A sewing gauge – also going by the name of seam gauge or hem gauge – is a nifty gadget that everyone who sews should have in their sewing toolkit!
It’s also used by other crafters because the tool is THAT good at what it does.
But what is a sewing gauge and how do you use one?
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What Is A Sewing Gauge?
First things first – what is a sewing gauge?
A sewing gauge is a narrow measuring tool, usually made from metal, with measurements down both longer edges.
It is has many useful purposes for people who sew, but also other crafters, like knitters and weavers too.
Do You Need A Sewing Gauge?
In my opinion yes! A sewing gauge will help you measure many things with accuracy, from button sizes to hem depths and many more!
Where To Buy A Sewing Gauge?
You can pick up a sewing gauge in most craft shops and online as well. The one that I use is a simple one I’ve had for years, which I grabbed from Amazon.
They no longer seem to sell it (that’s how old mine is) but the Dritz sewing gauge is identical or there’s this Fiskars measuring gauge which will also help you turn corners through nice and sharp too.
7 Ways To Use A Sewing Gauge
So, how do you use a sewing gauge? Here are the many ways that I put mine to good use!
1. Measuring Button Diameters
While I do have a handy printable button size chart, the first thing I grab when I want to know the size of the button I have in my hand is the sewing gauge. And that’s because I can very easily measure both shanked and flat buttons with it.
2. Measuring Button Placement
As well as being great for measuring the diameters of buttons, a gauge will also help your button placement to be more accurate – after all, no one wants to have wonky or uneven button spacing right?
If you do find that the sewing gauge is a little too small and fiddly, then you can give this expanding sewing gauge a go – it’ll help you line up all buttonholes in one go!
3. Measuring Hems
The sewing gauge is also a fab tool for measuring hems before turning, pressing and sewing!
Whether it’s a shirt hem needing a simple double fold or a tailored jacket with a 4cm hem allowance, a seam gauge will help you get that hem folded and pressed way more accurately than a simple measuring tape.
4. Measuring Pleats
We like our pleats to be as evenly spaced as out buttons, and this is the fourth way that I use my measuring gauge. Whatever the type of pleat I’m measuring, the gauge will help me get those pleat depths just right.
5. Measuring Seam Allowances
I’ve mentioned how I use this sewing tool to measure the depths of my hems, but I also use it for fiddly seam allowances, like the 5mm I use on my collars but also when sewing flat felled seams and I need the fabric pieces to have two different seam allowance amounts.
6. Measuring Tucks
It also works as well for tucks as it does for pleats! With tucks generally be significantly ‘narrower’ than pleats, using a seam gauge giver me much more accurate measurements and tuck placement than a tape measure, which can be quite fiddly to work with due to its flexibility.
7. Measuring Waistbands
The final way that I use a measuring gauge is when measuring my waistbands. Because mine has a maximum length of 6″ / 15cm, I am able to use it for almost any waistband that I want to create.
How Do You Use A Sewing Gauge?
I hope that I have inspired you to get your own measuring gauge and put it to good use in similar ways.
If you already have one, are there any other sewing tasks you use it for that I have missed off my list? Let me know in the comments below!
Why not check out my other sewing tool guide? You can learn what a tracing wheel is and how to use it, different French curve rulers and the best fabric marking tools used in sewing too!