I couldn't find the metric equivalent to a yard stick anywhere in Poland. I looked at fabric shops, building supply stores and on our local auction site which basically carries everything you can think of that is available in Poland. The only thing I could find was folded. I wanted a long straight edge!

This is what I was thinking:

Nothing. I could find nothing. Nada. Nic.

I had seen that our local fabric lady had a half meter stick. I just assumed they were available to buy. She told my sister and me back in July if you had a fabric shop, you had to have your half meter stick basically "approved" by the government and put a metal piece on the ends, so that it didn't wear down and short the customers in days gone by. But...that was the fabric shop lady. I just wanted one in my own home so that I could have a nice simple straight edge longer than a piece of paper or a notebook.

Finally, I thought to ask my local friendly notions store, and they told me I needed to have a carpenter make one. They sold me 2 different styles of glue backed meter tapes that could be applied to a piece of wood.

I came home and asked my husband to make me one. He, the man with "golden hands" (as the Polish people say), was able to make me two for Christmas - in spite of being sick. I am so thankful for these...now I can mark quilts much more easily.

A close up of the two types of paper tapes available at our local store.

As in everything Poland, I like to word it like this: I've not seen it--not "It's not available." Many things are available as specialty items if you only know the right place to look.

In search of a meter stick!