Taking your own body measurements might sound tricky, but it’s actually pretty simple!
Whether you’re diving into sewing for the first time or just want to ensure a great fit for your handmade clothes, accurate measurements are key.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, step by step
Prefer How To Videos?
Check out my How-To Measurement Video Below!
What Equipment You Need To Take Body Measurements:
1. Tape Measure:
You’ll need a flexible tape measure. They’re usually found at all fabric stores.
2. A Full Length Mirror
So you can check and make sure you’re measuring the right place and that your tape measure is staying level (We’ll talk more about that in a minute!)
3. Notepad or Measurements Chart
Write your measurements down in inches or centimeters, depending on your pattern’s sizing system.
Keeping a dedicated measurement chart will help you track changes over time and make adjustments if needed.
You can either write them down on any piece of paper you have laying around or, if you want to be super fancy and professional you can record them on an official Measurements Chart.
FREE Printable Body Measurements Chart
4. A Buddy (Optional)
While you can take measurements yourself, it will be much easier to get the right measurements if you ask a friend for help.
How To Take Proper Body Measurements For Clothing:
Where Do I Start with Body Measurements?
1 – Good Posture
Start by standing naturally with good posture—don’t suck in your stomach or hold your breath.
2 – Form Fitting Clothes
Wear fitted clothing or just your undergarments for the most accurate results.
For Women: When taking your bust (aka chest) measurement, make sure you’re wearing the exact bra you plan on wearing under the outfit you’re making.
So, for example, if you’re making a strapless evening gown, you’ll want to wear your strapless bra when taking your measurements for this dress.
3 – Two Rules for Taking Perfect Measurements
Rule #1 – Always Keep the Tape Measure Parallel to the Ground
Many measurements are taken around the body. And all of those measurements need to be taken with the tape measure being parallel to the ground.
Think of it like having a hoola hoop around your body that’s an even distance from the floor all the way around.
Rule #2: Not Too Loose, Not Too Tight
The second trick to good measurements is getting the tape measure to sit just right.
If you’re too loose, the tape measure will fall down and won’t stay parallel, so it’s pretty easy to tell when that’s happening.
If your tape measure is staying parallel to the ground, you’ll want to check if you’re squeezing too tight with your tape measure. Check this by looking at where the tape measure is pressed again the body.
Is it creating an indent? If yes, you’re too tight. Loosen a little bit.
If you loosen your tape measure and it falls down, then you’re too loose again.
It’s digging into Martin’s skin.
The tape measure is staying parallel to the ground without digging into the skin.
Keep adjusting until you’ve got everything just right.
This takes some getting used to, so don’t get frustrated. It still takes me a few minutes to get my tape measure in the right place and I’ve been taking measurements for years.
Also, taking measurements is not something you need to do for every project. I usually take my measurements twice a year, just to see if my body is changing shapes.
That means once you have a good set of measurements, you can use them over and over again.
What Measurements Should I Take?
So, now that we have the right tools and we know how to take good measurements, what exactly are we going to measure?
We’re going to cover the most common measurements in this blog article. These measurements will get ensure your clothing fits well – think about it like 80% perfect fit.
The reason it’s not 100% perfect fit is because all bodies are a little different. And all patterns are created using different models. So while these measurements might create 100% perfect fit in one pattern brand for one person, that might not be the case for another pattern brand or another person.
For 100% perfect fit all the time, there are more advanced measurements you can take.
I will cover those in a future blog post, but for now, these measurements are a great place to start.
The Most Common Body Measurements for Sewing are:
- High Bust (Women Only)
- Full Bust (Women) / Chest (Men)
- Waist
- High Hip
- Full Hip
- Thigh
- Knee
- Calf
- Inseam
- Arm Length
High Bust (Women Only)
This measurement is only measured on women.
This is the only measurement that won’t be exactly parallel to the ground.
Place the tape measure around your back, directly under your armpits, and over the top of your chest.
Full Bust Measurement (Women) / Chest Measurement (Men)
This measurement is taken around the widest part of your chest for both men and women
Move the tape measure up and down until you find the widest point.
Waist Measurement
I’ve read about a million ways to measure the waist. All of them gave me very similar results so I’ll share my fave few with you and you can pick whichever is easiest.
- Halfway between the bottom of your rib cage and your hip bone.
- A finger width above your belly button
- Tie a piece of elastic around your belly, raise your arms up over your head, then back down to your sides. Wherever the elastic sits is where you should measure.
High Hip Measurement
To find the right placement for this measurement, I find it easiest to stand or sit with my thigh at a right angle to my body. (See Martin in the left photo)
Place hand flat on top of the thigh, fingers facing toward the knee, then wrap your thumb behind your back.
Imagine being mad at someone and putting your hands on your hips. It’s the same hand position. (For me anyway, lol)
Keep your hands in that position, then stand up straight with both feet on the ground.
Wherever your hands are sitting is where you want to take this measurement.
Full Hip Measurement
This measurement is taken around the largest part of your booty.
Take A Deep Breath
Getting this intimate with your body can be difficult. Society tries to say what numbers and sizes are “good” or “bad” but the truth is none of that matters.
What matters is that your body is part of you. All of it! And that’s really freaking cool because your body allows you to do incredible things. It’s your constant partner in crime.
So don’t let your numbers mean anything. They are neither good or bad, they simply are what they are.
You’re perfect exactly as you are. 🙂
Thigh, Knee, Calf Measurements
Remember to keep your tape measure parallel and not too tight while you take these measurements.
Thigh: Measure around the widest part of your thigh.
Knee: Measure around the middle of your knee.
Calf Measurement: Measure around the widest part of your calf.
Inseam Measurement
For this measurement, we’re measuring the distance on the inside of your leg.
Place the end of the tape measure at the highest point between your legs.
Then measure down to the center of the bumped out ankle joint (circled in white in the photo).
Arm Length Measurement
Last measurement!
The first thing we need to do is find the shoulder point.
Place your fingertips on your shoulder bone. Follow your shoulder bone out towards your arm. When you reach the end of the bone, swing your arm forward and backward.
You should feel the non-moving shoulder bone on one side of your finger and your moving arm joint on the other. This is your shoulder point.
Place your tape measure on the shoulder point.
Position your arm at a right angle as shown in the photo
Measure from shoulder point, down to the elbow (wrap under the elbow), then up to the center of the big round wrist bone that sticks out of the outer edge of your wrist. (Where Martin’s fingers are)
FAQs
What’s Next? How Do I Choose the Right Size from the Back Cover of the Pattern?
Most sewing patterns include a size chart on the back. Compare your body measurements with the chart to find the best size. If you fall between sizes, go with the larger one—you can always adjust for a better fit.
High Street Clothing Sizes vs. Sewing Pattern Sizes: Why Am I Not the Same Size for Both?
Ready-to-wear clothing sizes vary by brand and aren’t standardized like sewing patterns. Sewing patterns use real body measurements to determine sizing, so don’t be surprised if your sewing size is different from your usual store-bought size.
How Often Should I Measure Myself?
If you’re actively sewing, it’s a good idea to check your measurements every 3–6 months. Our bodies change over time, so keeping up-to-date measurements ensures your handmade garments fit well.
Taking body measurements might feel overwhelming at first, but with a little practice, you’ll get the hang of it!
Once you have your numbers recorded, you’re ready to start sewing clothes that truly fit and flatter your body.
