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Body Measurements and Sizing

February 11, 2025 - February 11, 2025   


 

Body measurements and sizing are a vital part of production.

It is important to make sure that when taking body measurements that they are as accurate as possible. Once body measurements are taken, it is important to match them up to a size chart in order to make an accurate pattern. Using the size chart you can grade a pattern up or down in order to make a pattern which is bespoke for one individual person. Bespoke tailoring relies on good measurements. The industry uses a standardised size chart, although can vary from one company to the next. The tools needed to take measurements accurately are:

If you are measuring someone make sure they are not wearing bulky clothing. They should ideally be dressed in well fitted underwear. It is also really important that you make sure the person you are measuring is holding there posture well. This can really affect the way the measurements come out. The person whose measurements are being taken needs to stand with their eyes straight ahead and with their arms relaxed at the side. Shoulders should be relaxed and the back should be straight

 

HOW TO TAKE BODY MEASUREMENT

In order to take good measurements you need to have a good ribbon tape measure. In production inches are used therefore it is important to have an inch and centimetre tape measure. Never use a retractable tape measure when taking body measurements as you need a ribbon tape measure in order to go around the curves of a body. Different books and sources will tell you a different answer but there are roughly ten areas of the body where you should take measurements. This may differ between male and female but areas highlighted on the next page are based on the female figure.

If you capture all of these measurements you can guarantee that you are on the right track to produce a precise and well-fitted garment.

 

HERE ARE THE BASIC PLACES THAT YOU NEED TO MEASURE:

 

 

These are the basic measurements that you need to create your own patterns. When you go through the measuring process it is good to take three separate measurements of each area and to note it down. If there are wild differences each time then you are going wrong somewhere.

If they vary slightly, take an average and go with that when drawing up the pattern. Pattern making is a fine art and it starts with the measurements. Get this right and you are already halfway there.

 

SIZING CHART

This is a general size chart that you can use to size up a person’s measurements.

SIZE UK DRESS US DRESS EUROPEAN DRESS BUST WAIST HIPS
  8 4 36 32” 25” 35”
  10 6 38 33.5” 27” 36.5”
  12 8 40 35” 28.5” 37.5”
  14 10 42 36.5” 30” 39.5”
  16 12 44 38” 31.5” 41”
  18 14 48 40” 34” 42.5”

 




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