Measuring for women's garments using a dress form for the perfect fit.
The following measurements are needed for a perfect fit,
Print out this page, then use the table below and fill in your
measurements, then adjust your new dress from to the correct sizes, you
may even need to pad out the dress form a little for the awkwardly
shaped areas... use foam or wadding to adjust where necessary. Keep
the size chart handy when making your next garment, it may come in handy.
Don't take measurements yourself, best to have someone else take them.
Stand straight but relaxed when you are being measured.
You will get the
best results if the subject is wearing only her underwear.
Tie 3 cm (1 inch) wide elastic bands around your waist
and hips. Locate the correct placements for these elastic bands
carefully. Keep these elastic bands in place during the whole measuring
process.
Hip elastic is fastened on the level where hip circumference is
maximum.
Depending on your build, this may be over your buttocks (18-20
cm from waist downwards) or on top of your thighs (25-30 cm from waist
downwards), or in between.
BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL WHEN TAKING
THE MEASUREMENTS PRINTED IN RED ABOVE .
They are
crucial for good fitting patterns. After having taken all the
measurements, take these measurements once again.
Except for pants' cuff circumference and skirt/dress length, all
measurements are body measurements.
DO NOT ADD ANY EASE to the measurements.
YOU CAN USE CENTIMETRES OR INCHES to the
nearest 1/4 inch or, to the nearest centimetre.
Neck circumference
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Bust circumference
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Waist circumference
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Abdomen (= top hip) circumference. If the
subject's abdomen circumference is more than her hip
circumference, use abdomen circumference also as the measurement
for the hip circumference.
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Hip circumference
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| Bust span (distance between bust apexes)
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| Bust height from center of back neck over
shoulder to apex of one breast |
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| Waist height
from center of back neck over shoulder to apex of one
breast and from there vertically to lower edge of waist elastic.
To get a more accurate measurement, loop the tape up one side,
over the neck and down the other side (=double) and divide the
result by 2 (see picture). Take this and bust height measurements
together in one step. |
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| Back length from center of back neck to lower edge of waist elastic. To get
this measurement taken correctly, please do as follows: use two
measuring tapes. Put one of them hanging around your neck so that
the loose ends of the tape hang on your bust. Put an elastic
around your waist. Measure back length from the lower edge of the
measuring tape around your neck to the lower edge of the elastic
around your waist. |
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| Back width hang your arms relaxed at your sides. The measurement is taken
from and to the point where your arm meets your body (but not to
armpit) about 10 cm below base of neck. |
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| Shoulder length from neck to shoulder tip.
To find the shoulder tip, raise your arm to horizontal position
and feel where there is a hollow spot between shoulder and arm
bones. |
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Abdomen height: vertical measurements from
lower edge of waist elastic to level where abdomen circumference
is maximum.
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| Hip height: vertical measurement from lower
edge of waist elastic to level where hip circumference is maximum
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Biceps circumference
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| Wrist circumference over wrist bone |
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| Arm length from shoulder tip to wrist. Bend
arm slightly when measuring |
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Pants outside length from lower edge of
waist elastic to pants cuff
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| Crotch depth sit on bench or chair, measure vertically from waist elastic to
chair level at side. Crotch depth can also be measured from a pair
of old, well fitting pants, crotch depth is the difference between
outside and inside length of pants. |
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Desired cuff circumference (not ankle
circumference)
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| Desired jacket length from waist elastic to
hem |
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Desired skirt /dress length from waist
elastic to hem
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