How to take measurements so that clothes fit well

How to take measurements: general rules

• Measurements for building a pattern of a dress, skirt or trousers need to be taken by underwear. Put on the fitting the underwear with which you are going to wear the product. This is important, since a different bra shape, for example, can change the height and girth of the breast.
• All measurements are carried out on the most developed part of the trunk. For right—handers, measurements are taken on the right side, for left-handers - on the left.
• When taking measurements, you need to stand straight, without tension, in a position familiar to the body. It is quite difficult to take measurements from oneself qualitatively. When the position of the body changes, its dimensions also change. A possible way out of the situation: take a product that fits you very well and take measurements from it.
• Mark the natural waist level with an elastic band or a thin cord — this will simplify the task.
• Since the human body is symmetrical, usually the pattern is built only to the middle of the figure. For the convenience of work, part of the measurements is recorded in half size. These measures include the half-girth of the neck, chest, waist and hips, the width of the back, the width and center of the chest. The remaining dimensions are recorded and used in full.
• In different countries, the systems of building patterns and methods of taking measurements vary slightly. And depending on the school, the names of the measurements may vary within the same country. If you are not sure what size we are talking about, read the description. This way you can quickly find a match.

Basic measurements of the figure

Shoulder product measurements

These measurements will be needed if you want to sew a dress, blouse, jacket, coat.

Measurements 1-10 are recorded and used in half size, the rest — in whole.

1. Neck half—girth - measured at the base of the neck. The tape should be closed in the jugular cavity.
2. Chest half—girth is the first - the tape runs horizontally from behind along the protruding points of the shoulder blades, in front — above the chest.
3. The chest half—girth is the second - the measuring tape goes from behind as in the previous version, in front it passes along the most prominent points of the chest. It is better to remove the first and second half-girths of the chest one after the other, without changing the position of the tape on the back. Maintain a natural posture, lower your arms down, but do not clamp the tape in the armpits.
4. Chest circumference is the third — the ribbon runs around the torso strictly horizontally, in front — along the most prominent points of the chest, behind — keeping horizontal. This yardstick corresponds to the mass production size that suits you.
5. Waist circumference — measured by an auxiliary ribbon or elastic band located in the narrowest part of the figure. Do not try to create a waist yourself by tightening the cord. You are beautiful, regardless of size, and the correct figure will help the product sit well on the figure.
6. Hip girth — the ribbon goes horizontally around the figure, from behind — along the most prominent points of the buttocks, from the front — taking into account the protrusion of the abdomen.
7. Breast width first — measured horizontally between the front corners of the armpits, above the chest.
8. The second breast width — a measuring tape is applied horizontally between the anterior corners of the armpits through the most prominent points of the mammary glands.
9. Breast center — measured between the most prominent points of the breast. This size, as well as the chest circumference, varies depending on the shape and density of the bra you are wearing.
10. Back width — measured by the shoulder blades between the posterior corners of the armpits.
11. Front waist length — measured from the highest point of the intended shoulder seam at the base of the neck to the waistline in front. The ribbon is placed vertically on the figure. To find the highest point of the shoulder seam, wear a thin knitted T-shirt. Where the shoulder seam rests against the neck, there is the right point. You can find it before you start measuring, mark it with a chalk, and take off your T-shirt.
12. Chest height — the distance from the highest point of the shoulder seam to the most prominent point of the chest.
13. The length of the back's waist is the first — measured from the seventh cervical vertebra to the waistline. If you feel the base of the neck from behind, you will find a protruding vertebra. That's what you need.
14. The length of the back's waist is the second — measured from the highest point of the alleged shoulder seam at the base of the neck to the waistline at the back. The ribbon is positioned vertically, repeating the curves of the figure.
15. The height of the armhole at the back is the distance from the highest point of the shoulder seam to the imaginary horizontal line drawn from the rear corner of the armpit.
16. Shoulder height is oblique — measured from the end point of the shoulder to the point of intersection of the spine with the waistline. The end point of the shoulder can be found with a thin knitted T-shirt with a sleeve. The place where the shoulder seam enters the sleeve stitching seam is the point we need. Since you have marked your waist with an elastic band or ribbon, it should be easy to find the intersection of the waistline and spine.
17. Shoulder width — the distance from the highest point of the shoulder seam at the base of the neck to the final shoulder point.
18. Sleeve length — measured from the final shoulder point to the desired length. The arm should be in a natural position, slightly bent at the elbow.
19. Shoulder girth — the ribbon runs strictly horizontally at the widest point of the shoulder.
20. Wrist circumference — measured above the wrist by protruding bones.
21. Product length — measured from the seventh cervical vertebra to the desired length.

Measurements for skirts

The number of necessary measurements for a skirt depends on its silhouette. For a sun skirt, only the length of the product and the half-girth of the waist are needed. To sew a pencil skirt, you need to measure the hip circumference. The length of the skirt is measured from the waistline along the side seam to the desired level.

Measurements for trousers

In addition to the half-girths of the waist and hips, several more measurements will be required to build trousers.

1. Seat height — measured on a sitting figure from the waistline along the side seam to the chair. For accurate measurements, the seating surface must be solid.
2. Knee height — measured standing from the waistline along the side seam to the middle of the kneecap.
3. Knee width is especially important for tight trousers. The ribbon is placed around the bent knee.
4. The width of the trousers at the bottom — is selected according to the model. If you are going to sew narrow trousers, then the width of the trousers at the bottom will be equal to the circumference of the foot through the heel.
5. Pants length — measured standing from the waistline along the side seam to the desired length. In tight trousers, the length is taken to the bone. In medium or wide — up to the middle of the heel with which you will wear these trousers.

When creating a pattern, you need to remember that the measurements taken from the figure are not equal to the size of the parts. When building drawings, an increase in the freedom of fitting is added to the measurements. This is not a constant. It depends on the size of the figure, the properties of the fabric, the purpose and silhouette of the product, as well as on fashion.