How to Take Measurements
Taking the right measurements is incredibly important, if I don't have the right measurements there is a high chance the garment won't fit properly. In an ideal world, I would be able to measure you myself and conduct a fitting, but since I often do commissions remotely, especially in the last year, I have made a little tutorial on how to measure yourself from home.
What you will need:
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- Measuring tape
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- Piece of elastic (optional, but it is incredibly helpful to use it to find your natural waist)
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- Note pad and pen
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- Someone to help you
When taking measurments it is important to hold the measuring tape properly and make sure that the measuring tape can hold itself in place as you measure, not sagging at any point, but also, never so tight that it created an indent as you measure.
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When measuring you are often looking for the smallest or widest point to measure at, keep this in mind as you measure as it often helps when trying to find the exact point you want.
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When beginning the prossess of measuring yourself it is useful to tie a piece of elastic around your waist. The elastic will roll toward the smallest point, finding your true waist. As many measurements depend on the waist it is useful to have it marked out correctly.
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These are the most common measurments I will need to make a custom sized costume. Depending on the project the measurements I need will vary, but I will send you a list on all the ones I do need when we are discussing the project.
How to take each measurment:
1. Chest
To take the chest measurment you want to put the measuring tape across your front, from armpit to armpit, measuring the distance in between.
2. Bust
For this measurment you want to measure the widest point of your bust, making sure the measuring tape is parallel to the ground as you do this.
3. Waist
For this measurment it is useful to wrap a piece of elastic around your waist. This helps you find the smallest point of your waist. Measure this and make sure the measuring tape is parallel to the ground.
4. Low Waist
This measurment lies 5cm below your natural waist. Measure whilst making the sure the tape is parallel to the ground.
5. Hips
To measure the hips we want to measure them at the widest point. Look in a mirror and feel around for where you feel this point is and then measure it parallel to the ground.
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6. Sleeve Length
Since your arm is in constant motion it is important to take into account how your arm moves when measuring the sleeve length, to account for this bend your arm at a slight angle, halfway between fully bent and straight. Measure from your shoulder bone to your wrist along the outside edge of your arm.
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7. Neck Size
Depending on the project, how we take this measurment may vary. However, usually I would say measure around the base of your neck, making sure you can breathe comfortably.
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8. Shoulder
Measure from the base of your neck to the end of your shoulder bone.
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9. Upper Arm
For this measurment we want to find the widest point of your upper arm.
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10. Wrist
Look for the smallest point in your wrist and measure it.
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11. Ankle
Againg you want to find the smallest point of your ankle and measure.
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12. Armhole
For this measurment find your shoulder bone and measure around your armpit, looping back around to meet your shoulder bone again.
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13. Nape to Waist
Find the nape of your neck and then using the elastic you have around your waist measure the distance between the two.
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14. Armscye Depth
For this you want to measure from the mid point of your shoulder to the bottom of your shoulder blade.
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15. Waist to Floor
Using the piece of elastic around your waist, measure from there to the bottom of your heel.
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16. Waist to Hip
Finding the widest point of your hip, measure from there to the ealstic on your waist.
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17. Waist to Knee
Find the dip in the back of your knee and measure from there to the ealstic around your waist.
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18. Back Width
Measure the width of your back going from armpit to armpit.
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