How to Measure Yourself

[@kerstinshadbolt1003]

I recently discovered your excellent channel and will be watching every episode and complete each task. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.🌷

[@valerieconrad1005]

The whole series was great, but this video was particularly helpful! I've been working on fitting a woven bodice, and it hasn't been working. Time to go through the whole process to see how much I learned!

[@camellia8625]

Thank you so much for showing how to measure one’s self.

[@cathygibbs7246]

Soooo helpful to hear your across back formula, and that across front measure includes arm movement. Also hearing that measurements relating to cup size and front waist length are best used as guidelines. That really helps me when I'm trying to adjust patterns and know some measurements are a requirement and others can be tampered with.

[@Ana-ns8fs]

You are so amazing! I wish I lived near you so that I could take your classes in person! Thank you very much!

[@jamieschiff4640]

Wonderful. Very helpful. On the base of the neck to the waist measurement, you use the prominent bone taken from the top of the spine, in line with the neckline…I found a more prominent bone, but it is down further below the neckline.

[@judithsullivan6723]

I find a circumference measuring tape really helpful. Mine has a press snap and a slider which lands at the measurement you are taking.

[@lalasgreco5655]

Alexandra, you are an incredible teacher! Love, love your videos!!!!

[@patriciadoherty464]

This video was extremely helpful to me. You were very easy to understand and follow. Thank you very much for making this video.

[@ramloganfracic5761]

Thank you for sharing this information. Iam learning a. lot.Blessing.

[@wendyb7993]

I so so wish I’d found your site earlier I’ve made so many mistakes. Thanks for such in depth tuition🥳🥳🥳

[@solarwinds-]

Wonderful. Very helpful.

[@marieeaton-smith5168]

This is such a great help. Thank you.

[@kellietrudel8222]

Perfect. Thank you!!

[@nadineramakrishnan5178]

Hi Alexander, I’ve been following your videos n all very well explained. I sew as a hobby and I’ve tried the Bria shorts and the pant and have to say that it is a perfect way of calculating to get the correct fit. Now I am on to the skirt block n in this video u hv shown how to measure the centre back depth. I’m guessing the centre front depth is the same? Thanks😊

[@amidoll3983]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge like this and in such a clear way

[@jolenecaruso8948]

Excellent!

[@hjkennaugh]

That was a really useful video. Thank you for doing it personally it really helped.

[@valuablecontent6027]

Wonderful info thanks a lot👍

[@seestellysew8472]

This was very helpful. Thank you very much.

[@judihargraves1037]

I just watched the video, and took my measurements. When I put them on the chart, when reading the cup size information, it says to subtract the bust girth from the high bust girth. It should say to subtract the high bust from the bust girth. I plan to watch many more videos, as I have run into some issues with pants fitting. Such as the back at the waist drops when I sit.

[@AlexandraMorganInHousePatterns]

That’s right. Really it’s the difference between the two that matters with that calculation.

[@eileenfb1948]

Excellent, thank you.

[@illapopof7966]

I recently discovered your channel. I have a lot of fit issues and I solved a couple of them thanks to you guys. But I always have a problem when I put sleeves on a model. You say in your video that the back build is smaller than the front build. For me this is not the case: I have a wider back than the front! Is this a bad measurement? Or is it related to the fact that my shoulder is forward? Thank you very much for your clarifications. See you soon.

[@AlexandraMorganInHousePatterns]

Generally the upper back (above the base of the armhole) is wider than the front pattern, it is the bust waist and hip that is narrower on the back than the front.

[@samantham6367]

Hi Alexandra, thank you for the video! I have a question about the centre back waist to hip measurement. Should the measuring tape be held against the body for this, or should it be held taught between the points? I must have a hollow back, because if I hold the tape taught between hip and waist, the tape doesn't touch my body all the way down.

[@AlexandraMorganInHousePatterns]

I would record both measurements. The curvier the spine the longer the measurement so it will depend on the type of garment you are fitting. A loosely fitted garment will likely use the straight measurement, a more fitted garment will use the longer measurement.

[@samantham6367]

@@AlexandraMorganInHousePatterns Thank you!

[@barbaragruenenfelder]

hi alexandra, i like your videos very much. they are so clear, and address so many fitting issues. one question about hip measurements. my biggest girth is about 2 inches below the crotch. in the more usual position just above the crotch, the biggest girth is about 2 inches less. which measurements would you take for dresses, long jackets and trousers?

[@Veevifashion]

Please do a video on creating patterns

[@mamahops]

Help, what adjustments should I do first? Should I adjust the lengths first and the do the bust point and then do the full bust adjustment. After this I usually have to do a front and back arms arch adjustment. As you can guess I have a lot of alterations before I can sew my garment. Please help. I have yet to make a garment , because I cannot get the fitting correct.

[@jimkoss3318]

What differences would I make for men’s measurements?

[@marshadavis6649]

What is your reasoning for not taking the crotch length measurement with other body self measurements? That really tripped me up until I learned to make that adjustment. 😊 Thanks, Marsha

[@deborahdidonato6103]

Thank you Alexandra for all of this helpful information! I have a question about what is considered the base of your armpit, specifically in relation to number 3 in step 5 of fitting the muslin in your fitting guide. I’m having trouble determining exactly where this should be. Thank you!!

[@wmee7325]

What about personally measuring the armscye?

[@AlexandraMorganInHousePatterns]

w mee see my series on sleeve fitting.😀

[@katherinelaw3592]

Really useful but what about pant measurements?

[@AlexandraMorganInHousePatterns]

Katherine Law a subject for another day 😄

[@katherinelaw3592]

Great, I’ll look forward to that. 😊

[@siamese35]

Do you plan on making your patterns larger. I love them but can’t fit in them.

[@janeahrens572]

Is there a specific vertical or horizontal measurement that helps with a rounded upper back before making a muslin? My back length is so many inches but of course, I need more at the top then I need to take in above the waist for a swayback.

[@AlexandraMorganInHousePatterns]

You can segment your cb to waist length. Cb neck to bust, then bust to waist.

[@momzilla9491]

Good morning Alexandra. Do you mind me asking how tall you are? Last month I was studying Di Vinci's Vesuvian Man.... ie; The center of a man's body is the belly button... LOL My poor husband who was my study is 6 feet! Me? I've shrunk! I'm now only 5'6.5. It was fascinating, and I figured that the man Di Vinci modeled was 5'10 which was tall for that period! I've been to Rome, and those beds just did not fit this model. Canadians used to be among the tallest people, but no more. If I remember, average height of Canadian men was 5'7 and women 5'3. Then other studies show men were 5'9... If we were all just perfectly proportioned I could just ask, "How tall are you" and draft the perfect bodice! Thanks for always letting me pick your brains. Love from TO!

[@AlexandraMorganInHousePatterns]

I'm 5' 4" and definitely don't have ideal proportions. I love that you can create the illusion of the ideal proportion with clothing. This is the principle of good design, this is why some things are so pleasing to the eye and others not so much. As sewers sometimes it's a bit trial and error until we understand our own bodies.

[@momzilla9491]

@@AlexandraMorganInHousePatterns last month I found a German pattern company that blew my mind. They supposedly based on their patterns Di Vinci's proportions. That's why I did the study on my own. I know that I bookmarked it, but can't recall where yet. Sad, but the patterns look very dated but the principal? They sell you a postcard sized picture and a special measuring tape... They say that the only thing you need adjust for is the height. I saw the demonstrator just measure out from the cardinal points on the postcard pic, (shoulder point, underarm point etc) and he had a full size pattern in 2 minutes. Just crazy! He didn't sew the pattern, but cut it out on cardboard, folded it, and placed it against his lovely young model with maybe a size C cup. Beautiful front fit! LOL, Nothing could be that simple, but the concept? Wow. Imagine where we will be in 100 years with the new tricks we learn. All I know is that I don't qualify for that perfect size 12 I was in my 20s, when I worked with a Bridal Apparel manufacturer, so I need to learn every adjustment there is, so I spot destroying my fabric. Tissue fittings only go so far! Love from TO! p.s. New last week for Vancouver Island... Someone was setting up wire Trip Wires where people would not see them until it was too late. Be safe!