| This is not an article specifically on clothing | | | | because the body is not obviously a flat plain and the |
| measurements that you see in clothing stores but | | | | body expands, you might, say at the front of the |
| instead important measurements that are used when | | | | body i.e. chest area so that there is thus obvious |
| drafting patterns for the body. | | | | curvature or a natural pushing forward of the body. |
| Some notes then on measurements: | | | | However the shoulder width measurement can still be |
| 1) Bodice Length | | | | taken and it is an important measurement. I think |
| (a) is an important measurement from the base of | | | | that the body pushes forward and not that the |
| the neck. It is important to pick out the correct | | | | shoulder tips are located 'outwards' from the body in |
| starting point around the neck and then take the | | | | some way. Still the measurement is easy to take. |
| measurement to the central waist point. In some | | | | 5) Shoulder Tip to Centre Waist: This is an important |
| way this measurement is linked directly to the actual | | | | measurement too and it shows above all the true 3d |
| centre front measurement. | | | | nature of the body. Measurements must be taken in |
| 2) Bodice Length | | | | suitable places to gauge the shape of the body. Many |
| (b) which is taken from the shoulder neck point over | | | | measurements are important to get a full picture of |
| the bust to the waist. There is no direct link to the | | | | the shape of the individual body. This particular |
| first bodice length measurement. For example, | | | | measurement was an important measurement in the |
| subtracting one from the other doesn't seem to be | | | | past. It might still be used in customized clothing |
| overtly important. Still both these measurements are | | | | shops. It is taken from the shoulder tip over the bust |
| basic and significant measurements re: overall shaping | | | | point to the centre waist. |
| and control for the design of the garment. | | | | 6) Shoulder Width: This is taken from the Shoulder |
| Thus these are two types of Bodice Length. Now | | | | Tip to the Shoulder Neck Point, where the shoulder |
| some other measurements: | | | | meets the neck. Follow the shoulder line to where it |
| 3) Chest Measurement. This may be a misleading | | | | ends at the neck. |
| term because firstly one can question whether there | | | | 7) Shoulder Height: This is an interesting |
| is a specific chest line that one can measure. | | | | measurement too which is taken from the shoulder |
| Secondly it is not the chest circumference that I am | | | | tip to a point on the side of the body. The |
| referring to but a measurement called the Chest | | | | measurement you could say is taken along the |
| Measurement but also the Across Measurement | | | | armhole and then straight down to a side waist point. |
| which is important in drafting the front bodied and | | | | It is an important measurement for the 'side of the |
| central to the creation of the armhole. You can ask if | | | | body'. Remember that you are measuring the bodice |
| it is possible to measure the full chest circumference. | | | | and are aiming to separate the arm from the body. |
| You could then measure independently the front and | | | | Do not measure the whole armhole. The shoulder |
| back chest lines. However the aim of the 'across' or | | | | height is the height of the bodice from the shoulder |
| chest measurement is to draft the armhole. Yes it is | | | | tip to a suitable point on the waist line. |
| an important measurement for the drafting of the | | | | 8) Side Measurement: This is the measurement for |
| armhole and one could say that this measurement | | | | the side seam for a waist length garment and is |
| should go across the body from one underarm point | | | | taken from under the arm to waist level. |
| to another. | | | | 8) Waist Measurement: Remember these |
| The person being measured should of course raise | | | | measurements are important in drafting patterns. |
| their arms. Still the measurement is not clear and in | | | | They are used for drafting the front bodice and this |
| some drawings you may see the measurement | | | | measurement is not the full waist circumference but |
| taken to a mid armhole line. Note too that for | | | | from one side to the other across the front. |
| women's measurements, the chest measurement is a | | | | 9) Neck Measurement: A suitable neck measurement |
| distinct measurement from the bust measurement | | | | should be taken across the front from shoulder neck |
| which is measured over the bust. The chest | | | | point to shoulder neck point. This measurement |
| measurement is the line above the bust and this may | | | | follows of course the neck line. It goes down to the |
| help in clarifying the chest or 'across' measurement. It | | | | base of neck and up again. |
| is thus a measurement possibly best taken under the | | | | 10) Other measurements: There is of course a |
| arms and above the bust. | | | | suitable hip measurement but most basic patterns are |
| 4) Shoulder Width: This is an interesting measurement | | | | drafted to the waist. There is also a measurement |
| taken from one shoulder tip point across the front of | | | | from the bust to waist level but it may not be too |
| the body to the other shoulder tip. If you look at | | | | important. There is also a measurement from bust |
| some images of the body, you will see that this | | | | point to bust point. |
| measurement can be easily taken. It might be difficult | | | | |