SEWING BASICS - MEASURING YOURSELF

Arguably the trickiest part of sewing is sizing! Throughout the sewing process, measurement and sizing is crucial at almost every step. The way you should measure yourself for sewing is, for some people, surprising. If you're using a pattern the three measurements that are most important are the bust, waist and hip measurements.

TOOLS

Before we get into the details of the best way to measure yourself, it is essential to make sure you have the correct tools. A sewing measuring tape (or in a worst case scenario a string and metre stick) should be used to measure the body, since it will need to conform to round edges and encircle you. If you don't know what a sewing measuring tape looks like I've included a picture for you (left).

Now that you are equipped with the correct tools its time to take the measurements. It's much easier to have someone take these measurements for you rather than doing them yourself, but it can be done solo.

MEASURING THE BUST

For the bust, make sure to measure around the widest part of the chest (over the breasts), right under the armpit. Don't pull the measuring tape to the point of stretching, but make sure it is tight to the body. You always want to measure the widest possible part of the bust.

MEASURING THE WAIST

For the waist measurement, make sure to measure around yourself at bellybutton height. If you're still confused about where your waist is and if you're feeling sassy, you can strike a high fashion pose (right) to help you find the part of your body to measure (hint: its where her hands are).

MEASURING THE HIPS

The hip measurement is the one most commonly measured incorrectly. Your hip measurement should be around the widest part of your body - your bum. It needs to be measured horizontally. Do not let the measuring tape slip to below your bum, or have it on an angle (it should be level across the front and back of your body, and may seem lower than where you traditionally think your 'hips' are).

I've included (below) a visual of where on your body these measurements should be taken. You must measure all the way around your body and make note of whether you are using cm or inches.

I hope that this was instructional and easy to follow. For more on getting started, check out my Sewing Basics posts including 'How to read and follow a pattern', 'Buying fabric & notions', and 'How to read and follow a pattern part 2 - Markings & Symbols'

Also be sure to check Sip & Sew for other exciting content! Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

-- Susan