How to measure for a plus-size shalwar kameez

Keeping the tape in the right place

Most measuring errors on a fuller figure come from a tape that dips or rises at the back. Stand side-on to a mirror so you or your helper can see the tape all the way round, and check it is parallel to the floor before you read it.

The fullest point of the bust may sit lower than where a ready-made top puts it, so measure where it really is. For the hips, measure around the fullest part, which for some people is the seat and for others is lower at the thighs; if you are unsure, take both and label them.

The extra measurements that help

• Tummy: around the fullest part of the tummy, wherever that is. If it is fuller than your hips, this is the number that stops the kameez pulling at the front.
• Waist, where you want it: if you do not have a clearly narrower waist, measure where you would like the trousers to sit and say so.
• Upper arm: around the fullest part, arm relaxed. Ready-made sleeves are often tight on the upper arm.
• Armhole: around the top of the arm and under the armpit, so the sleeve joins the body without cutting in.
• Thigh: for straight trousers or cigarette pants, so they do not grip when you sit.

Front and back lengths

On a fuller bust or tummy, the front of a kameez travels further than the back. If both are cut to the same length, the hem rises at the front and dips at the back. To avoid that, measure the kameez length twice: once down the front from the shoulder point beside your neck, over the bust and tummy, to the hem you want, and once down the back from the same point.

Give both numbers and label them. The difference tells us how much extra length the front needs so the hem hangs level all the way round.

Comfort choices to mention

Tell us how you like your clothes to feel: relaxed through the tummy, a little room at the upper arm, side slits that start at the hip so the kameez does not strain when you sit. An A-line kameez gives natural room below the bust, and an elastic or drawstring waist on the trousers is forgiving and comfortable. Describe what you want in the notes; we suggest what suits your fabric and design in the quote.

Check the fabric quantity first

Unstitched suits are cut for an average size, and a plus-size kameez with longer lengths and fuller sleeves can need more fabric than the pack contains. If you are sending your own fabric, we check the quantity against your measurements before you post anything; our article on what to do if your suit is short of fabric explains the options. Choosing Fabric + Stitching avoids the problem altogether, because the fabric is bought for your measurements.

Start with a Stitching Only quote, or read about unstitched suit stitching. Whether you are in Birmingham or elsewhere in the UK, you order the same way, online, with everything made in Pakistan.