For custom orders, E-mail us shirleyscreativedesigns2005@yahoo.com or just click on the E-mail button at the top or bottom of this page. If you prefer to talk to someone, you can call us at 775-267-4772

If you prefer to mail us your order, print this Measurement Chart and send it along with your order to:

Shirley's Creative Designs

3531 Vista Grande Blvd.

Carson City, NV 89705


Measuring Your Dolls

Since most dolls are evenly made on both sides, the measurements are taken on the half or in the case of an arc, on the quarter. The exception is circumference measurements, which are measured all the way around the body and thus are measured on the whole. It is advisable that you mark the center front and back of your doll along with where it’s bust, waist, and hip measurements fall. We suggest placing a few pieces of scotch tape on your doll’s body and then making a pencil mark to show where the center line, bust, waist, and hip fall. Deciding where your measurement points are before you start measuring will make a big difference in how your items will turn out and in the accuracy of your patterns.

The Chart

This is a master list of all the measurements needed for all dolls. Copy the entire list and fill in the ones you need for whatever doll you are going to be currently using. The Key letter following  each  item  on  the  chart  direct  you  to  explanations  on  how  to  do these measurements  for  each  type  of  doll.  Permission  granted  by author/creator  to  copy  this page. Credit for this measuring chart/tutorial goes to Sue Darby of Sue's Tiny Costumes: http://www.suestinycostumes.com

Key Letters: A = All Dolls | L = Lady dolls only | C = Child dolls | B = Babies | M = Man

Measurement Taken

Other Measurements Taken

Key Letters

  1) Full Height

 

A

  2) Bust

Chest

L, A

  3) Waist

 

A

  4) Hip

Hip With Diaper

A, B

  5) Center Length 

Front

Back

A

  6) Full Length 

Front

Back

A

  7) Across Shoulder

Front

Back

A

  8) Side Seam Length

 

A

  9) Shoulder Length

 

A

10) Shoulder Slope 

Front

Back

A

11) Bust Depth

 

L

12) Bust Span

 

L

13) Side Seam To Floor

 

L, M, C

14) Back Waist To Floor

 

L, M, C

15) Crotch Depth

 

A

16) Hip Depth

 

A

17) Side Hip Depth

 

A

18) Finger Span

 

A

19) Wrist

 

A

20) Around Foot

 

A

21) Upper Arm 

 

A

22) Sleeve Length

 

A

23) Armhole Depth

 

A

24) Waist To 

A) Ankle

B) Knee

C) Floor

L, C

 

D) Short Train

E) Long Train

L

25) In-seam

 

A

26) Out-seam 

 

A

 Dart Placement

 

 

 Waist Arc

 

A

 Chest Arc

 

A

 Hip Arc

 

A

 Arms Type

 

A

 Legs Type

 

A

 Body Type

 

A

 Fingers Type

 

A
         

Explanation Of Measurements & Diagrams Shown on a Lady

The measurements in this example are shown on a lady doll but measurements should be taken in the same places for baby, child, and men dolls. First take a piece of ribbon and pass it around your doll's waist, bust or chest and hips and fasten the ends together. Then using scotch tape and a pencil or pen (as explained earlier), you should mark the center front and back. Choose to use either the top or the bottom of each piece of ribbon as a guide for where you are starting or stopping your measurement. This section deals specifically with measuring different types of dolls and all of the explanations are included in one place.

1) Full Height 

Head to toe height with or without wig

 

5) Center Front / Back Length 

Center neck to waist and nape of neck to waist for back

 

2) Bust /Chest

Around the fullest part of the chest

6) Full Length 

Front: waist to shoulder at neck over bust (determines shoulder seam) Back: waist to neck over shoulder blade

3) Waist 

Around waist

4) Hip 

Measure widest area parallel with the floor

7) Across Shoulder

Between shoulder tips but only record 1/2 of measurement. Across the widest section of the back but again only record 1/2 of measurement

8) Side Seam Length

Bottom of armhole (about chest high) to the waist 

 

11) Bust Depth (lady only) shoulder tip to nipple (apex) at same angle as shoulder slope

 

9) Shoulder Length 

Shoulder tip to neck

12) Bust Span

Bust point to bust point then record 1/2 of  this measurement

10) Shoulder Slope 

Center of waist to shoulder tip over bust diagonally same on back. Should be almost as long as full length within about 1/4"

13) Side Seam To Floor

Side at waist to floor

14) Back Waist To Floor

 Center back to floor

15) Crotch Depth

Depth from waist to crotch level. If doll doesn’t have an official crotch, approximate the right area for it.

 

18) Finger Span

Around the fingers of both hands to determine which is bigger Finger Span or Wrist

 

16) Hip Depth

Center front to hip line

19) Wrist

Around the wrist 

17) Side Hip Depth

Side waist to hip on side of doll (over the curve of the hip)

20) Around Foot

Around the circumference of the foot at sole level 

21) Upper Arm

Around the point where your doll's porcelain or vinyl meets the cloth of the rest of the body.

22) Sleeve Length

From shoulder tip to wrist 

 

24) Waist To:

(A) Knee,

(B) Ankle,

(C) Floor,

(D) Short Train (lady only),

(E) Long Train (lady only)

Center front Waist to knee

Center front waist to ankle

Center front waist to floor

Back waist to beyond floor for only an extra inch or so

Back waist to a larger distance beyond floor for longer train 4 to 5 inches

 

23) Armhole Depth

On back from center at the neck to chest ribbon

25) Inseam

From Crotch to ankle where pants would end. No seam allowance or hem added.

 

26) Out-seam

Waist to ankle along side of body.

 Dart Placement

 This is the bust span measurement minus 1/4"

 Arm Type 

 Where the porcelain or vinyl meets the rest of the body determines the minimum sleeve length.

 Leg Type

 Where the porcelain or vinyl meets the rest of the body determines the minimum skirt or pants length.

 Body Type

 Cloth, porcelain, vinyl, etc. This helps to determine if you need extra ease.

 Finger type

 Indicate what type of fingers your doll has: a mitt, some fingers spread, or individual fingers.   This is especially

 important for sleeve openings if you have a porcelain or other fragile type doll because when the fingers are 

 spread out, you have to adjust and use the finger spread measurement instead of the wrist measurement. 

Arcs waist, hip, and bust: simply divide the circumference measurements by 4.

For fractional measurements it is easiest to convert the fractions to decimals so that you are able to use a calculator.