating I am able to work in inches – like others have said, it’s just a case of loking at a different part of the tape measure. It would be preferable to have metric measurements on the page as a conversion chart will not add anything to your book but the actual measurements will.
Good Luck!
Kat
Thank you for considering adding metric measurements!
I come from France and I find it difficult to work with inches. No matter how hard I try and no matter how many conversion charts I make myself or how often I go online to find the exact conversion, I find it holds me and my enthusiasm back from actually wanting to work with a pattern that is in inches only.
I would definitely prefer a book that has both measurements and, I don’t think this would be too much in information – I believe it is quite common in Britain, for example – as people can decide which they want to use.
even though there might be “too much” information for some people and it could be misleading, it is still better than wasting time
Perhaps it’s because I don’t sew from patterns a lot, but I prefer to have both types of measurements printed together. I’m more likely to make a mistake when I have to look up a conversion and mark it down myself. And less likely to feel that I could just pick up the book and go. So your final decision could also depend on what level of sewing experience your patterns would require.
I haven’t found it that easy in South Africa to get hold of measuring tools in inches.
Another Canadian! Just advise using a double faced tape measure!!
I use both too -I was taught metric at school, but imperial measurements at home by my grandparents. I think I fare better with inches now though – maybe that’s just from knitting so many American patterns 😀
Thanks for all these wonderful ideas. I really love the idea of a bookmark ruler. I appreciate all of this feedback and I know Chronicle will take it all into consideration and together we can come up with a good solution that works for the whole world! Then we’ll tackle world peace.