Taking accurate body measurements is one of the most important skills you need to start sewing. Whether you are an experienced seamstress or just starting out, knowing how to measure correctly is crucial to the outcome of your project. For this task, you will need a tape measure, a pen, and a notebook to write down the measurements, and of course, the body to measure.
Now take out your tape measure and take the following measurements.
Shoulder: Measure from one shoulder end to the other.
Bust: Measure around the fullest part of the bust, ensuring the tape is level and not too tight.
Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your bust.
Extend the tape across your back, ensuring it’s level and firm.
Slip one finger underneath the tape to allow for ease.
Underbust: Measure directly under the bust.
Waist: Measure around the narrowest part of the waist or do the bend test.
Bend to the side to find your natural waist crease.
Wrap the tape measure around your body at this crease.
Place one finger under the tape measure for ease.
Hip: Measure around the widest part of the hips.
Find the widest part of your hips.
Measure around this area, ensuring the tape goes over the fullest part of your buttocks.
Keep the tape measure level and firm around the entire hip area.
Length: Measure the desired length of the garment from the shoulder down. For skirts or dresses, measure from the waist down.
Length to waist : This is the measure from the highest point of your shoulder to just above the belly button
Bust Point: Measure from the shoulder to the fullest point of the bust.
Underbust Level: Measure from the shoulder to where the bra sits under the bust.
Top Length: For a top, measure from the shoulder to the desired length at the hip.
Skirt Length: For a skirt, measure from the waist to the desired length (knee, above knee, below knee, or floor length).
Sleeve Length: Measure from the shoulder edge to the desired length of the sleeve (short, three-quarter, or wrist length).
Round Sleeve: Measure around the fullest part of the sleeve for the sleeve circumference.
Wrist: Measure around the wrist for long sleeves.
An important thing you need to take body measurement is to know how to read a tape measure – check it out if you do not.
There is an ideal body measurement for men and women. Your body measurement will have differences from these ideal body measurements, of course. But it is nice to know. Read on.
Earlier I used to take measurements according to how much loose or tight I wanted the dress to be.
Since then, I have learned that this is absolutely the wrong way. Since then, I have learned about ease too.
You should take the measurement correctly, then add ease to the pattern according to how much ease you want. Very loose, slightly loose, fitted, tight – options are many.
If you are measuring someone else, as soon as you have taken the measurement of a person, inquire about what ease they need for this particular garment.
A minimum of 2 inches is needed for comfort, as I have added in the bodice pattern here. This is my opinion and very much dependent on personal preference.
Ease chart – you can add your ease according to this.
Deciding on ease also would depend on lots of elements like their age, cultural background, etc. Read more on ease in clothing here.
There are 4 different ways of taking body measurements in a professional set-up.
Under this system, you will be taking the basic measurements.
For a blouse, you will be taking the full l ength, shoulder, bust round, waist round, and the sleeve length.
For making the pants, you will be taking just the waist round, hip round, full length, and the bottom flare.
For a jacket, you will take bust round, waist round, hip round, sleeve length, waist length, full length, neck and back width.
This is a more elaborate system. Under this system, for a jacket you will take more detailed measurements like armscye depth, across the chest, over shoulder, etc.
This method takes 4 extra measurements – Upper shoulder, middle shoulder, lower shoulder and nape of neck to waist.
Here is a detailed list of measurements that professionals take. You can use it as is needed.
For an elaborate dress like your wedding gown all of these measurements may have to be taken, but for some other, not all.
Approximate Heel Height to be worn with garment
Bust round, waist round, Full length of the blouse, Sleeve length, Upper arm measure, Shoulder, Neck, waist length, Back width
For men : Neck round, Overbust, chest round, Natural waist, Across Shoulder from back, End of shoulder to neck, Bicep (around), Elbow round, wrist around, Arm length (shoulder to wrist), Center back (neck to wrist)
For women : Other than the measurement for men, Under Bust, Elbow round, Bust (Nippel-to-nippel), Bust Depth(Front shoulder neck-to-nipple).
Bust round, Waist round, High hip round, Hip round, Distance from nape to waist, Armhole depth, Shoulder length, Shoulder point to point, Bicep round
Elbow round, Wrist round, Height, Dress length, Waist to knee length, Waist to hip, Nape to bust point
Full length( side length) Leg length (Inseam length) Waist round, Seat round ( Hip round) Bottom measure.
The professionals always take the measurements in a particular order. When I go to a tailoring shop they write down the measurements without writing down the ‘what’ of it – it seems like they know it by heart, as they take the sewing measurements always in a particular order
It is in this order for the vertical measurements, I assume
3. Shoulder to shoulder length
then the horizontal measurements
Neck round – Measure around the base of the neck (slightly loose; do not take this too tight)
Shoulder to shoulder – This is measured from shoulder bone on one side to the oth er side shoulder bone.
Bust round
Wrap the measuring tape around your back and across the fullest part of your breasts. Do not pull the tape too tight or hold it loose. It should sit smugly, without it slipping off
Waist round ( waist measure)
Wrap the measuring tape around the smallest part of your torso at the waist. This is mostly just above the belly button ( about an inch above).
Waist length – Measure from shoulder to waist which is the narrowest part of the torso.
Hip length – Measure from shoulder to hip. For women, In ready to wear clothes it is usually 7 inches from the waist; when you measure on the body this may vary. It can be upto 9 inches for someone who is bigger or taller
For men, take this measurement 8 inches from waist ; for small boys take this 6 inches from waist and for teenage boys take 7 inches.
Hip round – Measure around the hips ( where it is the broadest)
Check out the post How to measure your hips? 6 types of hip shapes for more details on this.
Sleeve round- Measure around the arms where the sleeve should end.
Length of the garment-Measured from the shoulder (close to the neck, where it is highest) to where you want the garment hemline. Tape should go over the fullest part of the bust. If it is a pant or skirt, measure from where you want it to be tied at the waist, to the hemline you want.
Sleeve length – This is according to your preference . Where your sleeve should end. If the sleeve length is past the elbow you should bend the arm slightly when taking the measurement.
Neck Depth – From the base of the neck, measure how much depth you want for the Front neckline and Back neckline. A comfortable neck depth for the back is from 1 inch to 3 inches, but you can go as deep as you want; For the front neckline, do not go too deep ( for reasons you know). A 6.5-inch is what I usually use; again, individual preference and also depends on the pattern.
Neck width – This is usually taken as 1/12 th of the bust round – so if you have a bust round of 36 inch you should take a neck width of 3 inch. This is a very close width and you can add a 1/2 inch for a relaxed neck.
Armhole depth (Armscye) – Armscye is basically the measure around your arm joint – it is taken about 1/2 inch further from the armpit (as per the individual preference of fit). The armhole depth refers to the measure from the back nape of the neck to the bust line. This is taken according to the bust round, or as per the measurement you have made on the body. For this measure, you can easily calculate bust round/8 + 3.5 inches.
Trouser length – From waist to 1 1/4 cm above the ground/floor (for full-length pants)
Trouser Bottom round – This refers to the measurement of the flair of the leg for pants – Usually taken upwards of 12 inches.
Inseam – Measured on the inside leg from the crotch to where you want the hemline ( to 1 1/4 cm above the ground/floor ( for full-length pants)); More on measuring inseam here.
Body Rise: You can measure body rise in two ways
1. Hold the tape at the center of the front waist. Take the tape to the back of the waist between your legs
2. Another way is to sit comfortably in a chair and measure from the waist to the place where your bottom rests on the chair. I prefer the second way.
For some pants, measurement from waist to knee and knee round should be taken (leggings, Chudidhar)
Upper waist round – This is taken just under the bust. Needed for making bras, bralette tops, etc.
Waistband round – Decide where you will wear your skirt or waistband. Wrap the tape loosely around the spot. You should be absolutely comfortable with this measure.
Bust length – Measure from shoulder to bust point. (For fitted blouses – sari blouses)
Bust to Bust – This is measured from one bust point to the other bust point. Usually, for a person with a bust round of 36 inches or more, this is taken as 4 inches on a folded pattern, and for less than 36 inches, take this as 3.5 inches. This is needed for placing darts.
Back width – Taken on the back just under the shoulders. This is usually needed for making jackets, and coats.
Slit cut – Decide on where you want the slit of your tunic or top to be on the side seams.
Measurement under the knees – This maybe needed for trousers, etc.
Calf round – Measure under the knees.
Ankle round – Measure around the ankle – this is needed for leggings, pants, etc.
Some other sewing measurements, like the placement of pockets, buttons, trims, flare, etc should also be noted down.
If you have the height of a person there is a calculation prevalent with which you can find out a person’s body measurements – this assumes that he or she has average body measurements which are in the normal range.
These calculations maybe flawed, because who is normal, anyway!
Bust/chest round = (1/8 of your height in inches + 1″) * 4
Waist round = Bust round – 4 inches.
Hip round = Bust round + 2 inches = waist round + 6 inches.
Shoulder measure for men = 1/2 of chest round.
Across back measure = 1/6 of chest round+ 1″.
Sleeve length (Full) = 3/8 * height in inches.
Waist length = 1/4 of height in inches + 1/2 inch.
I have learned that it is well worth the trouble taking all these measurements; Clothes that fit properly are their own reward – don’t you think so?
If you find any measurement I have skipped, do not forget to mention in the comments.
