Easy and Elegant Linen

How to Measure Up

November 3rd, 2008 in garment construction, fitting

Threads Magazine, editor

12 users recommend

Mark the body so you'll have consistent reference points while you measure.

Use our printable measurement chart and instructions to guide you through the process of taking and recording accurate body measurements

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by Barbara Emodi
an Online Extra to Threads #106

The first step in sewing the right-sized garment for yourself or someone else is to start out with a complete and accurate set of body measurements. In the instructions for Marking reference points, I'll show you how and where to mark the body so your measurements are consistent; print out the Measurement chart and use it to record your measurements. For more details on measuring, have a look at "How to Take Measurements," in the April/May 2003 issue of Threads (#106).

Marking and measuring tools you'll need include the following:

• A short, fine chain necklace— to establish a natural neckline
• Washable markers— to draw lines on skin and/or undergarments
• 1/4-inch adhesive dots
• Pins
• Narrow elastic— to locate and mark the waistline
• Flexible but stable measuring tape
• 12-inch ruler

Optional:

• A form-fitting T-shirt with set-in sleeves— to help identify an armhole
• Twill tape/cotton cording— for marking crotch length

Markinfg Reference Points

Mark the body so you'll have consistent reference points while you measure. (The solid lines on our leotard are extra-bold for photography purposes.)

As you measure, be sure to check the points of intersection. Be sure all horizontal markings clearly intersect all vertical markings so you'll be able to identify the exact center front, center back, and side seam locations. (Note the center front of your waistline may not be in line with your navel.)

A. Neckline
Identify the natural neckline with a short chain necklace that settles comfortably, just below the slight hollow at the base of the neck.
     • Mark the exact center front of this neckline with a small adhesive or pen dot.
     • Mark the prominent vertebra at the top of the spine with an adhesive or pen dot. (Bend the head forward to make the vertebra easier to find.)
     • Mark a point on each side of the neck, in line with the hollow just behind the earlobe.

B. Bust point
Mark the nipple location with a cross of two pins on the bra fabric or with an adhesive dot.

C. Shoulder point
Feel for the end of the flat bone at the end of the shoulder, or raise your arm until a dimple appears at the end of your shoulder and feel for the shoulder bone in this depression. It is important to identify an exact shoulder point.
     • Mark it with an adhesive or pen dot.

D. Shoulder seamline
Draw a series of dots (more accurate than a drawn line) on the body, from the side-neck point marked on the neckline, along the top of the shoulder, to the shoulder point.

E. Waistline
Depending upon body proportions, there are two possible waistlines: a natural waist or, for people who do not have a naturally indented waist, a de facto (chosen) waist, where the top of skirts or trousers sits. Find the natural waist by tying a piece of elastic around the person's waist, and having her bend from side to side until the elastic settles comfortably in the hollow around the middle of her body; take the waist measurement here. If the person does not have an indented waist, adjust the elastic on her body to sit at the de facto waist. This often entails moving the elastic above or below the natural waist, sometimes to be higher at the back and lower at the front.
     • Once established, mark the waistline on the body with a pen; the elastic can shift while measuring.

F. Armhole
Mark with a dotted line. Start from the shoulder point, down into the crease formed by the body joining the arm, on both the front and back. (If locating the armhole is difficult, duplicate one from a form-fitting T-shirt, slipping one hand under the sleeve to trace the seamline onto the body.)

G. Abdomen
Mark a line parallel to the floor across the fullest part of the abdomen.

H. Hips
Find the widest part of the lower body by wrapping a measuring tape around the hip area and sliding it down the body, note that the widest part may be anywhere from a few inches to more than 12 inches below the waist.
     • Where the measurement is largest, mark a line exactly parallel to the floor all around the body.

I. Side seams
Draw a series of dots perpendicular to the floor from the underarm to the ankle on both sides of the body.

J. Center front and center back
Draw a series of dots perpendicular to the floor from the hollow of the neck to the waist. Repeat from the nape of the neck.

Measurement chart (Click here for printable version)
The chart below allows space to record dimensions for both the left and right sides of the body, which may be helpful when fitting an asymmetrical figure.

Shoulders

Shoulder length/left:___________ right:___________

Shoulder-to-shoulder/front:___________

Shoulder-to-shoulder/back:___________

Back width:___________

Front shoulder slope/left:___________ right:___________

Back shoulder slope/left:___________ right:___________

Neck to waist/front:___________

Neck to waist/back:___________

Arms

Arm length (over arm)/left:___________ right:___________

Biceps/upper arm circumference/left:___________ right:___________

Armhole depth/left:___________ right:___________

Bust

Bust circumference:___________

Upper bust circumference:___________

Under bust circumference:___________

Chest width:___________

Neck

Natural neckline:___________

Neck edge to bust point (bust depth)/left:___________ right:___________

Neck edge to waist/left:___________ right:___________

Legs

Outer seam/left:___________ right:___________

Inseam:___________

Waist to floor/front:___________

Waist to floor/back:___________

Crotch

Crotch length/total:___________

Crotch length/front:___________

Crotch length/back:___________

Crotch depth:___________

Waist and hips

Waist circumference:___________

Abdomen:___________

Abdomen depth:___________

Hip circumference:___________

Hip depth:___________

Fullest part of hip:___________

Fullest hip depth:___________

Printable version

Barbara Emodi is a contributing editor of Threads.

Photos: Joseph Kugielsky

posted in: garment construction, fitting

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Comments (3)

ryilli writes: Getmysize.com will allow visitors to the site to be able to create a “body profile” with specific measurements ranging from arm length to torso length to upper-leg length and beyond. Businesses will also be able to add apparel they wish to sell on the website by measuring clothing with specific measurements that will coordinate with the body profile measurements. A shoe company can add a pair of shoes and input the length, width, and ankle circumference of the shoe. A user can then conduct a search with their foot length, width, and ankle circumference and the closest matches will show up in their search.

Getmysize.com is also free to use, so a small business owner will be able to compete with larger businesses when selling their items. In addition to specific measurements, the brand name and size show up in the product description, as well as the price, up to four pictures, detailed descriptions and a space for the URL to be posted so that a potential buyer can link directly to the page where the item can be found.

For more information regarding Get My Size, visit their site at: http://www.getmysize.com
Posted: 9:34 pm on September 11th

_nikki_ writes: Hi,
The shoulder length is found by measuring from the side-neck point to the shoulder point on the same side.
I hope this answers your question, and good luck to your wife in her sewing class! Posted: 9:43 am on March 9th

silly_husband writes: Help - I'm confused. My wife asked here to help gathering these measurements for her sewing class, but I can't figure them out. The instructions list the points to mark, but the measurements don't correlate with the points. For example, how do I measure shoulder length? What's the definition of shoulder length? If I search the page for shoulder length, I only get a match on the measurement, not the instructions. What I need is something like the following

Shoulder Length (from the natural neckline side point (A.3) to the shoulder point (C) on the same side)_____________

Does this make sense? Am I being too literal? I'm a computer programmer, so I expect instructions to be 100% complete (like a computer program). Maybe that's too much to expect. Any help would be appreciated. Posted: 7:41 pm on March 7th

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