How to Measure a Garment

How to Measure a Garment

Noor Ahmed Raaz
Specialized in Apparel Manufacturing
Owner and Editor in chief Textile Merchandising
Asst. Prof., Department of Textile Engineering
Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology
Email: mnnabi@adust.edu.bd

Garments Measurement :

Accurate body measurements of garments are very important for garment production. Correct measurements of garments can also contribute towards saving production time and reduce production cost. Therefore, well known garments manufacturing industry has a garments measurement department. Today I will give some guidelines about the garment measurements hope this guideline helps you to understand about how to measure a garment.

How to Measure a Garment:

The following guidelines are intended to advise on the best ways to handle a garment before and while measuring. Which are as following-

1. The work surface should be a clean, flat, waist-high table and be able to accommodate the full length and width of the garment. The Technical Representative should be standing while measuring.

2. Before measuring, the garment should be laid out flat on the table, free of tension. All wrinkles and creases should be smoothed out.

3. If a crinkle type fabric is being used, do not smooth out the creases.

4. Garments should be measured with all fastenings completely closed, unless otherwise stated.

5. Measurement of length:

• If binding is used it is to be included in the measurement.
• If sew-on neck rib is used it is not to be included. The measurement is to be taken from the seam.

6. The high point shoulder, is the high point of the shoulder at the natural fold, where the shoulder meets the neckline. However, it is not necessarily at the shoulder seam, and the shoulder seams should not be forced to sit at the high point shoulder when taking a measurement from this point.

7. When measuring bias cut garments, hold the garment from both shoulders (for tops and dresses) or waist (for skirts and trousers). Before measuring, smooth the garment in an X along the grain lines to stabilize the garment.

8. When measuring, do not stretch the fabric, unless the method of measure description specifies to stretch or extend the fabric eg. a minimum neck stretch measurement.

9. Measurements should be taken as half or flat measurements unless otherwise indicated in the method of measure description.

10. Padded or filled garments should be measured with the fill compressed as much as possible. This can be achieved by pressing out the air before taking each point of measure.

11. For garments where the back panel is larger than the front panel or vice versa, ensure side seams are rolled to the front (or back) of the garment evenly at each side.

12. All measurements should be taken using a standard tape measure. The tape measure should be checked periodically against a steel ruler to determine and confirm its accuracy.