How to take your measurements
Bust, waist and hip, measured the right way, and how to pick your size.
Step by step
- Wear well-fitting underwear and stand relaxed. A helper makes it easier.
- Bust: around the fullest part, tape level.
- Waist: around your natural waist, the narrowest part.
- Hip: around the fullest part of your hips and seat.
- Keep the tape snug but not tight.
- Compare with the pattern chart. Tops usually go by bust; skirts and trousers by hip. If you fall between sizes you can blend between the size lines.
Watch
The Ultimate Guide to taking your body measurements for dressmaking (6:05)
By Jenni and Kay Create · Open on YouTube
Chosen from its title and channel: a 6-minute video from Jenni and Kay Create on the same topic as this guide. Embedded from YouTube with credit; we don't host it. It only loads when you press play.
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Sources
All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.