Where to get measurements taken

These six measurements are the key reference points that most sewing pattern company size charts have - download a copy here for later reference. To measure your neck, pull the tape around the middle, coming from the back to the front. It should sit at the base of the neck above the collar bone. To measure your bust, bring the tape around your back and around to the front. Pull it around the apex or fullest point of your bust. It should be aligned parallel to the floor, making a straight, horizontal line across both your front and back.

If you have someone to help, you record the measurement at the front with your hand down at your sides. To measure your waist, don't measure where your pants finish - this is not your natural waist! Your waist is the smallest part of your torso and right underneath your rib cage near your belly button. Make sure the tape is even across the front and back and parallel to the floor. To measure the hips, keep this in mind: it is not where the top of your hip bone is, it is actually around the largest part of your hip area.

Start measuring from the side base of your neck, at the top shoulder line, and going down towards your waist level passing over your bust point. Try to keep the tape as straight as possible. To measure bust depth, use the same starting point on the shoulder as your front waist length, measuring down to the apex of your bust point. This one is definitely a two person job, so call a friend and have them measure from the nape of the neck, down your spine and to your waist.

To measure the back width, measure horizontally between your arm attachment points underarm. This is your shoulder seam length. Measure from the base of your neck right in the middle of your shoulder from a bird's eye view and along to the tip of your shoulder.

This is normally about 2 inches above your bellybutton. Stand with your stomach at its natural position. The person taking the measurement should leave a little room by keeping a thumb on the inside of the tape.

Again, the tape measure should be held snug, but not tight. HIPS — Measurements should be taken around the fullest part of the hips. Make sure the tape measure stays parallel to the floor. This measurement needs to be taken wearing the exact heel height you will be wearing with your dress. It is very important that you look straight ahead when taking this measurement, looking down will give an inaccurate measurement. Do not take this measurement around the waistband of your clothing.

The hip measurement is taken at the widest part of the hips around your bottom! Do not take this measurement around the waistband of your clothing, or where your hands fall when you "put your hands on your hips. With one arm down at a slight angle, start from the corner of the shoulder and measure down to where you'd like your sleeve to end.

You can also use a shirt that already fits you well. Just lay it flat and measure from the corner shoulder seam to the end of the cuff. This measurement is taken from the base of the neck down to where you would like the jacket hem to end. Simply mark where your measurements fall on the string and then measure that length with a metal measuring tape, ruler or other item of known measurement a standard piece of paper, dollar bill, etc.

Western Show Clothing by Lisa Nelle.