In order to do custom made clothing, body measurements are needed. On this page, you will find the body diagram. Keep in mind that all measurements may not be needed depending on what kind of clothing you want. For example, if you want a skirt, I wouldn’t need your torso measurements, but I would definitely need these for a bodice. I can help you understand which of these are needed for what you want made.

*Please keep in mind that sizing varies quite a bit, so I will need actual measurements rather than just clothing sizes.

What will you need?

To measure, you will need a flexible measuring tape, such as the one below. 

If you don’t have one, you can also use a ruler and a string. The process is the same with the string as it is with the measuring tape, with the extra step of measuring its length with the ruler. It is helpful to have another person assist you, or at least a mirror to be able to see what you’re doing. 

When measuring, it’s best to wear clothing close to the body that will not bunch up as you are measuring. Also be to sure to wear undergarments that are similar to what you plan on wearing under the new outfit. You can also just wear the undergarments when measuring.

Measuring Your Torso

Now on to measuring! We are going to start at the top with your shoulders. For this, you can either just feel for your shoulder bone, or you can find where your shoulder bends by raising your arms. Measure the distance from this point on one shoulder to the same point on the other shoulder. When measuring the length of your arms for sleeves, start beginning at the top of your shoulder down to the length of the sleeve desired. 

Next, we go to the bust. Place the tape around the fullest part of your bust, making sure the tape stays parallel to the ground in the back. 

The upper bust is above the bust measurement, at your armpits. The under bust is at the same place as your typical bra band location. Again, be sure the tape stays parallel to the ground with both of these.  

Next, we will find your natural waist. Often, we are told this is the narrowest part of our torso between the bust and hips, but that is not always the easiest to identify with differing body shapes. To find your natural waist, when standing, bend side to side. The point at which you bend is your natural waist. 

Now that you have found your natural waist, we can do some vertical measurements. Your front waist is just your shoulder to your waist in the front. Measure from the top of your shoulder, over your breast, down to your waist. Your front torso goes from your shoulder down to your hip in a similar fashion. Your back waist and back torso are found the same way, but down your back instead.

You will see that I have a “high hip” and a “hip” measurement on the diagram. The difference in these may vary depending on the shape of your body. Your high hip would be from the top of one hip bone to the other. Your hip is the fullest part around your buttocks. 

Measuring Your Legs

For making pants, the outseam and the inseam are needed. The outseam is the measurement on the outside of your leg from where you wear your pants around your waist/hips down to how long you wear your pants (typically to your ankle or the top of your foot). Your inseam is on the inside of your leg starting at your crotch to the same point you measured on your outseam (except on the inside of your leg). 

Additional Measurements

Sometimes it can also be helpful to have the measurement around the fullest part of your arm, thigh, shin, and/or ankle, if these are typically spots you struggle with fitting or the piece you’d like is particularly form fitting. 

And that’s it! Let me know what you’re envisioning and I can let you know what measurements I need and even walk you through those personally if needed!