mrs. fitz

There was a five-and-ten (remember them?) that had a surprisingly good fabric department and that's what they used. To a child it was a fascinating thing.

catmcclure

Back in the early 70's the Woolworth store in Houston sold fabric - had one of these machines too.

quiltmom04

I think they stopped using them when knit fabrics became so popular. You couldn't get an accurate measument on those things with a knit because it would pull through the machine. I used to manage a Joann fabrics and we had those measure graph machines and they took them out at one point because of the new knit fabrics.

Friday1961

I still measure like that -- end of nose to length of arm -- for a quick take on how much fabric I have or need.

BizyStitches

Yes, I remember them and I've been to a quilt shop in Oakley Kansas that still uses it.

psailer

nope sorry dont remember them..but i did take a look .... i worked in a fabric department and TG&Y do you remember those stores... well anyway that was before i was sewing so what a waste i could have gotten lots of fabrics.. we marked them down all the time and i got a 20% discount but those days are gone...lol...

diamondee

I visit this little place up here, the fabric barn, its a shed really and the Lady there uses one to measure and cut. it puts a little cut in the fabric so you could rip it straight.

Stitchit123

I remember them and JoAnn should go back to using them. My last trip they shorted me out of a yd in 3 cuts of fabrics and they would not make it right.

sewmorethings

Hate to admit it but yes i do remember them, i think they should still be using them, they were more accurate than some of the people measuring fabrics today

patdesign

Yea I remember those machines, only I remember them from when department stores used to sell fabric. They had a brown crinkle finish, and the clerk would sometimes move the fabric back and forth to gett on point before she pushed the lever down which clipped the fabric, THEN they TORE it!!!!!