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Once you feel comfortable measuring your bust, waist and hips there are other useful measurements you could take. Some of these are specific to particularly garments, such as trousers so you won’t necessarily use them all just yet.
Bust – this is the measurement around your body that is taken above your bust. Keep the measuring tape straight and measure just under your armpits. If you have a larger or smaller bust this might be useful for doing full or small bust adjustments to bodices.
Waist – this is measured around 2-3″ below your waist and is useful when making trousers and skirts that finish above the hip. Again make sure you keep your tape measure straight as you go around your body.
Neck – If you make any garments with a polo neck or collar knowing your neck measurement is really useful. Measure all the way around your neck above your collar bone.
Shoulder – the shoulder measurement is good toknow in case you have wider or narrower shoulders than the pattern. This is an adjustment I always have to make as I have narrow shoulders. Measure from the point your shoulder meets your neck to the top edge of your shoulder.
Arm – measuring the full length of your arm from the top edge of your shoulder to your wrist is useful for sleeve and cuff adjustments.
Wrist – measure around your wrist just above your hand, it is useful to know this measurement to make changes to sleeve hems and cuffs.
Front bodice – measure from your clavicle (where the two bones meet at your neck) to your waist down the centre front of your body (avoiding the bust). This is really useful for making changes to the length of bodices.
Back bodice – measure from your nape (back of the neck where the skull meets your neck) to your waist down the centre back of your body. This is really useful for making changes to the length of bodices.
Waist to knee – this measurements is useful for making changes to the length of skirts and shorts. Measure from your natural waist to just above your knee, remember to add on seam allowance for a hem.
Inside leg – this is useful for sewing trousers. Measure from your crotch to your ankle, remember to add on seam allowance for the hem.
Waist to ankle – this is a useful measurement to have for sewing trousers and maxi dresses. Measure from your natural waist to your ankle, remember to add on a seam allowance for the hem.
