Measuring Up Is Easy

While I’m having a blast sewing a new dress, I thought I’d share a little sewing trick I used on a couple of projects back in July. I prefer to use snaps on garden furniture cushions, camper cushions or anything that requires frequent laundering.

The Hawaiian Shirt pillows and Diva Pillow insert, both had snap closures. Snaps lay flatter than a button, and so are more comfortable.  This trick doesn’t require any measuring and will ensure  your snaps are perfectly spaced. A finishing carpenter will use this same trick to install shelving, they call it a jig or cheat.

• Cut a paper template the exact length of your facing (where the snaps are being installed)
• Now fold the paper template in half, crease well
• Fold that in half again, crease well
• Fold that in half again, crease well
• Again, Fold that in half and crease well
• Your paper template now looks like a little accordion

• Now, fold the entire paper accordion in half , crease well.
• Ready to unfold.  Your paper template will have 7  evenly spaced creases with 1 long crease down the middle of  its entire length
• Mark an ‘X’ at each intersecting crease

• Make a hole punch exactly over that ‘X’
• Iron your paper template flat and pin in place
• Using your fabric marker make an X thru each hole, directly on your fabric
• You’re now ready to install your snaps or buttons

This little trick is fast and easy, without doing any math. With a simple hole punch and paper bag, your snaps are perfectly placed leaving your pillow projects neat as a pin and picture perfect. Measuring up is that easy.