I want to make the whole sewing process easier to follow. That starts before the first seam: with taking measurements, understanding the size charts, and choosing a starting size. The BRIGITTE Size Finder grew out of a moment during pattern testing when that first step wasn’t as clear as I wanted it to be.
When my mother test-sewed BRIGITTE, my first sewing pattern, I accompanied her through the process. I wanted her to work through each step herself, so I could see where the instructions helped and where questions remained. One of those questions came up at the body measurement chart.
Her bust, waist, and hip measurements didn’t all fall into the same size. Reading the chart could lead her toward EU 50, although the clothes she usually buys are EU 42 or 44, depending on the brand and cut. That understandably left her wondering: Why did the chart point to a different size from the one she usually wears? And which size should she choose for this blouse? I wanted her to be able to make that decision without me beside her.
That experience reminded me how little a size label alone says about fit. The same size can be based on different body measurements at different clothing brands and sewing pattern companies. International labels add another layer of uncertainty: there is no fixed rule for matching EU, US, and UK sizes that applies equally to every company.
The US and UK labels in my charts serve as approximate international equivalents of my EU sizes. The body measurement chart and the finished garment measurements for each style remain the basis for size selection. This was another reason I wanted a Size Finder for my patterns: practical guidance based on actual body measurements, taking into account the intended ease and the fit shown on the model.
Body measurements and finished garment measurements
A body measurement chart describes the measurements used as the foundation for drafting a pattern. Those measurements provide a consistent construction reference; they don’t describe every person who will wear the garment.
The finished garment measurements show how large the completed blouse is. BRIGITTE is designed with a loose silhouette, so its measurements include room beyond the body measurements: wearing ease for comfort and movement, and design ease for its shape. Seam allowances serve a different purpose: they provide the fabric needed to sew the pieces together.
That is why I provide both charts. Comparing body measurements with the finished blouse measurements helps explain how much room each size provides. A usual store-bought size is a useful starting point and can also be the right choice for the pattern. Understanding the fit means reading the body measurements together with the finished garment measurements and the wearing and design ease. That is the connection I want to make clear: how the measurements translate into the silhouette shown, and how much room there is in the finished garment.
Even my own measurements don’t match every value in one chart column. I often wear EU 36, sometimes EU 34. I still look at the individual design and the finished measurements before deciding.
Why I wanted a Size Finder for my patterns
As a master bespoke tailor, I can picture how a measurement affects the pattern and the finished garment. My role is to make that knowledge accessible and explain the connection between the size charts and the ease built into the design. For my website, I wanted a Size Finder tailored to my own patterns: a way to help make sense of those measurements and choose a suitable starting size before cutting the fabric.
When I began working on my sewing pattern label at the beginning of this year, I knew from the outset that I wanted a Size Finder on my website. The experience of test-sewing with my mother reinforced that intention. I wanted to offer practical guidance that begins with size selection and would be available as soon as my website launched.
Through my earlier work in fashion, I was already very familiar with these measurements. That experience gave me a starting point for a tool tailored to BRIGITTE. I developed the Size Finder around the blouse’s finished measurements and the fit I intended, using rules that I defined for this pattern.
Each of my sewing patterns will have its own Size Finder. A skirt, a pair of pants, and a blouse have different fit requirements. A close-fitting design also needs different wearing and design ease from a loose silhouette. One set of fit rules would not reflect those differences. That is why I define the rules individually for each pattern, based on its cut, its finished measurements, and the ease I have chosen for the design.
The rules compare the entered body measurements with the finished garment measurements and the intended ease. The look shown on our model serves as the reference. I want to make it easier to choose a size that works with those measurements and comes as close as possible to the silhouette shown. I consider the fit carefully for each design. The Size Finder provides a starting point that can be checked against the finished measurements and the preferred amount of room.
The Size Finder takes bust, waist, and hip circumferences into account together and displays them beside the finished measurements of the suggested size. This makes the amount of room in the garment easier to understand. Upper arm circumference can also be added. Sleeve room is checked separately; it does not automatically change the suggested blouse size. The Size Finder shows a note when an area needs a closer check.
For my mother, the Size Finder’s suggestion aligned with the sizes she wears in store-bought clothes. For BRIGITTE, that meant EU 42 or 44, depending on the amount of room she preferred. That was a useful starting point for her. It showed how her familiar clothing size, her body measurements, and the blouse’s design ease could work together once those measurements were put into context. The aim is a blouse that feels comfortable and whose appearance and amount of room suit personal preferences.
A starting point for size selection
The BRIGITTE Size Finder works within the pattern’s EU 32–50 range, labeled US 0–18 / UK 4–22 in my chart. It helps with size selection; it doesn’t create a custom pattern or guarantee a particular fit. Circumferences alone cannot describe every aspect of fit, and fabric, body proportions, and the preferred amount of room still matter.
Before cutting, the suggestion should be compared with the finished garment measurements. Blouse and sleeve lengths and the sleeve circumference where the flared section joins also need to be considered. A well-loved blouse in a similar style and fabric can provide a useful reference for the preferred amount of room. If the fit is uncertain or adjustments are needed, a test garment is a useful next step.
The Size Finder may display a note about checking an entry or the units, or it may be unable to suggest a size within its supported range. That describes the limits of the Size Finder. When the body measurements are correct, the finished measurement chart provides a basis for comparing sizes directly and considering any adjustments needed.
BRIGITTE is the starting point. Testing it with my mother reminded me how much can be learned by listening and following a process from someone else’s perspective. I want that attention to carry through the whole pattern, making the steps from size selection to sewing clearer and easier to follow.
Try the BRIGITTE Size Finder → View the measurement charts →
