Convert Finger (Cloth) (finger) to Barleycorn (barleycorn) instantly.
About these units
Finger (Cloth) (finger)
The cloth finger is a small measurement used in tailoring and weaving, typically about 2.1 cm (0.83 inches). It allowed precise adjustments when cutting and aligning fabric patterns. Merchants and craftsmen relied on the finger as a convenient subdivision of larger units like spans and ells. Its use highlights the practical application of body-based measurements in the textile industry. While no longer standard, the cloth finger provides a window into historical garment production and the role of human-scale units in everyday work.
Barleycorn (barleycorn)
The barleycorn is an English unit, approximately 1/3 inch (8.47 mm), originally based on the length of a grain of barley. It served as a small-scale measure in tailoring, shoe sizing, and other crafts. In particular, the English shoe size system was historically based on barleycorns, with increments in size corresponding to single barleycorn units. This unit exemplifies the anthropometric and agronomic origins of measurement. Even today, the barleycorn's influence persists in the traditional shoe sizing system in the UK and the US, providing continuity with historical practices.