When choosing your next sweater project it is important to consider the body that will be wearing the sweater. Choosing a sweater that provides balance and proportion for your body shape is key to making a sweater that looks stunning! But before you can find a sweater shape that will look AM-A-ZING you’ll need to get accurate measurements. After you have your measurements I’ll show you how to do a couple quick (easy) math problems to find out your body silhouette. Let’s get to it!
Measurement Tips
Taking measurements won’t do you any good unless they are accurate so before you get started here are some things to keep in mind as you’re measuring.
1. Keep the measuring tape parallel to the ground at all times.
2. Pull the measuring tape snug but not so tight that it squeezes your body.
3. Don’t suck in your stomach when getting waist measurements as it will give you an inaccurate number. *NOTE: have someone help you measure, looking down can make you suck in your stomach without realizing it.
4. Wear the undergarments you plan on wearing under your sweater.
Taking Your Measurements
In order to determine your body shape you will need to know your bust, waist and hip measurements.
______ BUST: Stand up straight and wrap the measuring tape around your back and across the fullest part of your breasts, usually the middle of them. Pull the measuring tape as taut as you can without changing the shape of your breasts. If things start to squish, you’ve gone too far.
______ WAIST: Wrap the measuring tape around your torso, at the smallest part of your natural waist. It should wrap flat around your back without buckling and meet just above your belly button.
______ HIPS: Hold the measuring tape at one hip, below your hip bone, at the fullest part of your hip. Then, keeping the tape flat, wrap it around the largest part of your butt (no cheating!), your other hip, and bring it back to the meeting point.
Using Your Measurements
Now that you’ve measured yourself you can use those numbers to help determine your silhouette shape.
Hourglass Figure
Your shoulders and hips are around the same size, with a very defined waistline.
Check your numbers:
Your shoulder and hip measurements should be within 5 percent of each other.
______ bust measurement x .05 = ______ approximate difference between bust/hip measurements
Your waist is at least 25 percent smaller than your hip and bust measurements. For example, if your bust and hips measure 36 inches, your waist is 27 inches or smaller.
______ bust measurement x .25 = ______ this number and higher is the approximate difference between bust/waist measurements & hips/waist measurements
Upper Figure
Your shoulders or bust are larger than your hips.
Check your numbers:
Your bust measurements are more than 5 percent bigger than your hip measurement. For example, if your bust measures 36 inches, your hips will be 34 1/4 inches or smaller.
______ bust measurement x .05 ______ hips must be this much smaller than bust
Linear Figure
Your shoulders, bust and hips are around the same size, with no defined waistline. Very angular features.
Check your numbers:
______ bust measurement x .05 = ______ approximate difference between bust/hip measurements
______ bust measurement x .25 = ______ this number and lower is the approximate difference between bust/waist measurements & hips/waist measurements
Your bust and hip measurements are within 5 percent of each other. Your waist is less than 25 percent smaller than your bust measurements. For example, if your bust measures 36 inches, your waist will be 27 inches or more
Lower Figure
Your hips are wider than your shoulders.
Check your numbers:
______ hip measurement x .05 = ______ this number and higher is the approximate difference between hip/bust measurements
Your hip measurement is more than 5 percent bigger than your bust measurements. For example, if your bust measures 36 inches, your hips are 37 3/4 inches or larger
Middle Figure
Your shoulders, bust and hips are around the same size, with no defined waistline. Your figure is very soft looking and your waist measurement can be larger than your bust or hip measurement.
Check your numbers:
______ bust measurement x .05 = ______ approximate difference between bust/hip measurements
Your bust and hip measurements are within 5 percent of each other. Your waist will be similar to or larger than your bust and hip measurements. For example, if your bust measures 36 inches, your waist will be close to 36 inches or more.
Moving On
In the next section you’ll learn which sweater styles and construction methods are best for your silhouette along with which details you should focus on!