A Seamstress Offers Her

Tricks to Taking Accurate

Body Measurements
Plus, download a copy of our handy chart that breaks it down step-
by-step.

By Meg Healy 

Updated November 04, 2019

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CREDIT: KATE MATHIS

Want to know the secret to perfectly fitting clothes? Easy - it's your
measurements! These will determine your pattern size when sewing,
tailoring, and embellishing your own clothes.

Before you measure anything

Decide: Bra or no bra? Your bust level and circumference
measurement will change with and without a bra on, so if you plan
on wearing a bra with your finished garment, make sure you wear
one during the measuring process. Otherwise, make sure you are
wearing form-fitting clothing (like a tank-top and leggings) and your
typical day-to-day undergarments.

Get help. Stand in front of a mirror and have someone on standby to

assist you (especially for those back measurements.)

Use the right tape. More specifically, use a flexible measuring tape

(rather than a fabric one, as those tend to stretch out over time.)

Check your posture. Stand upright in a relaxed position with your

feet together. When measuring, breathe normally and make sure the
tape is comfortably fitted to the body. (Don't suck in that tummy - you
will just end up with a tight-fitting garment!)

STEAL THIS TRICK

When I measure myself, I pin 1/8" of wide elastic material to a tight

spandex dress that I slip on. I mark the center front and center back,
then tie the elastic around my natural waist (about belly button level),
hip (widest part), and bust (fullest part). This makes it easy to
measure to the exact same place twice, so when you are determining
your front waist length, you know the exact measurement. It also
gives me a side seam reference so I can also determine my front and
back waist length as well as my side seam length!
Related: Try Out Our Measuring Tricks When Making This Tunic
Dress

Follow This Body Measurement

Chart
Ready to get started? These six measurements are the key reference
points that most sewing pattern company size charts have
- download a copy here for later reference.

1. NECK AND BUST

To measure your neck, pull the tape around the middle, coming from
the back to the front. It should sit at the base of the neck above the
collar bone.

To measure your bust, bring the tape around your back and around
to the front. Pull it around the apex (or fullest) point of your bust. It
should be aligned parallel to the floor, making a straight,
horizontal line across both your front and back. If you have someone
to help, you record the measurement at the front with your hand
down at your sides.

2. WAIST AND HIPS

To measure your waist, don't measure where your pants finish - this
is not your natural waist! Your waist is the smallest part of your torso
and right underneath your rib cage near your belly button. Make sure
the tape is even across the front and back and parallel to the floor.

To measure the hips, keep this in mind: it is not where the top of your
hip bone is, it is actually around the largest part of your hip area.

3. FRONT WAIST LENGTH

Start measuring from the side base of your neck, at the top shoulder
line, and going down towards your waist level passing over your bust
point. Try to keep the tape as straight as possible. To measure bust
depth, use the same starting point on the shoulder as your front waist
length, measuring down to the apex of your bust point.

Related: Try Our Stylish Sewing Projects

4. BACK WAIST LENGTH

This one is definitely a two person job, so call a friend and have them
measure from the nape of the neck, down your spine and to your
waist. To measure the back width, measure horizontally between
your arm attachment points (underarm).
5. SHOULDER

This is your shoulder seam length. Measure from the base of your
neck right in the middle of your shoulder (from a bird's eye view) and
along to the tip of your shoulder. If you have trouble determining your
shoulder tip, find a garment in your closet that fits well and has a
collar and sleeve. Then measure the shoulder length of the garment.

To measure under the arm, wrap your measuring tape around the

fullest part of your arm above your elbow.

6. ARM LENGTH

Have your arm just slightly bent, and measure from the tip of your
shoulder over the elbow to your wrist line. You will also need a friend
for this measurement.

ONE LAST TRICK

Another great way to utilize your own personal body measurements

is to draft your own set of slopers! Slopers are base sewing patterns
used to establish fit and are then modified to create stylized sewing
patterns perfectly fitting to your body. I teach on online
course Slopers 101 where I show you how to take these body
measurements and draft your own bodice, sleeve, and skirt pattern
from scratch. As a special offer to Martha Stewart readers, you can
get 50% off registration using code MSPROMO50, register here to
join me!