Be it for sizes from our chart, or for a made-by-measure designs, it is important to take measures appropriately. The most important measure for most of our designs is bust circumference, from which we can derive other necessary measurements for a pattern design. For choosing your size, please refer to directions bellow:
- Bust circumference
Or above bust measures, measured bellow armpit all around your chest area. Take a deep breath while taking measures to ensure the dimensions are correct for making a comfortable fit.
2. Shoulder width
Stand upright with good posture and relaxed shoulders. Have someone to assist you for taking this measure; we are not measuring from one end point of upper arm to other, but width from one shoulder joint to another.
3. Biceps
Measure your upper arm circumference for your bicep measurement. Hold your arm down at your side, keeping it slightly away from your body. Wrap a tape measure around the widest part of your upper arm. Where the ends meet, record this as your bicep or upper arm measurement.[15]
- Use this measurement when ordering a custom-made top or dress with sleeves.
- Keep the tape measure somewhat taut, but do not let it dig into your skin. Make sure you can slip 1 or 2 fingers behind the tape for comfort.
- If you have especially large muscles, you may want to record an unflexed and flexed version of this measurement.
4. Sleeve/Arm length
Extend the measuring tape along your bent arm to find your sleeve length. Ask someone to assist you with this one. Stand with your elbow bent at a 90-degree angle with your hand resting on your hip. Instruct your friend to hold the end of the tape measure at the upper part of your arm where shoulder joint is. Have them extend the tape measure fown the arm, down over your elbow, and down to your wrist. They can stop at your wrist bone. Record this number as your sleeve length.
- This should be one full measurement; don’t break it up into pieces.
- The sleeve length measurement is used for certain types of custom-made jackets.
- You can also extend your bent arm out in front like a doll for this measurement. It just needs to be positioned at 90 degrees.
5. Neck measures
Wrap the measuring tape around the neck, beginning at about one inch from the meeting of your neck and shoulders. This may also coincide with the bottom part of your Adam’s apple. Hold the tape tight. Come fully around the neck, leaving no dangling space in between the neck and the tape. Don’t pull too tightly so as to create unnecessary tension, just enough so that you are getting a true measurement. Make sure the tape is level and not being held at an angle.
