Ready to Use Chart for Body Measurement (Sewing Formulas)

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This Ready-to-Use Chart for Body Measurement is for you, if you need body measurement  chart, Standard Measurement Chart, Sewing Pattern Formulas Chart to make your sewing easier.

This belongs to you, if you are one of the wannabe self designers, but you are suffering with "information overload".

These charts would help you know the Different Sizes of kids, women and men.

Besides, you can refer to the sewing Formula Calculation Chart, that I have given to make any dress, without much efforts.

Common Body Measurement Problems -

You love to sew a dress but you don't know how to take body measurements and what formulas to apply.

You feel confused and overwhelmed because you don't know where to start :-

  1. What measurements you need, 
  2. What are the calculations and formulas for drafting sewing patterns,
  3. How to use the measuring tools, and 
  4. The correct method of taking measurements.

You are right with your fear, if you got the measurements wrong then the whole fabric would be wasted. 

Thus, you try to get as much information as possible, from as many sources as you can get.

You try to make dresses many times, hoping some day the dress would fit right.

Sometimes, you succeed and many times you fail.

If the number of failures are more often, you assume sewing is not for you

With the right information, your learning is much smoother and enjoyable. This related post will make your doubts clear.

Related Post: Do You Have These Sewing Fears?

I have gone through this sewing journey and learning on my own, that's why I decided to write this post.

I have included this ready to use chart for body measurement, that includes the common formulas and calculations that you can use instantly.

1. Standard Measurement Size Chart (inches) : Children

Chest

Waist

Hip / Seat

Shoulder

16

16

16

7.5

18

18

18

8

20

20

20-21-22

9

22

21

23

9.50-10

24

22

26

10-10.50

26

23

30

11-11.50


Sewing for Kids is different from sewing for adults. Hence, you must remember that adult sewing rules do not apply to kids’ dresses.

Sewing for Kids Done Differently | Sewing Children’s Clothes

1. Standard Measurement Size Chart (inches) : Women

Bust

Waist

Hip / Seat

Shoulder

28

23

30

11.50 - 12

30

24

32

12 - 12.50

32

25

34

12.50 - 13

34

26

36

13 - 13.50

36

28

38

13.50 - 14

38-40

31

40

14 - 14.50

1. Standard Measurement Size Chart (inches) : Men

Chest

Waist

Hip / Seat

Shoulder

28

24

30

13

30

26

32

13.50

32

28

34

14.50

34

30

36

15.50

36

32

38

16.50

38

34

40

17

40

36-37

42

17.50

How to Use Body Measurements To Make Sewing Patterns

You can drape fabric around a mannequin or a person to make a dress. This is called draping method, that most fashion designers use for customized clothing.

In order to use draping method, you must be an expert knowing all technicalities.

But the purpose of this website is to provide simpler ways to be your own designer. In this method, we divide the body measurement and accordingly draft the sewing pattern.

I have calculated and noted down all the body size divisions to make your pattern making easier. 

If you find this post useful, please Like it, and leave your YES USEFUL in the below comment section. That would be my motivation to put efforts to bring more useful information for you.

1. Body Measurement Size Division - Calculation Chart (inches)

Size, Division

1/2

1/3

1/4

1/6

1/12

20"

10

6.66

5

3.33

1.66

21"

10.50

7

5.25

3.50

1.75

22"

11

7.33

5.50

3.66

1.83

23"

11.50

7.66

5.75

3.83

1.91

24"

12

8

6

4

2

25"

12.50

8.33

6.25

4.24

2.08

26"

13

8.66

6.50

4.33

2.16

27"

13.50

9

.75

4.50

2.25

28"

14

9.33

7

4.75

2.33

29"

14.50

9.75

7.25

4.83

2.50

30"

15

10

7.50

5

2.50

31"

15.50

0.33

7.75

5.16

2.50

32"

16

10.66

8

5.33

.66

33"

16.50

11

8.25

.50

.75

34"

17

11.33

8.50

5.75

2.83

35"

17.50

11.75

8.75

.66

3

36"

18

12

9

6

3

37"

18.50

12.33

9.25

6.25

3.08

38"

19

12.66

9.50

6.33

3.25

39"

19.50

13

9.75

6.50

3.25

40"

20

13.33

10

6.75

3.33

41"

20.50

13.75

10.25

6.83

3.50

42"

21

14

10.50

7

3.50

43"

21.50

14.33

10.75

.25

.58

The measurements are in EXACT divisions of 1/2, 1/3, 1/6 and so on, to provide EXACT fitting required by anyone.

For ease, you can ROUND OFF THESE FRACTIONS TO NEAREST NUMBER.

For example, if division is 6.66" you can take 6.75". 

Suppose you are taking Size 20", the divisions of 20" are -

  • 1/2=10" 
  • 1/3= 6.6" Mark 6.75"
  • 1/4=5"
  • 1/6=3.3" Mark 3.25" or 3.50"
  • 1/12 =1.66" Mark 1.75"

Kids dresses are not body hugging and tight fitting, so go comfortable while adding a few centimeters here or there.

But for grown up adults (fashion dresses / designer dresses / party dresses) it helps if you go by right calculation and division of measurements.

I have shown in the video, how there are eight parts of an inch and how you go half, one forth and so on.

Though, I tried to make the charts self explanatory, but still if you have any doubt, you can ask me in the below comment section.

Measuring Tape : Has Inches on one side & Centimeters on the other side.

One Inch = 2.54 Cms.

24" Scale = 61 cms. Each Inch shows 16 parts for easy Divisibility & Markings.

How to Use Body measurements and Division Chart to create sewing pattern formulas :-

If you are making your own sewing patterns, you'll use body measurements and divisions for drafting successfully.

Some Formulas for Dress Pattern Making are :

  • Shoulder/2
  • Chest/12
  • Chest/4
  • Waist/4
  • Hip/4
  • Hip/3
  • Hip/6
  • Hip/3
  • Neck/12

These sewing formulas are more than enough for common sewing projects. Please note, women's chest is called bust, and hip is called seat also.  

Example of using the above charts for making sewing pattern

Suppose, Chest is 36" as per body measurement, and you want to make a Top.

Fold the fabric and mark 36 inches divided by 4. That comes out to be 9 inches.

Sewing formula

Suppose standard size of a woman is :-

  • Shoulder = 14 inch
  • Chest = 36 inch
  • Waist = 26 inch
  • Hips = 36 inch

While making a dress pattern, mark :-

Shoulder /2 = 7"

Bust / 4 = 9"

Waist / 4 = 6.5"

Hips / 4 = 9"

If bust size is more than 36", divide the size by four.


Make Your Own Sewing Pattern at Home using Manual or Online Method. It’s easy to make your own sewing pattern using the tips that I use.

How to Make Your Own Sewing Pattern at Home

Important Things You Must Know About Body Measurements

If you want to make a dress, it is helpful to learn body measurementsparticularly for custom fit tailored dresses.

1. What is Body Measurement in Sewing

In simple explanation, you can call it "Home Cooked Food" i.e. made to order. Personally observed and carefully double-checked to adjust health, posture, height and requirements of the wearer.

Printable body measurement sheets

2. What is Standard Body Measurement

Standard measurement is like "Ready Made Packaged Food".

The Standard Measurements of different brands may differ by a few centimeters. Established brands and designers grade their own Standard Measurement Patterns and launch their clothing in the market.

A person's body measurements may differ from standard body measurements due to many reasons. Some of these are -

  • Height
  • Weight
  • Profession
  • Posture
  • Growth
  • Physical Abnormality Etc.

Therefore it is advisable that you consider these factors and make pattern adjustments at the time of cutting.

3. What Is Ideal Body Measurement

The ideal body shape is a myth. You need corrective cosmetic surgeries to get a ideal body measurements.

The glamour industry label the women body shape as 36"-24"-36" but that is flawed, and I do not support that personally.

I spent more than 30 years sewing for fun and work, but the exact IDEAL is hard to get. Perhaps, I have yet to meet such a person who has achieved perfect body shape. 

As I mentioned earlier, your body measurements differ due to diet, hereditary, climate, lifestyle, posture and so many other reasons.

You must accept yourself as a person and take good care of your health rather than focusing on a particular body shape.

Dresses and dress patterns available in the market are as per Standard Measurements but each brand and clothing manufacturer modify their patterns as per customer demand.

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