How to take your measurements?

Take your measures sewing — There are several benefits to taking and knowing your measurements. Firstly, to make a basic pattern as close as possible to your body. But also to modify a pattern as easily as possible or even to choose your size when you go to the shop.
In this article we will look at how to take your measurements or someone else's measurements as accurately as possible.
Whether you are measuring a child, a man or a woman, the technique is basically the same.

The right conditions for taking your measurements

Take off your clothes!

Whether you're measuring someone else or taking your own measurements, it's important not to have too many layers. Take off your clothes! Keep only your underwear or garments close to the skin.

Underwear should be as simple as possible. For women, avoid push-ups, unless that is all you wear. For men, prefer boxers to briefs.

Stand up straight

Just like when the hairdresser asks you not to cross your legs when you get your hair cut, stand up straight when you take your measurements.

Now, don't stand up stiffly, you need to keep your posture natural. But let's say that you should take your measurements in a posture that shows you off to your best advantage.

You are going to make a tailor-made garment to make you feel good. It is therefore important that your posture is as natural as possible.

Place a ribbon around your waist

In order to always find your waist line, put a ribbon around your waist. This will be a very useful reference for taking your measurements.

Don't tie it too tightly, but don't let it move. It's up to you to find the right balance.

If you want to be even more precise, you can also put a ribbon under the chest and around the hips.

All the measures you can take

Here is a table with all the measures you can take. It is not necessary to take them all. The ones you need depend on the garment you want to make.

Neck size: Place the measuring tape on the bottom of the neck.
Chest size: Measure the largest part of the breast.
Under-chest circumference: Measure below the breast.
Waist circumference: Measure where you put your reference ribbon.
Small hip circumference: Measure where the hips are the smallest.
Hip circumference: Measure where the hips are widest through the buttocks.
Back waist length: Measure from the base of the neck through the shoulder blades to the waist.
Waist length in front: Measure from the base of the neck through the point of the breast to the waistline.
Chest height: Measure from the base of the neck to the point of the breast.
Small hips height: Measure from the waistline to where the hips begin.
Hip height: Measure from the waistline to where the hips are the biggest.
Chest spacing: Measure the distance between the two protrusions.
Breadth of back: Measure the distance from one arm to the other at the hollow under the shoulders and across the shoulder blades.
Width of the back: Measure the distance between the two points of the shoulder bones.
Shoulder width in front: Measure the distance from one arm to the other at the level of the hollow under the shoulders and passing through the protrusions.
Shoulder length: Measure from the base of the neck to the point of the shoulder.
Arm length: Measure from the point of the shoulder through the elbow to the wrist bone. (Take this measurement with your arm bent -> see below)
Shoulder height elbow: Measure from the point of the shoulder to the elbow bone.
Arm circumference: Measure where the arm is thickest.
Wrist circumference: Measure just below the wrist bone.
Length outside leg: From the waist line, measure from the outside of the leg to the ankle bone.
Height rise: Measure from the waist line to the crotch.
Length inside leg: Measure from the crotch through the inside of the leg to the ankle bone.
Knee height: Measure from the waist line to the knee bend.
Thigh circumference: Measure at the point where the thigh is thickest.
Calf circumference: Measure where the calf is the thickest.
Ankle circumference: Measure the circumference just above the ankle bone.

Be careful

Little things to keep in mind when you take the measurements!

Bent arm.

Take the measurement of your arm length by bending your arm. If you take the measurement with your arm outstretched, your sleeve will be too short. The difference is 4 to 6 centimetres!

The 2 shoulder lengths.

When measuring the shoulder length, two measurements are possible. They differ depending on the garment you want to make.

If you want to make a jacket, coat or large piece, you measure as follows: from the base of the neck up to the curve of the shoulder. If you want to make a more fitted garment, take the measurement from the bottom of the neck to the point of the shoulder.

This differentiation is especially true when you are measuring a man or a person with round arms.

I have made a small PDF for you to download and fill in! If you are interested you can download it here: PDF of measurements.

Scale of measurements

The measurements that you can find on online shops or others do not come out of their creator's hat. They follow a trend measured on real people in a given geographical area. So you will not find the same measurements in Japan, the Netherlands, the United States or France.

Why does a garment fit poorly?

It's a fact that selling worldwide to very different body types is a real headache. So there are brands like Nike or Uniqlo, which have access to a huge and varied customer database. This allows them to research sizes and measurements in great detail and respond to their customers as accurately as possible.

Most small brands don't have access to all this information, so it's very difficult to make an average sizing. Often, small designers will start with a ready-made chart.

Knowing how difficult it is to make an average for the world knowing all the diversity that exists, it is easier to understand why it is difficult to find your size in the shop.

To conclude