When Your Tailor's Tape Measure is Faulty

[NORE]

So I take two suit pants to a tailor I found on B'way which does good work. I go to the counter man and tell him I need these pants reduced 2" in the waist and these let out an inch. The pants were 41" and 37" respectively. He's like so 39 on this one and 39 on this one?

I'm all WHAT? Have I gotten that fat? And took the one I wanted let out back resolved to lose the weight. Then I get home and remeasured them and sure enough 37".

Turns out his [plastic] tape measure was off. I took the Jerome suit I recently bought in for alterations and brought my tape measure. I explained that since his was plastic it might have shrunk. He was taken aback. When I picked up the suit I brought a brand new tape with me and gave it to them.

Imagine all of the alterations that were janked up because of the faulty measuring tape. It was at least an inch off (short) at the 38" mark.

Any similar experiences?

 

[Ataturk]

I've heard of stretching...but shrinking?

 

[entrero]

Yep, same experience here. My tape has 2 sides, imperial side is ok but the metric side is completly wack. Now the tape is as useful as a rope. Sometimes there's a fineprint on measuring tapes, along the lines: "not suitable for survey".

An accurate measuring tape is essential for a tailor, I would assume a tailor school would teach that no?

 

[entrero]

Originally Posted by Ataturk

I've heard of stretching...but shrinking?

Fat chance that tape was off since day 1. Plastic does not shrink but do stretch, fiberglass core is used to prevent it.

 

[blahman]

If all the measuring and alterations are done by the tailor and if the tape measure is consistently off then it really shouldn't affect his work. Only a problem if customer comes in to the shop just instructing the tailor how much to let out/take in etc.

 

[greger]

There could be another problem. Some newer mens clothes are way off in measurement. Wrong measurements for womens clothes has been happening for decades. Women don't like to admit how fat they have become, so a size 40 is more like 45. Women must be running mens cloths now because they are doing the same nonsense to mens clothes. I think women ought to go back to their own make believe world and leave men alone. If they are unfit for the job, then they should be sent home to mop the kitchen floor and vacuum the living room floor and start baking cookies and pies!

The point is the larger pants were what size?

 

[cbbuff]

My tailor always marks the garments directly with chalk (or whatever that is) or pins......

 

[Nicola]

You put it on. They pin it.

Measuring tape? What's the point.