We all know that making patterns is a pretty hard thing to do, if you never did it before! So it might be usefull to start out with some regular patterns you can buy in sewing or tailor shop, just to get an idea about it.

So you go out and buy a pattern size “M”, because this is what you usually wear! Afterwards the surprice, its not the best fit!? Then let me explain to you:

First of all, you will never be able to go out shopping for regular clothing and always fit size “M”, sometimes it will be a size bigger or smaler. The reason for that is that the pattern sizes between the different manufactures are not standardized (different reasons like the marketing aspect are causing that.. well all woman feel better in a smaller size, than having size “L” marked on the back!

If you are going out to buy a pattern, then take your body measurements along. You will need bust-waist-hip, and of course your hight. On the back side you will see a chart where you should have a look at, to estimate where your measurements fit in best. (You should take new measurements at least every half year…even if you wont believe, but your body contourse can change!)

So if you finally found the best pattern size for you, it is all just a matter of adjusting things a little! Like making the skirt, blouse, pants etc. a little longer or shorter in case you might be taler or smaler than the given hight on the pattern. Or even tighter, depending on that what you measured!

WATCH OUT: The seams on regular patterns are made for sewing! So not every seam is implementable the way its shown on the pattern and has to be adjusted as well. Start with simple things like a skirt.

Good luck!

Things you need will be a measure tape and a friend to help you. It is easier and more precisely if somebody else takes your measurements then your self, because you should stand straight and not move around!

Here you can see one of those many measurement charts you can find online:

The most important thing about a measurement chart is that you can read it and it got all measurements, also for your future reference.
(You should always make sure if you want something to be custom made from a latex manufacturer that you are accurate with the measurement drawings they provide to you.)

TIP 1. The to be measured person shouldn’t be wearing more than underwear while taking measurements, to get exact results.

TIP 2. Take a ribbon or something similar, which you can bind around the waist. This is one of the anchor points where you´ll have to refer to the most of the time. (Makes it easier for you to find that point again!)

TIP 3. While taking measurements the measure tape should not hang loose around, but don’t pull to hard, just because latex is stretchable it doesn’t mean that you should tighten the measure tape as much as possible.

Some examples for taking the measurements:

1. Waist
Put the measurement tape around the waist ribbon and take the measurement from there.

2. Chest/Breast
For men it is usually enough to take just the measurements over the widest point of the chest. For women you should take the over bust, bust and under bust to make it precisely.

3. Hips
Measurements for the hip should actually be taken at the point where your hip bones are (you will be able to feel them, two bones to the left and right), but in a lot of the cases you will see on measurement charts that they take the hip measurements a little further down. In that case they actually ask for the widest point. No problem! Just take the measure tape a little further down, so that you also get your bum in there.

4. Neck to waist
Take your head down to your chest and try to feel in the back of you neck that big bone sticking out, this is the point from where to measure.

5. Arms
Your arms should hang loose and relaxed while taking measurements.

6. Head
Head measurements are taken just above the ears.