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I have fond memories of my dad “walking” off a room dimension with his feet. That was my first experience with these tricks for measuring without a ruler.

Geri and I love to shop whether it be the hardware store, a furniture store, or the local thrift store. It’s easy to spend hours meandering up and down the isles.  Many times, we spot the perfect item for our home, but we’re not sure if its the right size. These tips will help you.  Use these everyday items to approximate the dimensions, take the measurements home, and find just the right chair for your bedroom.  Don’t forget to carry a small pad of paper with you to write them down.

us-quarter-200x198-1 Quarter: a quarter is about an inch in diameter. But if you roll it on edge in a straight line, it measures 3 inches. (start and end at the same place, like Washington’s nose)
Dollar Bill: U.S. paper money measures 2.5 inches by 6 inches. And a bill is great to wrap around an object to measure.  If the item is smaller that the bill, pinch the dollar to mark the spot.
Credit Card: Besides scraping windsheilds, a credit card is handy for measuring.  Credit cards measure 2 inches by 3.5 inches.  And the magnetic strip on the back is located exactly 1.5 inches from the opposite edge.
Hands and Arms: A “hand” has been used for decades as a measuring unit for horses–approximately 4 inches–which is the width of most palms. Also, use the distance from your pinky to your thumb and “walk” your hand across a surface.

My mother always used to measure fabric by pinching the end with her fingers, outstretching her arm to the side, and pulling the other end of the fabric to her nose.  This is approximately 36 inches, or one yard.

Feet: If you’re a man with a size 10.5 shoe, the shoe measures about a foot long. Woman’s size 8 is about 10 inches. Make sure you step heel-to-toe, count, and you’ve got a measurement.