How To Take Your Measurements
It sounds like a daunting task, taking measurements, but it's actually pretty simple! You will need:
1. A tape measure or improvised measure. If you don't have a tape measure, a long piece of string and a ruler or yard/meter stick will do the same job!
2. If you are measuring for an outfit, YOU MUST take your measurements in the corset plan to wear. Corsets not only change the girth of the waist, but also the shape of the torso. So be sure to wear a corset that matches the time period of your outfit! So that means a Renaissance corset for a Renaissance gown, a Civil War corset for a Civil War gown, etc
Then, just follow the instructions below! Easy peasy!
1. A tape measure or improvised measure. If you don't have a tape measure, a long piece of string and a ruler or yard/meter stick will do the same job!
2. If you are measuring for an outfit, YOU MUST take your measurements in the corset plan to wear. Corsets not only change the girth of the waist, but also the shape of the torso. So be sure to wear a corset that matches the time period of your outfit! So that means a Renaissance corset for a Renaissance gown, a Civil War corset for a Civil War gown, etc
Then, just follow the instructions below! Easy peasy!
Above Knee: Take a step forward and lean into a lunge position, flexing the leg muscles. Trace your tape around the leg just above the knee cap.
Across Shoulders: This measurement tells how far apart a garment's armholes should be from one another and is best measured in a t-shirt. Measure from the inside of the shoulder (at the shoulder seam) to the inside of the other shoulder. Measure this across the chest and across the back.
Armscye: This measurement tells how wide the armhole of a top needs to be. Place your tape measure at the tip of the shoulder and trace underneath the arm and back up to the shoulder tip. The arm should be down and relaxed and the tape measure should be a bit loose so it doesn't cut into armpit skin! An alternative to this method is to lay out your favorite t-shirt or tank top on a table and measure the armhole opening.
Below Knee: Take a step forward and lean into a lunge position, flexing the leg muscles. Trace your tape around the upper part of the calf, just below the soft spot in the knee.
Bicep: Locate the center of the bicep and flex the muscle. Trace the tape measure around the circumference of the bicep.
Bust/Chest: The bust/chest measurement is taken at the person's "points" (nipples) as that is usually the widest point of the chest. Trace the tape measure around the circumference of the chest and take down the measurement. Next, have the person take a deep breath to expand their chest. Once it gets to its widest point, record that measurement as well. These numbers tell you the person's natural width as well as how much room they will need to breathe. This measurement range is especially important for men's clothing.
Bust Arc: This measurement is used for Regency corsets to determine the size of gussets needed for the bust. Take your tape measure and place it on your side, where a tank top's side seam sits, about 4" below the armpit. Trace around the bust at the widest point, from one side seam to the next side seam. Do not trace around your back, just your front! :)
Bust To Waist: This measurement tells the length of the front of an hourglass or V-shaped corset. Draw an imaginary line through the widest part of your bust (usually across the nipples/points). Place the tape measure at the center of this line and trace down to the 2" above your bellybutton.
Calf: Locate the widest part of the calf muscle. Raise foot onto tip toes and flex the calf muscle. Trace the tape measure around the circumference of the calf muscle.
Across Shoulders: This measurement tells how far apart a garment's armholes should be from one another and is best measured in a t-shirt. Measure from the inside of the shoulder (at the shoulder seam) to the inside of the other shoulder. Measure this across the chest and across the back.
Armscye: This measurement tells how wide the armhole of a top needs to be. Place your tape measure at the tip of the shoulder and trace underneath the arm and back up to the shoulder tip. The arm should be down and relaxed and the tape measure should be a bit loose so it doesn't cut into armpit skin! An alternative to this method is to lay out your favorite t-shirt or tank top on a table and measure the armhole opening.
Below Knee: Take a step forward and lean into a lunge position, flexing the leg muscles. Trace your tape around the upper part of the calf, just below the soft spot in the knee.
Bicep: Locate the center of the bicep and flex the muscle. Trace the tape measure around the circumference of the bicep.
Bust/Chest: The bust/chest measurement is taken at the person's "points" (nipples) as that is usually the widest point of the chest. Trace the tape measure around the circumference of the chest and take down the measurement. Next, have the person take a deep breath to expand their chest. Once it gets to its widest point, record that measurement as well. These numbers tell you the person's natural width as well as how much room they will need to breathe. This measurement range is especially important for men's clothing.
Bust Arc: This measurement is used for Regency corsets to determine the size of gussets needed for the bust. Take your tape measure and place it on your side, where a tank top's side seam sits, about 4" below the armpit. Trace around the bust at the widest point, from one side seam to the next side seam. Do not trace around your back, just your front! :)
Bust To Waist: This measurement tells the length of the front of an hourglass or V-shaped corset. Draw an imaginary line through the widest part of your bust (usually across the nipples/points). Place the tape measure at the center of this line and trace down to the 2" above your bellybutton.
Calf: Locate the widest part of the calf muscle. Raise foot onto tip toes and flex the calf muscle. Trace the tape measure around the circumference of the calf muscle.
Hips: Find the person's hip bones and trace your tape around the bottom edge of the bones. This point should be 2”-4” below the person's natural waist.
Hip at the Fullest Point: I always measure hips at their widest point so you know the largest dimension a pair or pants, skirt, etc need to be. Find the widest point of the person's bum and trace your tape measure around it. This point should be 2" or more below the person's natural hips.
Inseam: This measurement is only needed for pants. Place the tape measure at the highest point of the inside of the leg. If you are measuring someone who's not family, you may want to have them put the tape where it belongs themselves. :) Pull any kinks out of the tape and take the measurement either down to the floor or the base of the shoe.
Neck to Shoulder: This measurement tells the distance from your neck to the point of your shoulder. It is taken on top of the shoulder, not in back. Place the tape measure at the base of the neck on the side and measure out to the tip of the shoulder.
Neck to Waist: This measurement tells the length of the person's torso, an important consideration for long- or short-waisted people! Place the tape measure at the base of the neck and trace down to 2" above your bellybutton. In back, place the tape at the little nub at the neck base and trace down to the small of the back.
Neck to Underbust: This measurement is for telling the length of Regency bodices and spenders. Place the tape measure at the base of the neck and trace down to the bottom edge of your bra.
Shoulder to Wrist or Knuckles: This measurement tells the length a sleeve needs to be by telling the distance from the top of the shoulder to the hand. Place the tape measure at the top edge of the shoulder and trace down to 2" beyond the boney nub of the wrist or down to the knuckle bones.
Thigh: Take a step forward and lean into a lunge position, flexing the leg muscles. Trace your measuring tape around the circumference of the widest part of the thigh.
Underarm to Hip: This measurement tells you the length of the side of an hourglass corset. It helps to take this measurement in a tank top. Place the tape measure under the arm on the edge of the tank top and trace down to the bottom edge of the hip bone.
Underarm to Waist: This measurement tells you length of a persons side and how much room is needed for the arm to sit comfortably against the body. It helps to take this measurement in a tank top. Place the tape measure under the arm on the edge of the tank top and trace down to the waist (about 4" above the hip bone).
Underbust: This measurement is also called the “ribcage” measure. Place tape on the bottom edge of your bra and trace around the circumference of your ribcage.
Hip at the Fullest Point: I always measure hips at their widest point so you know the largest dimension a pair or pants, skirt, etc need to be. Find the widest point of the person's bum and trace your tape measure around it. This point should be 2" or more below the person's natural hips.
Inseam: This measurement is only needed for pants. Place the tape measure at the highest point of the inside of the leg. If you are measuring someone who's not family, you may want to have them put the tape where it belongs themselves. :) Pull any kinks out of the tape and take the measurement either down to the floor or the base of the shoe.
Neck to Shoulder: This measurement tells the distance from your neck to the point of your shoulder. It is taken on top of the shoulder, not in back. Place the tape measure at the base of the neck on the side and measure out to the tip of the shoulder.
Neck to Waist: This measurement tells the length of the person's torso, an important consideration for long- or short-waisted people! Place the tape measure at the base of the neck and trace down to 2" above your bellybutton. In back, place the tape at the little nub at the neck base and trace down to the small of the back.
Neck to Underbust: This measurement is for telling the length of Regency bodices and spenders. Place the tape measure at the base of the neck and trace down to the bottom edge of your bra.
Shoulder to Wrist or Knuckles: This measurement tells the length a sleeve needs to be by telling the distance from the top of the shoulder to the hand. Place the tape measure at the top edge of the shoulder and trace down to 2" beyond the boney nub of the wrist or down to the knuckle bones.
Thigh: Take a step forward and lean into a lunge position, flexing the leg muscles. Trace your measuring tape around the circumference of the widest part of the thigh.
Underarm to Hip: This measurement tells you the length of the side of an hourglass corset. It helps to take this measurement in a tank top. Place the tape measure under the arm on the edge of the tank top and trace down to the bottom edge of the hip bone.
Underarm to Waist: This measurement tells you length of a persons side and how much room is needed for the arm to sit comfortably against the body. It helps to take this measurement in a tank top. Place the tape measure under the arm on the edge of the tank top and trace down to the waist (about 4" above the hip bone).
Underbust: This measurement is also called the “ribcage” measure. Place tape on the bottom edge of your bra and trace around the circumference of your ribcage.
Underbust to Floor: This measurement tells the length of Regency skirts. Place the tape measure at the bottom edge of your bra and let the rest of it drop to the floor. Pull any kinks out of the tape and take the measurement either at the floor or at the base of the shoe, depending on how long you want the skirt to be.
Waist: Place the tape measure 2" above your belly button and trace around the circumference of the waist. You want the tape to be close to the body but not tight; the skin shouldn't pucker, that is way too tight! Some short waisted people will find their natural waist sits an inch or two further above the belly button. Waist to Floor: Place the tape measure 2" above the bellybutton and let the rest of it drop to the floor. Pull any kinks out of the tape and take the measurement either at the floor or at the base of the shoe, depending on how long you want the garment to be. In back, place the tape at the small of the back and drop the rest to the floor. Take the measurement from the same place you took the front measurement. Waist to Floor with Hoop: Place the tape measure 2" above the bellybutton and let the rest of it drop to the floor. Pull any kinks out of the tape and take the measurement all the way down to the floor. If you are wearing an elliptical hoop, take the same measurement in back. If you are wearing pocket hoops or panniers, take this measurement down your sides. Waist to Knee (for breeches): Draw an invisible line across the torso 2" above the belly button (your natural waist). Place the tape measure on one side of this line and let the rest of it drop to the floor. Pull any kinks out of the tape and trace the tape down to just below the soft spot in your knee. In back, place the tape at the small of the back and drop the rest to the floor. Take the measurement at the lowest point of the base of the knee. |