Tea Rose Garden

Getting Started

Measurement Guide from Otome No Sewing #1

– We recommend that you have a friend take measurements, or go to a tailor (who can do so for a fee).

– Wear comfortable and simple underwear that will keep your measurements true to form (no pushup bras, not too tight)

– Stand with back straight in a comfortable posture, feet together

– Make sure model is not holding in breath or sucking in stomach

If you need to measure yourself:

– Stand in front of a mirror 

– Look straight ahead while taking the measurements.

– Make sure the tape measure is parallel to the floor for circumference measurements

Shoulder width

Your shoulder width is the length between your shoulder points. To locate your shoulder points, run your finger along the top edge of your collarbone. Stop when you reach the far tip. You are looking for the point where the arm bone meets the collarbone. Ask your model to rub their hands together close to their chest in a circular motion. You should feel the arm bone pulsate underneath your finger. 

Mark the shoulder point on both sides. Japanese measurements call for measuring from the front, from shoulder point to shoulder point. Chinese and Western measurements call for measuring from the back, from shoulder point to shoulder point. It doesn’t hurt to have both measurements, as they may differ slightly.

Bust circumference

This measurement needs to be at the fullest part of your bust, over the apex of the breasts, or the nipples. Wrap the measuring tape around your chest, making sure your arms are dropped and that the measuring tape is snug around your body. Not pulling it tight, not putting a finger underneath. Make sure the tape measure is parallel to the floor.

Underbust circumference

Lift your arms. Wrap the measuring tape around just under the bust where the underwire of your bra would sit. Lower your arms and adjust as necessary. Make sure the tape is parallel to the floor and take the measurement.

Waist

Find your waist on your body. Generally speaking, it is right above the bellybutton, but can vary for different body types. You are looking for the smallest part of your torso (between your bust and your hip). Tie an elastic or a piece of string around your waist to make sure you have it positioned correctly. Wrap the measuring tape around the waist and take your measurement.

Hip

This is not the hipbone. This is the fullest part of your body below the waist. Generally speaking, this will be over the fullest part of your butt, but this may vary for different body types. Make sure your tape measure is straight around the body and parallel to the ground. Take the measurement.

Armhole Circumference

Put a hand on your waist until you are making a right angle with your arm. This ensures that your bicep is at its fullest and you can take an accurate measurement. Take the measurement at the fullest part of your bicep.

Sleeve length

First, put your hand on your hip, making sure that your arm makes a right angle. Next, locate the shoulder point and measure from the shoulder point, past the elbow, and down to the wrist. 

References:

How to Measure (Bust, Waist, Hip) from Made to Sew

Taking women’s measurements for fashion from PatternLabLondon

How to Measure Shoulder Width from WikiHow