Textile Measurements Across Countries and Tape Measures

A recent conversation prompted me to share this reminder, applicable to textile enthusiasts, weavers, and other artists – as well as in general!

  • The USA is one of only few countries* in the world that uses the Imperial system of measurement – that is, inches, feet, yards, and miles instead of centimeters, meters, and kilometers.
  • When you’re talking with or writing artists outside the US, consider giving your measurements in centimeters (cm).
  • Buy a metric tape measure, or use an online converter or your gizmo’s calculator to convert inches to centimeters.
  • Remember not all tape measures are created equal! I’ve bought some that have incorrect measurement markings. Others can stretch over time. Tape measures with Metric measurements on one side and Imperial measurements on the other side can be incorrect on one or both sides.
  • The tape measure you use may differ slightly from the one the artist uses. Especially for large textiles or artworks, the measurements you make and the artist makes may differ if you are using different or inaccurate tape measures.
  • Leave some leeway! This is especially true for textiles, which can stretch and shrink with weather and other conditions.

*The other countries are Liberia and Myanmar. The UK uses a mix of Imperial and Metric.

© Kelly Manjula Koza unless otherwise noted.