A precise measurement of the circumference of the hips is important to get tailored clothes or to evaluate if you have managed to lose weight. To achieve this, you need to find the widest point on your hips. For starters, all you need is the right tape measure.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Get an Accurate Hips Measurement
Step 1. Find a mirror large enough to reflect your entire body
While measuring hips is easier than measuring other parts of the body, you can make sure the tape is not bent and aligned well with a mirror.
Step 2. Take off your clothes
Take off the outermost layers, such as pants and shirt. You can wear thin underwear and still get a precise fit. Wearing jeans or other clothing that is too thick will affect the result.
- If you always wear the same bulky clothes and are only interested in evaluating how much weight you have lost, you can stay dressed.
- However, if you have to measure for a dress, it is important to be very precise.
Step 3. Put your feet together
If you keep them apart, the hip measurement could be oversized. Absolutely avoid spreading your feet beyond the distance between the shoulders, but remember that by putting them together you will get the most accurate measurement.
Step 4. Learn the difference between the waist and the hips
The waist is the narrowest part of the chest, where the body squeezes inward. The hips lie below that point and are often wider. The measurement of the hips includes the buttocks and hips.
Step 5. Find the fullest point of your hips
You should measure your circumference at that point to get an accurate representation of the size of your lower half of your body. For your clothes to fit you, you need to know exactly how wide they need to be.
After wrapping the tape measure around your hips, raise or lower it a few inches until you find the widest point
Part 2 of 2: Using a Cloth Tape Measure
Step 1. Keep one end of the tape measure on your side
It doesn't matter which side you choose. You can also bring the ribbon towards the center if you prefer. Just make sure you hold the first piece still as you spin the second around your body.
- Tape measures are soft and flexible tools that you can find in sewing kits and haberdashery. Almost all models reach up to approximately 150 cm. You can also find sewing kits in supermarkets.
- You can also print a tape measure from the internet. You just need a simple search to find one. Cut out the measuring tape pieces, line up the ends and glue them together to form a single ribbon. Of course, you have to be careful with tapes of this type, as they can break easily. Do not try to use cardboard, however, as it is too stiff to obtain an accurate measurement.
- Do not use metal tape measures. These tapes, mostly used for DIY projects, are not suitable for taking body measurements. They are not flexible enough, so they are not precise enough.
Step 2. Roll the tape behind your back
Be careful not to twist it. Pull it to the point where you are holding the first garment. Make sure you pass it behind you without moving the other end.
You can also start the measurement by holding both ends of the tape and walking over it with your feet, so that the tape measure is brought behind your back. This movement can be helpful if you are unable to wrap the instrument behind your back
Step 3. Look in the mirror
Now that you've wrapped the tape around your body, make sure you've done it correctly. It should be parallel to the floor along its entire length and should not twist. Make sure he is lying flat.
You will need to turn around to check the side of the tape that is behind your back
Step 4. Tighten the ribbon
When measuring, the tape should fit snugly around your hips. It should not, however, impede blood circulation. Pull it until you can get just a finger under it.
Step 5. Read the measurement
You can look down to do this. Look at the point where the end of the tape you held still meets one of the numbers on the instrument. You could help yourself with the mirror to read the number more easily.
Step 6. Write your hips measurement
Now that you've got the value you were looking for, write it down to remember it in the future. You will also need other measurements to make a dress, such as the measurement of the chest, thighs, waist and crotch, according to the garment you want to make.
- As in the case of the hips, the thighs should also be measured at the widest point of the leg.
- The measurement of the crotch of the trousers is taken from under the groin to the hem of the leg. If you have pants that are the right length for you, you can measure the crotch directly on them.
Step 7. Add a few inches when creating a dress
To make a dress, you cannot follow the exact measurements of the body, otherwise the garment would be too tight and constrain your movements. For this reason, add a few inches to make the garment more comfortable.
- Centimeters are added for two reasons. The first is the one explained earlier, making clothes more comfortable. Also, you can decide to do it to make clothes of different styles. For example, if you want a very wide, full skirt, you could add more inches at the hips than you would need for an A-line skirt.
- Consider the elasticity of the fabric when deciding how many inches to add. If you're using a particularly stretchy material, you won't need to leave a lot of extra fabric.
- Most models will tell you how many inches to add. If you are doing it all by yourself, add 5-10cm, depending on how tight you want the dress to be.
- If you are slightly curvy, add more inches to be able to move better.
