Measuring an abaya you already own as a template

Lay it out properly

Use a large table or a clean floor. Fasten the abaya if it closes, or lay the fronts so they meet at the centre if it is open. Smooth it out without stretching, so the side seams lie at the edges and the shoulder seams sit flat. Use a soft tape, and measure everything twice.

The measurements to take

• Length: from the shoulder seam where it meets the neckline, straight down to the hem. Measure the back too if the hem is shaped.
• Chest: straight across from one armpit to the other, then double it.
• Hip: straight across at the widest point of the hips, about where your hands rest, then double it.
• Hem: straight across the bottom edge, then double it. It shows how much flare the abaya has.
• Shoulder: from one shoulder seam to the other, across the back. Skip it for kimono or dropped-shoulder styles and note the style instead.
• Sleeve: from the shoulder seam to the end of the cuff, along the top of the sleeve.
• Cuff and upper arm: across the cuff opening and across the sleeve just below the armpit, each doubled.

Turning garment numbers into an order

Garment measurements are larger than body measurements, and the difference is the ease. Send both: your body measurements from our size guide and the abaya’s flat measurements, clearly labelled. Our page on body and garment measurements explains why a flat chest doubled is not the same as your bust.

Then say what to change. For example: “same chest and hip, 5 cm longer, sleeves to the wrist bone, add side-seam pockets”. If the length is wrong on your current abaya, also measure yourself from shoulder to floor in your shoes, as described in our abaya length guide. The same approach works for kurtas, as our guide to using a kameez that fits as a template shows.

If you would rather send the abaya itself

The quote form has an option to send a garment that fits. We measure it ourselves, and we confirm how to send it before you post anything to us in Pakistan. Our page on sending a sample garment explains the steps. It adds a shipping stage, so measuring at home is usually quicker if you can do it carefully.

Photos help as much as numbers

Photograph the abaya flat, front and back, in daylight, with the tape lying along the length. Add a photo of you wearing it, from the front and side, if you can. These show the drape and where the hem sits on you, which numbers alone cannot. Upload them with your measurements on the quote form or the Fabric + Stitching route.

Customers in Riffa, Sydney and everywhere else order this way. See the Bahrain Stitching Only page for how your own fabric is sent and quoted.