I went to a fabric shop in Elkader Iowa Saturday and bought some fabric. When they measured it, they used a measuring device that I haven't seen in a LOT of years. You just pull the fabric thru it and it tells you how much fabric there is! :lol: I remember them from my childhood at the Ben Franklin store

I remember them also and not just at BF. It looked so much easier that the way that some of them do it now.

About a month ago I purchased batting at JoAnns and that is what they used! I too was amazed. It really is a great idea reborn.

At least this way you get a true measurement. I still like to buy fabric at the LQS, they give a little extra, but only charge for what you asked for. It sure does make up for some of the non-straight cutting.

I would love to find one of those gadgets! I remember they cut a slice in the fabric to tear it too.

I remember too but can't remember where.
Yesterday I was at Joann's and the sweetest little lady waited on me. SHOCK! lol
I'm going to look for her next time :D

LOL, I had to help the kid in Walmart measure my fabric last night. I pulled him out of electronics, and he didnt have a clue what to do! He needed one of those!

I remember that tool from Ben Franklin's too.

It even snipped it to be cut or ripped.

hmmm,i've seen that done with decorator fabrics.

I think that is great, as long as they measure from the top to the bottom. I get so frustrated at JoAnns because they don't use the groove to cut, or a ruler, so the top is rarely the same as the bottom. I have had some off as much as two inches. JoAnns rarely gives me a full yard. I guess they have a strict policy about not giving even an inch more.

Yesterday I went to my LQS and spent A LOT. I wanted to support them, even though I found the fabric for less on-line. Anyway, their markings on their board automatically give an extra inch, so I am sure I am always getting what I need. I am going to be a busy bee today, cleaning and then SEWING, since I have all this wonderful new fabric to use.

I used to work at the Singer store in the Park City Mall, Lancaster, PA, and that is how we used to measure the fabric. It was fast and accurate. I also remember that we had shelves in the back full of trade in featherweights. Wonder what happened to them?

I remember them as well....I'd forgotten about it. I'd love to find one of those cutters...now there is something worth gold!


Blessings,
Ruth

I remember that gadget too from when I was a little girl. Our local JCPenney sold fabric and used one of those measuring devices. It even made a little snip where the saleslady would then cut or tear.

Oh Goodness...Brings back memories. The JC Pennys has the fabric in the basement and I remember being so excited when Mom needed fabric because I loved watching the lady pull the fabric through that thing and I always wanted to see the "clock" looking measuring part. Fun childhood memories.

I think my Dad has one of those, or at least did at one time. He got it when our little hometown store closed. I often wondered why the fabric stores quit using them.

That's a memory I had totally forgotten! My mother used to take us to the fabric store and that's the way they measured it. Too cool that someone out there is still using it - or it is coming back!

Funny I don't remember that. I was busy looking at more fabric. LOL I do remember them ripping. Ripping gives you a straight edge. I use ripping when readying my fabric for backing.

It looked like this

I remember these too :D
Glad to know some are still using them, or bringing them back 8-)8-)8-)

Yep, that's it. The salesclerk would draw the fabric through the machine until it came to the yardage you wanted, then she would push down on the lever to make the little snip.

I remember when I worked at Woolco and I would help out in the fabric dept. using those. You wonder why they don't use them anymore. It was a very fast way to get the fabric cut and measured.

Our Joann's uses it in the home dec department. It is pretty slick!

You are bringing back memories for me. I remember them from when I first learned to sew.

I worked in the fabric dept. at Penney's when I was in high school. I have not thought about those measuring things for over 30 years! Thanks for the memory.

OMG, I feel so old now, I remember those!

Oh, I remember JC Penneys fabric store and the machine, too!! Isn't it funny what we forget until someone brings it up? Terrific memories!

woolworth's,jupiter's,higbee's zayre's, all used them!

That looks even more updated than the one I remember using in college at "Mailmans" dept. store!

Exactly what I was going to say. They never cut the fabric but tore it from the little cut made by the machine.
I think that maybe some of us are showing our age here. lol

I remember that item as well. It was the best thing and not only did it give you the little cut to Tear the fabric, the tear was much straighter than most cuts.

Yes, I bought batting at Joann's awhile ago and they used that machine too. However, the next time I bought it they didn't use it and I'm not sure if it was still there. I usually buy 10 yards at a time with my 40% off coupon.

Oh boy does that bring back memories!

Brings back memories! - I remember the measuring gadget. As I remember they seemed to measure correctly.

I used one at the T. G. & Y. I worked at in HS. After snipping, we would straighten out on the table for cutting, or some ladies preferred the ripping.

Beaware, it only comes out of the machine as straight and true as it comes off the bolt from the maunfactureres.

When we measured eeons ago, we were instructed to add an inch to inch and a half more before pulling through the machine. I alway's wondered who paid for this extra measurement of fabric especially if you had 10 women buy from the same bolt. That was an extra almost foot of fabric the store was giving away. Made me wonder...

Oh do I remember those! That was the only way they measured fabric back in those days. I haven't seen those in ages............thanks for the memory!

Oh my, at the memories being stirred up......T G &Y, Ben Franklin's, J C Penny....I can remember when they sold fabric and more.

Isn't it odd---my local Joann's has had one of these for as long as I can remember.

No,they are not accurate!! When I was manager of a JoAnn store in 1973 these were installed, as well as the timed locks on the doors. Neither one of these items were accurate.
I was always in the store by seven but didn't open until nine. I would unlock and then relock the door. Being sometimes forgetful I wouldn't set the lock until 10 or later. The home office looked into this, I told them the reason, a few months later these locks were removed from all stores. Big money saver! Back to the fabric... Satin-type fabric would slide through too quickly and wools too slowly, therefore you could make out like a bandit or get cheated. Granted it did work on some fabrics.

I bought some yesterday at my LQS and she measured the fabric then adjusted both sides by an inch because it wasn't previously cut straight. I thought that she deserved a special thank you, so I asked her if there was a notion that she was particularly interested in, and she said that she was going to get herself, and she pointed to a ruler. Because she was so thoughtful to straighten out the "fabric" this way for me (and I purchased 6 different fabrics, she did this for all of them), I got her this ruler at checkout and had the cashier put her name on it.

I think those that are considerate and thoughtful need to be rewarded. Too many times they are not.

I wanted to thank her.

Haven't seen one of those in a lot of years :-D