Do you know how to take sleeve measurements?

"Please tell me how to take sleeve measurements!"...It's a question that often comes our way. The mere thought of taking a correct sleeve measurement can cause frustration - especially if you have to do it yourself.

Why not ask a friend to help you with the measurements?

Using a fiberglass measuring tape [they don't stretch] and someone's help, measure from center back neck, with your arm relaxed at your side and slightly bent, over the shoulder bone and along the outside of the arm to the protruding wrist bone on the outside of your wrist.

Definitely a tricky feat and best accomplished in "steps":

Hold down the end of the tape at the base of the neck and place it along the shoulder line to the shoulder bone. Make a note of this measurement [A-B] then let go of the end of the tape. Continue to hold the tape at the shoulder point.
From the shoulder point [a protruding bone towards the back of the shoulder], run the tape along the slightly bent arm down to the elbow. Let go of the shoulder point.
Holding down the tape at the elbow, place it along the side of the forearm down to the protruding wrist bone.
Make a note of the total length from base of neck to wrist bone then subtract measurement A-B. This is the actual length of the sleeve.

Hobbie's tailor showing us how to take sleeve measurements Measurement A-B is important if you plan to knit your own sweater. When figuring out the shoulder width - shoulder point to shoulder point - think of your shoulders as nearly 2/3 of the framework which support your sweater. The remaining third? the back neck width.

Compare measurement A-B to shoulder measurements seen in any knitting pattern diagram. Take a few minutes to do the math and adjust the stitches to get the shoulder width you need. The sleeves may still need to be adjusted in length if you have long arms but as long as the shoulder width is correct, the sleeves will hang correctly from the shoulder.

When the shoulder width is too narrow, the shoulder seams are pulled up onto the shoulders. The sleeve becomes too short.

When the shoulder width is too wide, the shoulder seams hang down over the top of your arm. The sleeves become too long.

A simpler method which involves far less wrestling with the tape is to measure for the sleeve length by beginning at the shoulder bone, along the outside of the arm to the wrist bone, over a slightly bent arm.

Better yet and no guessing involved - if you a have sweater that fits you well, measure the sleeve from the shoulder seam to the edge of the cuff.

When thinking "sweater", do not measure sleeve length as you would for a man's shirt.

This type of sleeve measurement incorporates the shoulder width and half of the back neck measurement!

For example, Hobbie's Gatekeeper needs a 25" sleeve. However, if we were to use measurements as given for men's shirts, the sleeve length becomes 34"!

We firmly believe that a correct sleeve length, in coordination with the correct shoulder width are the key to a properly fitting sweater. When the shoulder seams sit at the shoulder line, you've got it made!

If you have any questions, drop us a line and we will help you in any way we can.

How to take sleeve measurements!

In search of the perfect sleeve length...