What do you need to measure yourself?
To get an accurate measurement, you will need the following:
● A tape measure. You can use a fabric or string measuring tape, but they often stretch and aren’t as precise as metal ones. If you don’t already own one, it’s worth buying one just for this purpose (and keep it in your sewing kit).
● A friend willing to help you measure yourself while trying different clothes. I know that sounds silly and obvious, but finding someone who will patiently stand by while you put on dozens of items at once—or worse yet, do the actual measuring—can be challenging!
If possible, find someone with experience in sewing or tailoring which can help with the process; this person should have a good eye for fit and knowledge about how clothes are made. Having another opinion might make things quicker and more accurate (especially if there are two people involved).
Remove your shoes and loose clothing.
● Remove your shoes and any loose clothing. Clothes that are too big or baggy will make the measurement inaccurate.
● If you’re female, wear a bra that fits well and has no padding (to avoid getting measurements off by an inch or so).
Measure your height
● Stand up straight but relaxed. Use a wall or door for support if you need to.
● Stand with your heels, shoulders, hips and knees in line with each other, as shown in the image above.
● Measure from the floor to the top of your head and write down this number (in inches). This is called your height measurement or “overall height.”
Measure your hips
The first thing you’ll want to do is measure your hips. To do this, wrap the measuring tape around the widest part of your body, right above or below where your pants typically sit (your hips). Make sure that it’s straight across and not too tight.
Make sure you stand upright with good posture—you don’t want to accidentally pull in your stomach or stick out your chest!
Measure your chest
To measure your chest, take a tape measure and wrap it around your body, under your armpits and over the fullest part of your chest—that’s right above where the bra line starts. This is essentially the same as measuring for bra size, so if you know what size bra you wear, then that’s how much fabric will be needed to cover up all those delicious curves!
Measure your thigh
Place the tape measure around your leg just above the knee to measure your thigh. Make sure that the tape is level with the floor and take a measurement at this point. This should be your widest point on each leg, so use a mirror if necessary to ensure that both measures are taken from this same point for consistency’s sake. Record this number in inches next to “Thigh” in our chart below—it might look something like 21 1/2 or 33 3/4 inches depending on how you were positioned when you took it—and continue measuring down each column until you’ve completed all of them!
Measure your waist
To measure your waist, you need to find the bottom of your rib cage and then measure around the fullest part of your torso. There are two options for doing this:
● Using a soft tape measure, wrap it securely around your bare skin at the narrowest part of your torso, just above where you would like the waistline of a top or dress to sit. Make sure that there is no slack in the tape and that it is not too tight—this should be comfortable enough that you can breathe easily but snug enough so there’s no room for movement or air.
● You can also use an online calculator that will give you an accurate measurement based on body size: https://www.freckledmagazine.com/how-to-measure-yourself/.
Measure your bust
Measure your bust at the fullest part of your chest. To do this, stand up straight and put your arms by your sides. Place one hand on the other, ensuring that they’re parallel to each other and that you’re holding them against a wall or door frame for support.
To get an accurate measurement, press down slightly on your chest with the hand that isn’t used as a guide (the one resting on top). Use this hand to measure where you’d like to wear a bra: just below the breasts and across from side to side (this is where most women wear their bra cups).
Measure around your ribcage, just below your bust.
Ribcage measurement is an essential part of your body regarding clothes. Remember, this isn’t necessarily the same thing as bust measurement — and you can get a good idea of your ribcage size by simply measuring around your chest, just below your armpits.
If you’re looking for an accurate guide on how to measure yourself correctly at home, check out this guide from About Face Skincare: http://www.aboutfaceskincare.com/body-measurements-guide
Find your fit in any size chart.
When you’re shopping online, finding the right fit can be tricky. The best way to do this is by comparing your size with different brands and comparing them to a brand’s size chart. A size chart should be based on averages, not just one person’s measurements or body type. For example, suppose you’re an “average” woman with an “average” body type and height. In that case, the number that corresponds with your chest measurement (i.e., 32 inches) will probably check with another brand’s size ten shirt, but not all brands are created equal! Some may run smaller than others, so it’s essential to remember when shopping around.
Final thoughts
Remember that measuring yourself for clothes is not a science. You should expect trial and error when shopping for your perfect fit, but at least now you’ll be equipped with the information to make those mistakes less often. So go ahead, give it a try!
