Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.
Martha wrote:
I love looking through the website. Stumbled on it by chance. I’m looking for some inspiration–remember those yardstick holders from the 70s. I think they were usually made of burlap, decorated with yarn embroidery. Anyone remember them? Or have some guidelines for recreating?
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I found one site with instructions: http://www.sewmuch4retirement.com/projects/yardstick/yardstick.html .
I have a vintage one made of felt with cute sewing related felt cutouts on it. I don’t actually keep a yard stick in it though!
I remember those burlap dust catchers! A number of years back, I made a yardstick holder out of pre-quilted pretty fabric. It was one of those with a different print on each side. Some simple seam binding around the edge in a coordinating color was fast and easy. The hanging loop was also made from that bias seam binding.
It is large enough to hold three or four yard sticks, and it has been in constant use ever since! It even holds one of those rare square yardsticks. (Goodness, I just love the square kind).
When the dust is visible, just throw it in the washer, and it is as good as new! Try doing that with one of those burlap things!
You could make a pieced one, an applique one, embroidered…whatever you can think up!
Please share what you end up making! penny (at) pennysanford (dot) com
Fondly,
Penny
Upholstery shops (and some fab. shops) sell a burlap webbing that is about 3″ wide. Get 2 yards. Fold the wrong sides together with the one end at least 6 inches longer than the other. Top stitch the two sides to make the holder. Hem the extra 6 inches into a point, loop it around a circular ring and stitch closed. Hang by ring, put yardstick in holder. It’s great to use as a craft for young sewers or non-sewers since you can decorate the webbing and even hand stitch (whip, overcast, blanket stitch) the sides. Yarn and burlap are a match made in crafting heaven.
i have one that was handed down from my mom that i use. it is felt with pinked edges and colorful felt flowers all over it. it has a felt loop to hang from the wall.
I made a yardstick holder out of the burlap webbing. I used the webbing for the back and wired ribbon on the front ( they’re both the same width). I sewed them together after heming raw edges and made a hanger of some kind. I want to try those little hangers that can be bought at craft stores and sew one into the top for a hanger. On some I even made a ruler holder on top of the front . This has to be done before sewing the front and back together.