Getting the facts straight

Why do you sew?

Some people are just born makers. Our family are makers, I have sewn since I was about ten, and chose a career in the clothing trade.  I am a pattern maker and grader.
My husband is a great 'do it yourselfer'.
 My daughter, although she hated being in clothing factories when she was younger, is a more prolific sewist and blogger than I have ever been. You can see her blog here.
My son has just completed studies as an Industrial designer. And you can see his page here.
 We just make things naturally

Maybe you sew because you like making things.

Maybe you sew because you have great styles in your head and you want to have them in reality.

Maybe you don't want to be just like a sheep, like everyone else.

Wow! Great coat you are wearing! Where can I get one?

Maybe your body isn't a standard size.
                                  
Once upon a time , I was the model for a clothing store. I had a size 34 body. I also worked in the design department. Every week we would go through all the styles we had made that week, and I would try them on for the buyers. They would critique them and we would adjust the styles accordingly.
Even then, at the age of 23, we discovered my bust level was one inch lower than the average, and bust darts looked funny. I was devastated! I was not normal!

Now, 33 years later, I am no longer a size 34.I still think I am in my head, but no. I have now a bust measuring 41 inches, and I am absolutely sure that the bust level is a lot more than 1 inch lower than normal. I measure, but in my head I want to be the same size I was when I was 23. Then I forget what the measurement is. Denial, I know!

I'm on the right. Size 34??? I don't think so!

TO SEW SUCCESSFULLY, ONE HAS TO ACCEPT THE SIZE THAT YOU ARE.

In order to correct sewing mistakes in the future, the first thing you need to do is get a friend to measure you. Maybe you can find a sewing buddy, and you can do the same for them. Having a good understanding about what your body is like, and not the imagined picture of yourself in your head, and definitely not the picture of the style on the pattern that you want to make.

Get yourself some elastic , and make some rings, which you can put  around your body as a reference.

Make some coffee for you and your measuring friend, and then start measuring!


I know, you already don't want to do this. Hell, even I wouldn't want to do it.

 But it won't take long, and the measurements will be there, for you to call on whenever you need them. 

The essential measurements are as follows.....

1. neck circumference

2. bust circumference

3. waist circumference

4. abdomen circumference

5. hip circumference

6. bust span

7. bust height

8. waist height

9. back length

10. back width

11. shoulder

12. waist-abdomen

13. waist-hip

14. biceps

15. wrist circumference 

16. overarm

17. outside seam

18. crotch depth

******Measure bust height (7) and waist height (8) around neck (double) and divide by 2.*******

1      Neck Circumference: Measure around lowest part of neck, at the base

2  Bust Circumference: Marked with elastic. Measure around the fullest part of the

                              bust, keeping the tape high at the back

3  Waist Circumference: Measure waist at the elastic tape

4  Abdomen Circumference: Measured on the level where abdomen circumference is

                                     maximum

   Hip Circumference: Measured over the largest part of your bottom/thighs (at elastic)

   Bust Span: Horizontal distance between bust apexes (also called bust bridge).

              Measured along bust elastic.

7 Bust Height: Measure from center of back neck over shoulder to apex of one breast

8 WAIST HEIGHT: Measure from center of back neck over shoulder to breast apex

       and from there vertically to lower edge of waist elastic. To be sure to get right

       measurements, take this and bust height as a link around neck (=double) and

       divide the result by 2 (see picture).

9 BACK LENGTH: Measure from center of back neck to lower edge of waist elastic

1 BACK WIDTH: hang your arms relaxed on your sides. The measurement is taken

       horizontally between shoulder blades (i.e. from sleeve seam to sleeve seam), from

       and to the point where your arm meets your body (but not to armpit) about 4" (10

       cms) from neck downwards.

1 Shoulder length: Measure from neck to shoulder tip. Shoulder tip is found when you

       raise your arm to horizontal position and feel where there is hollow/pit between

       shoulder and arm bones. Hold your arm horizontal, if necessary, to find this point.

1 Waist-Abdomen: Measure vertically from lower edge of waist elastic to lower edge

       of abdomen elastic. Measure at front center.

   Waist-Hip: Measure vertically from lower edge of waist elastic to lower edge of hip

       elastic. Measure at the side.

    Biceps circumference: Measure at widest point of upper arm.

   Wrist circumference: Measure over wrist bone

    Overarm: Arm length from shoulder tip (as described above) to wrist. Bend arm

      slightly and measure over outside of elbow.

Outside seam: Measure from waist over the outside curvature of the hip to the

      desired cuff length.

   CROTCH DEPTH: Sit on unpadded bench or chair. Measure vertically from waist

      elastic to chair level on both sides, and use the longer measurement. Measure in a

      straight line, not along the outside hip curve. (Crotch depth can also be measured

      from a pair of old, well fitting pants.) Crotch depth is the difference between outside

and inside length of pants.

   Desired jacket length from waist elastic to hem

  Desired skirt /dress length from waist elastic to hem