antique-style tape measure growth chart

Antique-style tape measure fabric for sale here and here!




Basic instructions: leaving selvedges intact and a 1/2-inch seam allowance along each side, cut out the two panels that will make up your tape measure.

Press selvedge edge under on one end (near the 3.5 foot mark) with a hot iron. All white fabric should be hidden.
Overlap the two ends to make a nice join at the 3.5 foot mark. Carefully unfold and pin the pressed edge and stitch.




Press down seam, and trim to 1/2 inch.

Press down long edges (hiding all white fabric) and stitch along the length with tan or white thread.








Press short edge under at the zero foot mark and stitch.






Cut vinyl for tape measure ends. Top piece (near the 7 foot mark) should be the same width as the prepared tape measure's width, and long enough to cover all selvedge on the front, and a little more than that on the back. Bottom piece of vinyl (near the 0 foot mark) should cover no more than an inch on the front and back. Round corners slightly.




Cut Heat n' Bond to fit the backside of vinyl exactly and follow package instructions to adhere to vinyl.




Peel off backing paper when cool.




Using your fingers only (no iron!) crease the vinyl at the point where it will cover the end of your tape measure.




Put it on the end of your fabric and get ready to iron it into place.




Follow package instructions to adhere vinyl to your fabric, using the old backing paper or a cloth to cover the vinyl.




When cool, use a grommet setter to apply a large grommet to the top (near the 7 foot mark).




And there you have it!




(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)


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