Here I am!
I’ve read about body mapping in the fitting book of Palmer and Alto’s Fit for Real People. I’ve dismissed it as stupid and a waste of time. Sort of like the whole fitting shell thing. Well. Well. I had Marni at our last meeting do me an outline of the old body. Lo and behold it isn’t a waste of time! Highly recommend this to not only see what you body might look like in a crime scene but to get a completely different look at your lovely body. You can’t see the grid lines on this photo but they are quite helpful in getting a great look at your body and type.
Here is what I learned.
- My right side is higher than the left.
- My left shoulder is sloping but not the right.
- I am short waisted
- I have almost no visible waist.
- I have a long crotch length
- My knees are average (Who knew!)
- I have a small frame and small bust. (I knew that!)
- I am either an hourglass or a rectangle. My waist has little indentation but then my hips and shoulders are about the same width and my waist is 10″ less than my hips. Unclear but I don’t think it really matters much. Hourglass certainly has a better ring to it.
My measurements are as follows
- Height 5’7
- My high bust is 31 (I’ve been measuring wrong, I thought it was 32 1/2)
- Bust 34
- Rib cage area 28 1/2
- Waist is 27
- Hips 37
- I’ve been sewing with a 12/14. I refused to think my bodice size to be an 8.
There are a lot more measurements to do if you decide to do a body map. I chose the ones that I thought would be most helpful. I really care a less what my ankle or wrist measurements are.
Fit for Real People goes into detail on how to do a body map and for a seamstress who is constantly looking for ways not to do something I thought this was really worth the time. Goes without being said that you need a partner.
Wow! This looks great and I bet it’ll be really useful. I was cutting out a dress this afternoon, and only realised afterwards that I cut out a dress for a statuesque lady of 5’8… only problem is I’m a straight 5′! I think I could benefit from the tough love of body mapping, but then I would have to come to terms with the fact that while I imagine I look like Cheryl Cole, the body map might suggest otherwise…
Yes, I’ve been avoiding doing one of those body doubles for the same reason. It would be a little weird to see ‘me’ in 3 dimensions, flat butt and all. Jill
It would be a bit weird to see a body double of myself, too. I saw some photos of the Queen’s dressmakers in action, and they all have a mannequin of the Queen each to work with… it was just a bit strange to see so many Queens in one room! Lauren.
Great post, lol the crime scene comment – I’m a bit scared of doing this – suspect I’m a bit delusional about my shape would hate to have it confirmed!
Yes, it is quite eye opening. But, I’m sure my body will never change from here on out. So, I will only ever have to do it once. ;0
I might just have to try this. I bet its very eye opening!
It really is. I’ve heard the same about making a body double, so that might be on the list of things to do.
I invested in a dress form, although quite handy and it can be adjusted to my measurements, it’s still not shaped exactly like me. It would be amazing to have a body double to work with.
Sounds interesting, now how will this help in the fitting of clothes or is this better for those of us that do our own sewing?
It helps to see your body in a different way. And, when you put up the grid lines you can see where your body is higher/lower and what your proportions are.