BODY MEASUREMENTS

Before drafting or buying a pattern, it is necessary to have accurate body measurements. Ask someone to take your body measurements for accuracy and good fit. Body measurements can be divided into two categories:

– Blouse/ Shirt measurements

– Skirt/ Trouser measurements

 

Objective

By the end of the lesson, you should be able to explain how to take body measurements accurately.

– Upper arm width

– This is taken round the fullest part of the arm.

 

Wrist Measurement

This is measured around the wrist and two fingers are inserted for ease.

Bust

This is measured at the fullest part of the bust with the tape measure raised at the back and two fingers inserted at the front for ease

Waist

This is measured around the natural waist while inserting two fingers in the tape measure.

 

Hip Measurement

This is measured at the widest part of the hips with two fingers inserted in the tape measure.

Here the hand is placed on the waist and the measurement is taken from the shoulder to the elbow down to the wrist.

This is done to avoid discomfort at the elbow when the hand is folded.

–  Blouse/ Shirt measurements include:

–  Bust

–  Waist

–  Hip

–  Chest width

–  Back width

–  Back length (Nape to waist)

–  Front length

–  Shoulder width

–  Sleeve length

–  Upper arm width

–  Wrist

 

Full length

This is measured from the shoulder to the desired length.

Skirt length

This is measured from the waist to the desired length.

Outer leg/trouser length

This is measured from the waist to the desired length on the side.

Inner leg/trouser length

This is measured from the crotch to the desired length on the inner side of the leg.

 

Crotch depth

This is taken when one is seated on a flat hard surface for accuracy.

It is measured from the waist to the surface of the seat.

–  Skirt/ Trouser measurements include:

–  Waist to hip (Skirt)

–  Skirt length

–  Crotch (for Trouser/ shorts)

–  Full length

–  Outer leg length

–  Inner leg length

 

See also:

OBESITY

OSTEOMALACIA

SCURVY

MARASMUS

KWASHIORKOR