The Dart Gauge

I was making a bunch of microwave bowl cozies and figured there has to be something I could come up with to make cutting the corner darts faster. Having to cut 8 corners for each cozy became tiresome so I created this thing. I find it so much easier and I figured maybe it can help someone else out there too.  It is an easy print, it prints with the 1" side down with the whole thing pointing up.  There is one for the left and right corners so you need to print one of each. The measurements for the dart are 2" x 1" as that seemed to be the common size for a starting fabric size of 10" x 10". I've used it for smaller and larger bow cozies as well and I'm sure there is also something else besides bowl cozies that it could work for. 

(see photos for reference) Once you've folded your fabric/batting sandwich in half, you slide the inner core between your fabric sides. This keeps the fabric and batting pulled up correctly so the trim is uniform. Once the corner gauge is nestled in there, you can flip over the whole thing so the solid side is face up. With the gauge sitting flush against your fabric at the fold and side, you will cut along the edge with some scissors (you can also hold the gauge while cutting, it is easy to hold without endangering your fingers). And there you go, you have some quick darts to then sew up.