Women have always (?) measured yardage in bolts of cloth by holding the panel out as far their arm could reach and touching the nose at the other end.

(Man! There must be a better way to express that.)

Let's see. Instruction: Take the corner tip of the cloth between your fingers and hold it away from you as far as you can reach. With your other hand bring the length of cloth to the tip of your nose. That is a yard.

(Aw. It's too early.)