Rethinking One of the Most-Used Tools in Your Project Bag

We knitters love our notions. As I looked through the “Goods” section of the Spring 2026 issue of Farm & Fiber Knits, the plastic-free tape measure by Cocoknits caught my eye. So I ordered one to try for myself.

I was a bit surprised by just how much I like this notion. Sure, it’s “just” a tape measure, but I found it to be absolutely delightful.

Once it arrived and I had spent some time with it, I wanted to know more about the plant-based material it’s made of. I also wanted to learn more about the company behind it, so I reached out to the vice president of Cocoknits, Jessica Culligan, to get the scoop on this thoughtfully designed tool in their knitting notions lineup.

The Story Behind the Design

As with all items that founder Julie Weisenberger designs, the pebble-inspired tape measure was intended to honor the beautiful simplicity of nature while supporting its renewability. While Julie (and Cocoknits) has always been concerned with sustainability, in 2018 the company took a stronger stance by announcing their Sustainability Commitment, dedicated to utilizing sustainable, eco-friendly materials in both products and packaging. As such, new products and more eco-friendly updates are introduced only as needed.

Julie based her design of the pebble tape measure on her favorite tape measure, a similarly shaped version cased in satiny wood that was no longer in production, thus providing an opportunity to recreate a renewable and better-performing tape measure to complement the other earth-friendly notions in the Cocoknits line. In fact, most of their products, including knitting notions, are recyclable and biodegradable, and all packaging is now recyclable or reusable.

The eco-friendly PLA pebble tape measure is modeled on Julie’s favorite (but now unavailable) wood-cased tape measure.

What Makes It Unique

The pebble tape measure is made from moldable PLA material, or Polylactic Acid, which is a biodegradable fermented plant starch made from the waste of plants like beets, corn, or sugar cane. PLA is a favorite non-petroleum (non-plastic) material for Julie’s designs as it’s affordable, durable, smooth, and can be injection molded and 3D-printed in an array of colors, from white, yellow, and gray, to clay, aqua, and rose. And these colors are what give away the fact that the tape measure is not, in fact, an actual pebble stone found in nature. This PLA has made it possible to avoid the use of traditional petroleum plastics, which has become the hallmark of the company’s continued sustainability efforts.

Per this commitment, the pebble tape measure is also made without the use of glues. The two molded outer pieces snap together around the spring-loaded coil of a non-locking metal measuring tape, thereby avoiding the need for unnecessary small parts that tend to break. There is, however, a metal tab to keep the tape from getting lost inside the housing unit.

Putting It to the Test

The nearly flat, stone-like shape and smooth exterior of the Cocoknits tape measure feels nice to hold, much like a water-smoothed stone that you can’t help turning over and over in your hand. The straight edge nestles against the underside of my closed fingers in a natural but firm grip, and I couldn’t help but hold it like one would a fidget toy.

Deborah likens the feel of the tape measure to a smooth, weathered stone. Photo by Deborah Held

Since the pebble tape measure was designed with as few unnecessary small parts as possible for added lifespan and eco considerations, it does not retract with the push of a button like some tape measures. Instead, you pull the tape out and hold it with both hands to measure, and it automatically winds itself back inside the pebble when you let the tape go. The hardiness of the inner metal tape is visible to the eye and to the touch, yet the tape is still flexible. I found its recoil to be strong, even after pulling it out fully to its whopping 79 inches—19 inches more than most—multiple times.

How Does It Measure Up?

I compared the accuracy of the marks to my favorite cloth tape measures and my other (plastic) knitting tape measures, and to a yardstick as well. While narrower than most to account for the pebble-like size, the metal tape has numbers that are easy to read and are accurately spaced, both in imperial and metric ranges.

Deborah tested the metal measuring tape against several tape measures and a yardstick and found the marks to be accurate.

I love the smoothness and how it feels in my hand, its thoughtfully designed shape that’s perfect to grip, and the overall size of the unit. Plus, I’m impressed with the quality and accuracy of the tape measure itself. I plan to order one of each color to disperse amongst my project bags and keep a couple in my living room—they’re sure to be as handy for measuring the length of a cuff as they are for measuring the dimensions of the next package I need to ship!

Note: The PLA manufactured for Cocoknits is not water soluble, which means their products can get wet without disintegrating, and is biodegradable only in a commercially controlled setting with proper temperatures and appropriate microorganisms.

Learn more about Cocoknits‘ Sustainability Commitment and view their eco-friendly product line at cocoknits.com.