According to The Book of Alternative Records, Ing. Arnulf Bietsch from Bolsterlang, Germany holds the current world record for a yardstick collection. He has collected more than 30,000 different yardsticks which he stores in a special room with air conditioning.
I keep a yardstick near my knitting spot. I like to use it or a 12-inch ruler to measure knitted fabric. I find it easier and more accurate than a retractable tape measure for measuring small items; measuring floppy fabric with a floppy tape measure can be cumbersome for me. And I always have a yardstick handy for blocking.
For anything over 36 inches a tape measure is best, of course. But, I've even found a way around that for measuring scarves: A good length for a scarf is 60 inches which happens to be the exact length of my dining room table. When the scarf reaches end-to-end, I know it's long enough.
Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people--your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way. ~Barbara Bush
Thank you for sharing your insight on yardsticks, I am fairly new to blocking and what you said makes sense to me, so I will have to seek one out. Your posts have increased in their reflective qualities. It appears that the get aways to your RV is proving beneficial to your writing and I am sure in other aspects of your life.
ReplyDeleteA yardstick would be much easier to use for measuring sweaters. I haven't had one in years...gave up sewing, gave up yardsticks. Silly me!
ReplyDeleteI smiled when I saw your yardsticks b/c they reminded me of an old Disney movie where the cat told the boy "inch by inch life's a cinch, yard by yard it's very hard" ... except when it comes to blocking! Thank you for the reminder from dear Barbara :)
ReplyDeleteI keep a ruler handy for following patterns, too, especially when I am tech editing. It keeps my eyes from wandering ahead and missing something.
ReplyDeleteThere are not so fond memories of rulers, too. I recall teachers that used them for things other than measuring.... not that they would get away with that these days!!
Those are very good tips! Where would I find a yardstick to purchase?
ReplyDeleteI've never blocked any knitted items; don't know how. So I'm intrigued how you use a yardstick for blocking.
ReplyDeleteI use a regular ruler or my little thingy that measures knitting needles for size. It also has 'inch' measuremnts, but it only goes up to 4".
Hi there...count me in on yardsticks. I much prefer them over tape measures. I do think they are more accurate. I especially like your red one.
ReplyDeleteSadly, businesses don't give free yardsticks anymore. I have two yardsticks and a meter stick, so I must have a collection, too. I wish I had a red yardstick: it probably wouldn't get lost or misplaced as much as mine do.
ReplyDeleteI love the pink/red one!
ReplyDeletegreat Y post.
ReplyDeleteI think that I am bombing out of the ABC along, as absolutely nothing is coming to mind for a Y.
Love your 'collection'. It made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked yardsticks. Is that weird? I had probably 5 or 6 but who knows what's happened to them. They were probably all taken out to the garage at some point.
ReplyDeleteEvery knitter needs a yard stick.
ReplyDeleteLove the quote from Barbara Bush.
ReplyDeleteI learned something new today. Now I have to find out how long my kitchen table is. That could come in handy :)
ReplyDeleteI like your Y post :) I don't know how many yardsticks we have! I wonder if I still have that yardstick from our first Christmas tree.
ReplyDeleteI also prefer to use a stiff edge for measuring knitting, although I tend grab quilting rulers, a yardstick would be good for a large project. Hmm.. not sure how long and wide my table is. I should find out.