The whole nine yards

[jimsumner]

I always heard it had something to do with the amount of cloth needed to make a dress.

Knowing absolutely nothing about how to make a dress, I could care less.

[sagegrouse]

I always heard it had something to do with the amount of cloth needed to make a dress.

Knowing absolutely nothing about how to make a dress, I could care less.

Jim -- Nine yards is 27 sq. ft. I believe the dress would need to be subcontracted to Omar the Tentmaker.

sagegrouse

[BD80]

Jim -- Nine yards is 27 sq. ft. I believe the dress would need to be subcontracted to Omar the Tentmaker.

sagegrouse

Wouldn't 9 yd² = 81 ft² ?

[sagegrouse]

Wouldn't 9 yd² = 81 ft² ?

Yup. It makes my case even stronger.

I would offer to turn in my Duke math degree, but I am afraid it owuld be accepted.

sagegrouse

[bjornolf]

Maybe it's a wedding dress? Have you seen the trains and veils on some of those suckers in the good old days? Wow.

[rsvman]

I had heard the same explanation as offerred by Jim Sumner about dress-making. Maybe it was specifically with regard to bridal gowns?

[camion]

A dress or skirt could cover a lot, or not.

Nine yards? Very possible.
99.jpg

Not so much.
885.jpg

[budwom]

Camion, of all people, must know this is a truck-based reference!

[camion]

Camion, of all people, must know this is a truck-based reference!

Well, maybe.

But pictures of trucks aren't usually as interesting.

[sagegrouse]

I had heard the same explanation as offerred by Jim Sumner about dress-making. Maybe it was specifically with regard to bridal gowns?

I dunno guys, but the "little black dress" uses less than a sq. yard of cloth, unless it is more than one or two layers.

Having already disgraced myself once on math, let me try again. If a dress goes, at most, from the shoulder to the floor and the wearer is 5-6, then one dimension is about 4-6. If the wearer is, at most 36 inches around (I can tell I'm getting in trouble), then one "wrap" or layer is 1.5 sq. yards (54 x 36 inches divided by 36 squared). To use up 9 sq. yards, there would have to be six layers. Seem like a lot, but I doubt that I dig more deeply into dressmaking to see if it's reasonable.

-- sagegrouse

[OldPhiKap]

I dunno guys, but the "little black dress" uses less than a sq. yard of cloth, unless it is more than one or two layers.

Having already disgraced myself once on math, let me try again. If a dress goes, at most, from the shoulder to the floor and the wearer is 5-6, then one dimension is about 4-6. If the wearer is, at most 36 inches around (I can tell I'm getting in trouble), then one "wrap" or layer is 1.5 sq. yards (54 x 36 inches divided by 36 squared). To use up 9 sq. yards, there would have to be six layers. Seem like a lot, but I doubt that I dig more deeply into dressmaking to see if it's reasonable.

-- sagegrouse

Camion, I am counting on you for a pictorial response.

In the name of linguistics, of course.

[camion]

Sage - Refer to picture 1 in my previous post. I'd estimate the radius of the skirt at 4.5 feet. Assuming a circle of fabric that gets you close to 9 yards even without layering or the top "half". Picture number 2 is pretty close to your estimate. Even though it isn't black it's little and a dress.

OPK - a link
Pick an exhibit you think appropriate.

Now maybe we should stagger back toward the original topic.

[bjornolf]

I dunno guys, but the "little black dress" uses less than a sq. yard of cloth, unless it is more than one or two layers.

Having already disgraced myself once on math, let me try again. If a dress goes, at most, from the shoulder to the floor and the wearer is 5-6, then one dimension is about 4-6. If the wearer is, at most 36 inches around (I can tell I'm getting in trouble), then one "wrap" or layer is 1.5 sq. yards (54 x 36 inches divided by 36 squared). To use up 9 sq. yards, there would have to be six layers. Seem like a lot, but I doubt that I dig more deeply into dressmaking to see if it's reasonable.

-- sagegrouse

Like I said, have you seen the trains on some of those old wedding gowns?