When you want the freedom to sew your own clothing, it is so important that you know your accurate body measurements. Inevitably, whether you want to know or not…you will need to determine your size. You’ll start with an existing pattern or garment and intimately knowing your bodies shape and size makes all the difference when it comes to having the freedom to make design, fit, and style adjustments. Accurate measurements are essential to making sure your finished pieces fit you perfectly!
Are you ready to take your home sewing to the next level?!
Tips
- Have someone else take your body measurements. This will ensure the measurements are accurate. Trust me…contorting your body to get the measurement does not yield accurate results!
- Wear next to nothing, or maybe just your underwear. This will give you true measurements.
- Use a flexible tape measure, like this one from Dritz. And measure loosely, meaning do not pull the tape so tight that your clothing would be uncomfortable.
- Print the free Isn’t that Sew Measurement Guide below to keep track of your body measurements. (download link below)
How to take Body Measurements
Height: Stand with your feet slightly apart and your back against a wall. Have a helper measure from the floor to the tip top of your head.
Bust: Relax your arms at your sides, measure the fullest part of your bust, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.
High Bust: Again, relax your arms at your side and measure just above your breasts.
Waist: Measure loosely around your natural waist. Your natural waist will be between your belly button and your rib cage.
Hips: Measure the fullest part of your hips and back side, making sure to keep the tape level. Again, make sure to measure loosely.
Rise: Holding the tape at the center back of your natural waist. Run the tape between your legs, pulling comfortably at the crotch, and up to your natural waist in front.
Inseam: Measure from your crotch to the bottom of your ankle. You can also measure the inseam of your best fitting pant to get your inseam measurement.
Arm: Bend your elbow 90 degrees and place your hand on your hip. Hold the tape at the center back of your neck. Measure across your shoulder to your elbow, and down to your wrist. The total length in inches is your sleeve length.
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These are great tips. I made most of my own clothes in my teens but have moved onto children’s things now. I also knit and everything comes up big – but I know I knit with a loose tension so that’s the culprit! You’re inspiring me to get back to making my own things – I can’t find anything in the shops that I like so I really, really must!
WOW! This is fab! Such wonderful tips for sizing, thank you so much 🙂
Yeah. I’d say gauge is suspect!
this is really helpful. I knit and I always end up making my sweaters too big–but that could also be my gauge.