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.
