Living in Europe for the last 30 years I never have an occasion to even think about the unit of measurement, we use the metric system and end of story. Actually, that's a slight lie as my bathroom scales are set up  on the stones and ounces option as I think I weigh less like this!!

As most of you will probably know the majority of quilting is done using the Imperial system. This is due to our friends across the pond in the USA being front runners in the quilting game. My first first few months were spent talking and reading about 6 inch this, 8 inch that and all the while I am thinking - how much?! Why don't you just translate it into centimetres then I hear you say? Ah, well that messes you up even more so the general wisdom is you pick one and stick to it.  Easier said than done though and here's just 2 reasons why:

1. My pattern calls for 2.5 yards of material. I go to the fabric shop in Prague , ask them for 2.5 yards and they look at me as if I am a moron. I am, yes they are right, I can have 2 metres, 2.25 metres or 2.5 metres- but which of these is the nearest? Who knows ,so to be on the safe side I buy 3 metres.
2. I need to use my quilting ruler / cutting mat to cut a 10 inch square- ooh look, not an inch to be seen on my European bought ruler.

So whats the solution here?  There is non and you just have to be philosophical about it and pick a side and stick with it.

For me its a no brainer and go Imperial all the way . I throw money at the problem and order more expensive tools from further afield. Fabric I mostly buy locally so it's half metres and metres all the way - I will NEVER run out of fabric, that's  for sure.  You can never have too much fabric right?!