Measuring for Sewing

These are typical measurements that you will need when sewing, especially if you are making your own pattern or changing one for a different size.

Note: Not all are labeled, but some are pretty self-explanatory.

When measuring, it is always good to measure across as well as all the way around and make note of it, particularly with things like bust, waist and hips.

Height: It's always helpful to have a person's height.

Shoulder Height: The height from the floor to their shoulders.

Shoulder to Knee: Helpful when making dresses to determine the length.

Hips to Knee: Helpful when deciding how much of a hem there should be on a dress as well as the length/hem of skirts.
--If you are making a skirt, take note of where the person you're making it for usually wears skirts. This will change the length and may begin higher than the hips.

Bust: To determine the widest point of shirts or dresses.

Arm Height: or you can do the circumference. It is to determine the size of armholes in dresses and shirts.

Shoulder Width: To determine the width of a dress or shirt.

Neck Width: to determine the width of the space for the neck in shirts and dresses.

-Soo Coco