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Measure & mark

The best measuring and marking tools for 2026

Marking tools are judged on one thing nobody tests in the shop: whether the mark comes out again. We compare chalk, erasable pens, tracing wheels and gauges, and note which fabrics each one stains.

What we recommend

  1. Prym yellow tape measure, 150 cm, with coloured decimetre markings

    Prym Colour Tape Measure 150 cm

    The standard dressmaker's tape, with each decimetre in a different colour so you stop losing your place. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.

    Length
    150 cm
    Marking
    Coloured decimetres
    Amazon reference
    B000P1ASAQ (all six markets)
    • Coloured decimetres remove the commonest reading error
    • 150 cm covers body measurement and most fabric widths
    • Centimetres only — no imperial scale
    Check price on Amazon
  2. Prym Chalk Cartridge Set, product photograph

    Prym Chalk Cartridge Set

    A refillable chalk marker that draws a fine line and brushes off. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.

    Type
    Chalk cartridge holder with refills
    Amazon reference
    B01DYOI5W8 (all six markets)
    • Brushes off with no heat and no water — no risk of setting the mark
    • Fine line, unlike a chalk block
    • Rubs off in your bag before you get to the machine, sometimes too easily

    Best for: Marking darts, hems and buttonhole positions on anything you will not press first

    Check price on Amazon
  3. Prym Metal Seam Gauge, product photograph

    Prym Metal Seam Gauge

    A sliding gauge for repeatable hems and seam allowances. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.

    Material
    Metal
    Dimensions
    14.8 × 7.2 × 2.5 cm
    Amazon reference
    B07C8DR5V3 (all six markets)
    • Metal, so it survives being pressed against a hot iron
    • Set once, measure a hundred times
    • Small — not a substitute for a ruler

    Best for: Turning an even hem, checking seam allowances, spacing buttonholes

    Check price on Amazon