The Metric System of Measurement : To make your own clothes, you will benefit by learning the Metric system of measurement, which is easy to understand.
You are here, which shows you are serious about learning stitching and making your own clothes.
The main reason to use metric system is because it is simple, universal and easy.
No matter which part of world you belong to, if you talk about sewing and measurements, others can easily understand what exactly you are talking about.
I have even seen some amazing people using their hands for taking measurements and go by their guess work and still they get to be accurate with the size and get the dress right.
These different methods of taking measurements exist but unfortunately not all of us are that God gifted and experienced to take accurate measurements with our sixth sense.
What is the Metric System of Measurement in Sewing?
For people like us, there is a universal system of measurement, which is called metric system.
Metric system is an alternative system of measurement used in most countries.
While we go along with our projects on this site and on my youtube channel, we’ll be using Metric measurements with imperial values in bracket to facilitate the change to metric system.
Learn with DIY video tutorials
In this system
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters or 2.5 cm (i.e.Inch X 2.5 = cm)
1 yard(36 inches) = 91.5 cm and
1 meter (100 cm) = 39.57 inches.
The values given in this system are not exact but nearly equal, e.g. 60 cm is equal to 23.5″ but the value taken is 24″. In the same way 36″ = 91.5 cm, but here it is taken as 90 cm, in order to make 1/2, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8,1/12 divisions easier.
I have added here conversion table for your ready reference to make things easier for you.
Ready to Use Chart for Armhole and Sleeve Cutting
Ready-to-Use Chart for Body Measurement and Standard Measurement
CONVERSION Chart OF INCHES INTO CENTIMETERS
| Inches Cm. | Inches Cm. | Inches Cm. |
| ¼ = 0.6 | 4 = 10.0 | 22 = 56.0 |
| ½ = 1.3 | 5 = 12.5 | 24 = 61.0 |
| ¾ = 2.0 | 6 = 15.0 | 26 = 66.0 |
| 1 = 2.5 | 7 = 18.0 | 28 = 71.0 |
| 1 ¼ = 3.2 | 8 = 20.5 | 30 = 76.0 |
| 1 ½ = 3.8 | 9 = 23.0 | 32 = 81.5 |
| 1 ¾ = 4.5 | 10 = 25.5 | 34 = 86.5 |
| 2 = 5.0 | 12 = 30.5 | 36 = 91.5 |
| 2 ¼ = 5.7 | 14 = 35.5 | 38 = 96.5 |
| 2 ¼ = 6.5 | 16 = 40.5 | 40 = 101.5 |
| 2 ¾ = 7.0 | 18 = 46.0 | 42 = 106.5 |
| 3 = 7.5 | 20 = 51.0 | 44 = 112.0 |
Next time, if you have any confusion and you are not clear about the method of conversion, you may simply refer to this table and get along with your taking measurements and cutting with no hassles.
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