Determine Your Size in a Sewing Pattern

Sewing pattern sizing is different from off-the-rack sizing. So forget about what size you buy in the store and start making clothes that actually fit!

Measure yourself, or better yet, have a friend help you. Wear normal undergarments and measure your bust at its fullest part, waist, and hips. These are three key areas for choosing your pattern size, although many more specific measurements may be used later to customize the fit of your sewn garment.

If you are larger than a B cup, also measure your high bust. Place the tape measure just under your armpits and measure your upper chest. For the purposes of choosing a pattern size, this is your bust measurement.

Bust, waist, and hip are stated in inches. The black bar above states the corresponding size. Write down your measurements on a card that you can keep in your purse so that it's handy when you are pattern shopping. Look at the back of the pattern envelope, usually on the top flap, and find a chart with measurements and corresponding sizes.

If choosing a pattern for a dress, blouse, shirt, or top, follow your bust measurement (for B cup and smaller) or your high bust measurement (for C cup and larger). If you have a C cup or larger and choose the pattern based on your bust measurement, the garment will be too big in the shoulders and torso. You must choose based on the high bust measurement and later do a full bust adjustment before cutting the fabric.

For example, someone with a bust measurement of 36", a D cup, and a high bust measurement of 32" would choose size 10 from the sample pattern above. Someone with a bust measurement of 36" and a B cup would choose size 14.

If choosing a pattern for pants or a skirt, follow your waist measurement. Hips are easier to adjust than the waist. In the case of very full pants or full skirts, no adjustment is necessary.

If your measurement falls between numbers, generally you should choose the larger size. Making slight adjustment to the pattern is easier when going a size down than a size up.

choosing the right pattern size