Crochet tutorial: how to take measurements to create a pattern

Learn how to take your measurements without help to create your own crochet pattern, with Alimaravillas

Before starting to knit your crochet garment, you must take into account a previous step that is essential: measure your body. The final result will depend on how meticulous you are in this point, so that you don't end up with a sweater that is too short or with a neck that doesn't fit your head. For this, it is essential to learn how to take your measurements.

Alicia Recio Rodríguez, known as @alimaravillas, expert and passionate about crochet, explains in this tutorial how to take our measurements without help to create our own pattern. You can watch the video below:

7 tips for taking your measurements without help

1. Get a tape measure and be prepared

Get yourself a tape measure with which to start measuring the different parts of your body. There are 3 types of measurements: horizontal, vertical and contour. Alicia recommends that you take the measurements with little clothing and from top to bottom.

2. Start at the neck

The first part of the body we are going to measure is the neckline. To do this, place the tape measure at the lowest part of the neck and insert a finger to allow some slack.

3. Measure the chest circumference

Go around the tape measure passing it behind the back, keep the part starting with the number 1 facing out.

4. Continue through the waist and hips

How high do I measure my waist? You may have asked yourself this question. The answer is simple: take as a reference the lowest part of the ribs, where the hollows are formed. As for the hips, place the tape measure above the widest part of the buttocks. And don't forget to place a finger so that there is some slack.

5. Proceed with the horizontal measurements: shoulder width

Do not try to measure your shoulder width from the front, it is calculated from the back. To do this, you have to take into account where the shoulders end, not where they fall. Place the tape measure and pass it from shoulder to shoulder. To make a sweater, it is not necessary to take more measurements than the shoulder width, since it is a loose-fitting garment.

6. It's time to measure the length of your garment

To calculate the length, you have to place the tape from the shoulder to where you want your pattern to end, always vertically.

7. Measure the contour of the head

This step is very important to ensure a good finish and that you can comfortably wear your garment. The length that all the fabric of the neck piece must have must be 8 or 10 centimeters less than our head circumference. This way, those 8 or 10 centimeters more you will always be able to stretch them.

With an example you will understand it better. Measure the head circumference above the ears. Imagine that it measures 55 centimeters. Therefore, the neck circumference should be about 45 centimeters.

If you liked this tutorial, remember that you can learn with Alimaravillas to crochet your garments imitating the texture of the two needles and using only one needle in their online course 'Crochet: create garments with a single needle'.

You may be interested in:.

- 'Cutting and sewing: design your own shirt', a Lantoki course.

- 'Upcycling: creating a fashion collection', a course by Krizia Robustella.

- 'Designing handmade garments from scratch', a course by Ofelia & Antelmo.