Occasions and ordering · 8 October 2026 · 3 min read
How to keep your own measurement record between orders
How to keep a record of your measurements that is useful later: the date, the unit, who measured, what was made from them and how it fitted, all in one place.
InspirationNumbers alone are not a record
Keep your measurements in one place you control, and write down the context with every set: the date, the unit, who measured, which garment was made from them and how it fitted. A bare list of numbers tells the next tailor very little; the same numbers with their story tell them what to repeat and what to change.
This is not about how to measure, which our measuring in inches or centimetres and checking your measurements articles cover. It is about keeping what you measured so it stays useful for years.
What to write beside each set
Start a new entry each time you measure, rather than overwriting the old one. For every entry, note:
- The date. Bodies change, and so do habits of measuring. A date tells you how far to trust an old figure.
- The unit. Inches or centimetres, written once at the top and never mixed within one entry.
- Who measured, and how. Yourself, a friend, a tailor; standing straight, over light clothing or not.
- Body or garment. Whether each number is your body or a garment laid flat. The two are different, as body vs garment measurements explains.
- What was made. The garment, the fabric and the cut, for example a straight kameez in lawn or a dress in a fluid fabric.
- How it fitted. A sentence or two: comfortable at the bust, a little long in the sleeve, armholes slightly tight when reaching.
Keep the fit notes, not just the fix
The fit notes are the most valuable part. If a kameez came out snug at the hip, the useful record is not a quietly changed hip figure but a note saying the original number produced a snug fit in a cotton with no stretch. Next time you, or the tailor, can decide whether to add ease or choose a softer fabric.
Note what you liked too. A sleeve length you loved is worth repeating exactly, and a length is easier to repeat when it is written down.
Where to keep it
Choose something you will still find in two years. A note on your phone synced to your account, a shared document with a family member who measures you, or a card in the drawer with your sewing things all work. Whatever you use, keep a photo of each garment that fitted well beside its entry.
If you have one piece that fits perfectly, measure it flat and file those numbers too. A tailor can work from it, and our guide to sending a sample kameez shows how that is used in practice.
Using your record when you order
When you next order, copy the latest entry into the quote form and mention any fit notes in your message: “last kameez was slightly tight at the armhole, please allow a little more.” That turns your experience into an instruction. Measurements can go on our form in centimetres or inches, and everything is agreed in writing before cutting.
We keep order records as our privacy notice describes, but your own copy is the one that travels with you. When you are ready, start a custom stitching quote or go straight to the quote form.
Common questions
How often should I re-measure?
Before any order where the last set is more than a few months old, or sooner if your weight, training or health has changed. Comparing the new set with your record shows what has actually moved.
Should I round my measurements?
Write down what the tape shows, to the nearest half centimetre or quarter inch. Rounding hides small changes that matter in a close fit.
Is it worth recording measurements for a loose style?
Yes. Loose styles still depend on shoulder width, length and armhole depth, and a note on how loose you liked it is useful for the next one.
