Measurements and Photographs

Measurements and photographs need to be taken of the person that the patterns are being made for referred to here as the Client. The person making the patterns is called the Designer.

If the Client is willing to take their own measurements and photographs it is not necessary for the Client and Designer to meet in-person. The Client can either take the measurements and photographs on their own or with a helping hand.

When the Client is taking the photographs and measurements, he or she only needs some of the information from the description in the book. The PDF files below include the instructions required for either a woman or man Client.

These instructions are written so the measurements and photographs can be taken by the Client on their own as a do-it-yourself process if they do not have a helping hand. A copy of this file should be sent to the Client.

Of course these measurements and photographs can also be taken for an in-person session between the Client and Designer.

Note to Independent Designers Some people are comfortable with their bodies such as the models I have worked with over the years and use for my illustrations. Others, including myself and my model Marcus with the 53" waist line, are not comfortable with the way their bodies look. As an example when I was teaching how to make a Body Double in the classroom back in the 70s, on the last day of class everyone walked out with their Body Double tucked under their arm. When I taught this class online, only one person made themselves a Body Double. When I asked the other people in the class why they didn't, they responded "I don't want to see what I look like."

The fact is that the people who are not comfortable with their bodies are likely the ones who need custom-fit clothes the most. If I were soliciting people as a designer where in-person sessions were not possible, I would send the above instructions with the note.

"It is very important for me to see the shape of your body inorder to create clothes that fit you. However, if you would prefer to send me photos of your body cropped from the chin down, that will work just fine."

This is the approach I used with Marcus and he evenly agreed to my including his photos in my book and online for these classes.