How To Measure For The Trouser Block Draft

The first step of drafting a beautiful trouser block is making sure that you’ve got accurate body measurements.

Use this guide to help you take your measurements before you start drafting.

What Measurements Do You Need For The Trouser Block?

• Waist

• Hip (at widest part)

• Waist to Hip

• Body Rise

• Waist to Ankle

A few notes on measuring before we start:

1. Don’t pull the tape measure too tight, it should sit flat on the body but not squeeze it.

2. Try not to bend or twist when measuring yourself, use a mirror!

3. Measure yourself a couple of times to make sure you get the same every time…accuracy is key!

4. Make sure your tape measure is straight around the body.

Waist

This is the narrowest point of your torso, often just below your ribs.

If you’re struggling to define this point try leaning to the side to see where the crease forms when you bend.

The trouser block is drafted to sit on the natural waist so it’s important that you measure your natural waist position.

Hip

This is the widest part of your hips, just before your leg starts to curve inwards.

Waist to Hip

This is the distance from your waist to your hip, in a straight line.

Try tying an elastic or ribbon around your waist and hip to give yourself defined points to measure between.

Body Rise

This is a very key measurement for the trouser block.
It’s the distance from your pelvic bone to your waist, in a straight line.

We measure this sitting down on a flat, hard surface. 

Measure from your waist to the surface along your side.

Waist to Ankle

This is will form the length of your trouser block.
If you’re measuring yourself it helps to weigh the tape measure down so that you get a straight measurement.