Scaling Measurements & Photos

The measurements and photos need to be adjusted so they are both exactly one-fourth the size of the body.

Scaling Measurements
The measurements can be scaled using the Scaling Measurement form below. When you enter the full body measurement into this form, it automatically shows the measurement to make the Mini-Me. After the necessary measurements are entered, the form can printed. The patterns for the Mini-Mes can be expanded by adding ease and seam allowances to create Master Patterns.

Note: The circumference measurements are entered for the full body. The front and back patterns are for one-fourth of the body so the full body measurements need to first be reduced by a fourth before they are then scaled down to quarter-scale dimensions.

For example if a waist measures 24", the distance from center front or center back to the side seam should be 6" for the full-size body. This then needs to be scaled down a fourth to 1-1/2" for the Mini-Me. The form automatically makes these adjustments.

The measurements can be entered into the chart below which automatically coverts them to both decimal and fraction values. The chart can then be printed.

Scaling Photos
The photos need to be scaled so that they are all the #1 Center Back length shown in the Measurement Chart. The Center Back length for the front and side views can be measured on the photos from where the shoulder meets the neck.

To prepare the photos use a graphics program to crop and create a PDF version of it. Some graphics programs can automatically create a PDF file of a photo using a "Save As" option. An alternative is to use a program that works as a printer to create PDF files. In this video the Window's Paint program is used to crop the photo with the free Bullzip PDF Printer to save it as a PDF file.

Once the PDF file is created it can be printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader set to 100%. The printed copy can be measured to determine the Center Back length. This measurement can then be scaled using the Scaling Calculator to determine the percentage of how much the PDF photo needs to be scaled to print a copy that is the correct #1 Center Back length.

Summary of Steps
1. Crop the photo to show just the body with no distractions in the background.
2. Save the photo as a PDF file.
3. Use Adobe Acrobat Reader to print the photo at 100%
4. Measure the Center Back length of the PDF copy.
5. Use the Scaling Calculator to determine the percentage to change the PDF printed copy.
6. Use the Adobe Reader and enter the percentage of the change and print a corrected copy.
7. Repeat the process for all the photos.

Creating Sleeves, Pants, etc.

Patterns for sleeves and pants do not require the same shaping as patterns for the torso. They can be drafted directly from measurements as described in How to Make Sewing Patterns. The waist-to-hip region of pants will benefit by using the fitted Lower Torso pattern created by these instructions.

How to Make Sewing Patterns includes a measurement chart for 42 different measurements for various patterns. This measurement chart can be completed by taking measurements from quarter-scale photos. Use a quarter scale ruler to measure the photos for the length and width dimensions.

The circumference measurements can be determined using the Scale Calculator and the photo of the side of the body. The illustration below shows how Alex's knee circumference is determined relative to her known Thigh Measurement #9.

1. Measure the width of the photo at the Thigh level and enter it in "Current."
2. Enter the full size Thigh measurement #9 in "New."
3. Press the "Calculate" button to see the percentage difference.
4. Measure the photo at the knee level and enter it into the "Length" box.
5. Enter the percentage value from Step 3.
6. Click the "Calculate" button to see the result.

Alex's knee measurement from an in-person session measured 14". There can be a potential error in these measurements depending on how carefully the photos are measured. The circumference measurements can be taken from photos larger than quarter scale to increase their potential accuracy.

This process can be used to determine the circumference measurements for any part of the body including the torso, leg, and arm. Use the PopUp Calculator to determine the measurements you need.