This article aims to help you choose the right size for the pattern and to explain the difference between your measurements and the finished garment measurements.
1. MEASURING YOUR SIZE (to decide what pattern size to use)
To help choose the right size, you will need to measure your bust, waist and hip. Use a tape measure over your underwear or form fitting clothing and compare your body measurements with those on our size chart, choosing the size that closest matches your measurements.
Use the diagram above to help you measure on the right spots.
BUST:Measure around the back, under the arms and across the fullest part of the bust. The tape measure should be flat against the figure, straight across the back and not too tight.
WAIST: Measure around the waist, with the tape measure flat against the figure and snug but not too tight.
HIPS: Measure over the fullest part of the hips, usually 21-23cm / 8-9” down from the waist. The fullest part of the hip maybe higher or lower depending on the individual figure.
Note the measurements in the first section of the size chart above are in centimeters and the second section is in inches.
If your own measurements are in between sizes, we recommend that you choose the larger size, as its much easier to make a garment smaller. If your measurements are only slightly different than our size chart, choose the closest size, as all our patterns include wearing and style ease on top of the body measurements.
Please note that the size chart is not the finished garment measurements.
We recommend that you also measure your body length and compare to the finished garment length measurements given. To achieve a perfect, individual fit, you may need to adjust the patterns length.
2. Understanding the FINISHED MEASUREMENT CHART
Each pattern has a Finished Garment Measurement chart. For example, it might tell you the length of a skirt (from waist to hem) or it might tell you the finished chest size of a dress. This is important because you may choose to make your skirt longer, or you might want to check the dress will be big enough for your bust. The Finished Measurement Chart is NOT a size chart.
For example:
If your chest measures 110cm and the chest finished garment measurement for the dress is 120cm, it means there will be 10cm of "ease" (5cm each side).
If the finished garment length (waist to hem) measurement for the skirt is 50cm and you want to make the skirt 52cm waist to hem, you will need to adjust the length of the pattern. Adjusting the length of a garment is covered in a separate blog.
