The torso measurements use a number of reference points on the body. The same points, e.g waist-front, are used by several measurements and it is essential that the points used are consistent. I recommend making a small mark on the skin as a reference (using a Sharpie or makeup pencil). It is also essential that you stand naturally when taking the measurements, and that means you will need someone to help take the measurements; if you bend or twist to read the measurement, you will change the measurement.

The attached PDF shows how the measurements should be taken. If the diagrams are ambiguous then please provide feedback so that I can improve them.

Unless otherwise stated, all measurements should be taken stood up straight, head up, facing forward, arms relaxed by your side. Don’t slouch. Don’t overly inflate or deflate the chest. Tense the stomach, but don’t suck it in. I suggest taking all the measurements a second time to eliminate costly errors.

Waist: We want the natural waist, the smallest circumference of the torso (men’s trousers normally sit well below the natural waist). The natural waist is likely to be just above the navel. You can find the waist by tying a thin strip of latex or elastic around the torso; this will naturally find the smallest circumference. The waist line may not be horizontal, it is okay if it is higher at the back than the front. Mark the WF point at the centre front (it is not necessary to write WF, just draw a dot). Mark the point WB where the waist meets the spine. The side point WS will probably be half way around, but check this by eye. Make a note of the circumference waist_circ.

Neck: We want the circumference of the neck at the bottom of the neck – not the narrowest part of the neck which is likely the middle. The neck circumference will not be horizontal. Find the shoulder line; use the line of the muscle that runs from the top of the shoulder to the neck. Mark a dot NS where the shoulder line meets the neck circumference. Mark a dot for NF neck front, NB neck back and NS neck side. Make a note of the neck circumference neck_circ.

Shoulder point: Find the shoulder point SP. Wrap a tape measure around the arm, snug, but not tight, with the arm relaxed. This measurement is the armscye. The intersection of the armscye and shoulder line is the shoulder point. Make a mark at the shoulder point, SP. Find the point at the bottom of the arsmcye vertically inline with waist side WS, this is the armpit point AP. Measure from WS to AP. Note that if you have developed lattissimus dorsi muscles then the armscye will be deeper at the back than the front, and the AP point higher than the lowest point of the armscye.

Also measure the vertical height from AP to SP. To aid with this you can make callipers from stiff cardboard.

Measure from NS to SP, from NS to BP (bust point – nipple), and from BP to SP.

Chest: measure around the chest at the height of the nipples. The chest circumference bust_circ measurement should be horizontal. Ensure that the tape measure doesn’t ride down the back, but is level with the nipples. Mark a point at the centre front, BF, and centre back BB. Also measure the circumference below the chest muscles – low_bust_circ. Measure from WF to BF, from WF to NF, and the distance between nipples BP-BP.

Back: from behind, measure from WB to NB, from WB to NS, and WB to SP.

Armfold: The armfold measurement is taken halfway up the arms dye. From the front, this is likely 1/2 way between BF and NF; from the rear this is likely 3/4 up from the WF to NF. The armfold measurement is from one armscye to the other.

Hip: The hip is largest circumference measurement around the fullest part of the butt, in line with the hip joint. The hip circumference should be horizontal. Mark a point at hip front HF, hip side HS and hip back HB. Measure from waist back WB to hip back HB.

High hip: the high hip is commonly where men’s trousers sit, just below the illium crest. The high hip circumference should be horizontal. Mark points for high hip front HHF and high hip back HHB. Measure from WF to HHF and from WB to HHB.

Measure from WS to HS. The rear part of the hip circumference will be larger than the front, measure the rear hip measurement HS-HB-HS and the front hip measurement HS-HF-HS. The sum of these two measurements should equal the hip circumference.

Crotch length: Measure from WB, through the crotch to WF. The tape measure should sit slightly between the buttocks – like a tight pair of jeans, not like a thong. Measure to one side of the genitals, not over them.

Crotch rise. Measure the vertical height of WF and WB above the lowest point of the crotch. You can measure this by straddling a rod (ideally a spirit level) and then measuring vertically to WF and WF using a ruler.

Arms: Measure the arms relaxed by your side. Five circumference measurements are required: wrist; forearm; elbow; above elbow; and upper arm (bicep). Two lengths are required, from shoulder point to wrist SP-W, and from shoulder point to elbow SP-E.

The upper arm measurement should be taken halfway down the top of the arm. The forearm measurement should be the largest circumference of the lower arm – the pattern assumes this is 1/6 the distance from elbow to wrist.

Legs: Seven leg circumference measurements are required: upper thigh; mid-thigh; knee; below-knee; calf; high ankle and ankle. Three height measurements are required, taken from the ground to high ankle, calf and knee. The upper thigh circumference is taken at the top of leg at the height of the crotch – below the butt cheek. The mid thigh measurement should be halfway from crotch to knee. The knee height should be to the centre of the knee. The below knee measurement where the leg is narrower just below the knee. The high ankle circumference is the thinnest part of the leg.