Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN
You will need a waistband, measuring tape, pen and paper and for some measures if possible a helping hand.
Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

 

 

1. Waist

2. Upper hip

3. Waist to upper hip

4. Hip

5. Waist to hip

6. Bust

7. Bust height 

8. Chest

9. Front bodice

10. Back bodice

11. Back width

12. Shoulder width

 

12b. Shoulder

13. Sleeve length

14. Armhole

15. Biceps

15b. Circumference of arm

16. Side seam

17. Crotch

18. Crotch depth

19. Inseam

20. Thigh

20b. Calf

21. Knee-length

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

WAISTBAND

To start, place an elastic or any other band at your waist. 

All measures of length are taken from your waistline.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

1. WAIST

Take a firm measure but without tightening. 

A measuring tape that has markings (cm) only on one side would be the best option, as you will not by accidentally twisting the tape get wrong results. Make sure you always start the measuring from the zero end.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

2. UPPER HIP

The measure of the upper hip is taken from the point where you feel your coxal (hip) bones.

It is important that you keep the measuring tape straight and parallel to the floor and waistband.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

3. WAIST TO UPPER HIP

Use the end of the measuring tape to obtain the distance between your waist and upper hip.

The measure is typically 9-12cm.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN
Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

4. HIP

The measure of the hip should be taken at the fullest point of your hip. Move the measuring tape up and down to find the correct measure.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

5. WAIST TO THE HIP

Use the end of the measuring tape to obtain the distance between your waist and hip.

The measure is typically 18-24cm

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN
Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

6. BUST

The measure of the bust is taken over the fullest part of your bust. Make sure that you keep the measuring tape straight and parallel to the floor and waistband.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

7. BUST HEIGHT  

The measure of bust height is the distance from your shoulder to the bust point.

This measure can vary a lot, from 22-30cm.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

8. CHEST WIDTH

Measure the width of your chest above your breasts, from/to where your arms begin.

This measure is typically between 30-35cm.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

9. FRONT BODICE

Measure the front bodice from the uppermost point of your sternum, where you feel a small imprint, down to your waist.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

10. BACK BODICE

Measure the back bodice from the uppermost tip of your spine (you feel the uppermost vertebra by slightly bending your head) down to your waist.

This measure is difficult to take by yourself. You can try to measure it with the help of a mirror.

This measure varies a lot from one person to another, even with the same body height, between 35-45cm.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

11. BACK WIDTH

This measure is taken from/to the point where your arms begin, at the widest point of your back.

The measure is typically between 32-40cm.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN
Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

12. SHOULDER WIDTH

The measure of shoulders is taken in a slight curve from/to the point where your arms begin.

The measure is typically between 35-42cm.

12b. SHOULDER

This is an extra measure needed for some specific clothing.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN
Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

13. SLEEVE LENGTH

The measure of sleeve length is taken in two steps; a) from the shoulder to below the elbow, and b)from below the elbow to the wrist bone. Keep your arm slightly bent when taking the measures. The measure is typically 57-63 cm for women.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

14. ARMHOLE

This measure tells how lose you want the armhole of the garment.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

15. BICEPS

The measure of biceps is taken from the fullest point of the upper arm.

The measure typically varies between 25-38cm.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

16. SIDE SEAM

The measure of the side seam is needed for long skirts and trousers. 

Take the measure from your waist down to your ankle bone.

Special trouser measures

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN
Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

17. CROTCH

The measure of the crotch is taken from back to the front of your waistline.

For trousers, this measure can also be taken to define the height of the trousers to be lower than up to your waistline.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

18. CROTCH DEPT

This measure should be taken when sitting on a flat and hard surface. 

The measure is from the waistline to the surface; determining the depth of the crotch.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

19. INSEAM

The measure of inseam is used to define the length of the trousers.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

20. THIGH

Take the measurement around the fullest point of your thigh.

20.b CALF

Also, Calf measure can be useful.

Taking measures by ANNA RUOHONEN

21. KNEE-LENGHT

For some designs, the knee-length is also useful as a starting point of widening or narrowing trousers.

Special notes

One should always keep in mind that the person making the patterns does not have the person in front of her when drawing the patterns. So to decide where the perfect place for the skirt to drop on the hip is, she needs a measure for it.

So besides the basic measures, it is often very useful to give so-called fix measures for specific pieces of clothing, for instance for the waistband of the skirt or trousers.

With measures, more is better than less, even if it takes a bit of your time!

Thank you!