Some Basic Guidelines on Dress Measurements

Here are some basic guidelines to use when getting measurements to make a dress. Always have a second pair of hands to achieve the best measurements. If you are still unclear about how to take your own measurements, you can always have it professionally done for you.

Height: Stand on the floor in bare feet with your back against the wall. Look straight ahead. Chalk a tiny line on the wall level with the top of the head. Measure from the floor to this mark.

Bust: Measure at fullest part of bust.

Waist: tie a piece of string around your natural waist. Measure the string without removing it. Leave the string there for other measurements.

Hips: Place the tape around the fullest part of the figure. This is usually about 9 inches below the waist for misses and women's, and 7 inches below the waist for miss petite, half size, junior petite, and young junior/teen.

Back - neck to waist: Find the bone that sticks out at the nap of the neck and measure from this point down to the middle of the waistline.

Shoulder width: Clasp hands together at the front of the waist line. With arms slightly forward and raised, measure across the back from shoulder point to shoulder point.

Back width - armhole to armhole: Measure across the back at the shoulder blade level. Start and finish where the normal armhole seams lie.

Shoulder length - right and left: Measure from the base of the neck to the point of the shoulder on each side. The two measurements may be slightly different.

Front bodice - center front, right, and left: (Center) Measure from the neckline straight down to the waistline. (Right and left) Measure from the shoulder seam placement to the waistline on each side, over the bust.

Side bodice - right and left: Stand up straight with hands resting on hips and measure each side from one inch below the armpit down to the waistline. There may be a slight difference on each side in measurement.

Chest - above bust and on bust at front: (Above) Measure around at underarm level above the bust. (Bust at Front) Measure from underarm seam to underarm seam over the bust. If this measurement is 2 inches or more then the back width, your pattern may have to be altered to allow more room.

Chest - diaphragm: Take this measurement around the rib cage, halfway between the waist and the fullest part of the bust.

Shoulder to elbow: Bend your arm and measure from the point of the shoulder to the point of the elbow.

Sleeve length: Bend the arm slightly and measure from the point of the shoulder to the wrist including the bend. It is also helpful to measure 1 inch from below the underarm seam to the wrist with the arm straight.

Wrist: Measure the wrist over the wrist bone.

Neck to hem: Measure form the nape of the neck to the required hem level of dress. Hold the tape in at the waist while measuring.

Waist to hem: Holding tape measure in at waist, measure to the required hem level.