bigbanger said:
Here's what I do: I lay the yardstick across my machine's tool tray, then I hold one end of the string in my left hand and align that end with the left side of the yardstick. I then slide my right hand along the string until the string is parallel to the stick and my right hand is at the right end of the yardstick. So now my hands are exactly 3' apart. I then pass the string from my right hand to my left hand (so my left hand is holding the string exactly where my right hand did) and repeat the process. Using this technique, it only takes a couple of seconds to measure off the string I need. I then cut the string where my right hand ends up. Obviously, when the remaining string I need is less than 3', I'll position my right hand only as far down the yardstick as necessary. This is a lot easier than this description probably sounds
Okay, BigBanger, that is officially the most detailed and complex explanation that I have ever heard for what you are actually doing!!!

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were an engineer who still buys vinyl discs, cuz they have better depth of sound stage than CD's. (sorry folks, inside joke).
When I stretch my arms out to the sides and hold the string between my thumb and forefinger of each hand, the length of string measures 5 feet. That's what I use to quickly measure the string. For smaller lengths, I estimate (e.g. one or two feet) after I measured in five foot increments as above. Works like a charm. My Aria also has tape measure markings on the front side, but I don't really use that.