Quilting spacing
 

When my wool batting says quilt 3" apart, how do I measure the three inches?

Look at a ruler and fix in your mind how big 3 inches are. Then when you quilt, keep that distance in mind and quilt about that far apart.

If I hold my hand palm side down, fingers together, it's about 3" wide across my fingers at the first knuckle.

My 4 fingers on one hand are just about 3" so that it the gage I use to measure that distance when quilting. For me it is closer quilting that get to be difficult to keep spaced right.

My index finger is 3” long. Perfect ruler!

Genden .... ITA with the others.
Find your "body" measurement, that works for you, so you don't need a ruler!

I'm also thinking you may be asking about the other "how to" for quilting distances .....
The 3" requirement is in all directions ...... left-right-up-down

IOW, it is not a 3" channel across the width of a quilt, but quilting is needed within that channel.

Thank you everyone. QuiltE answered exactly what I need to know.

However, remember that the recommendation on the batting package is the distance it must be quilting to prevent the batting from bunching when washed or drooping when hanging. It is not a design recommendation.

I mostly do FMQ in a large stipple or meander. All the stitches are less than 3". When I do straight line quilting I guess at it.

Happy to have helped you.