Scale Calculator

Scaling for Custom Mini-Mes
by Don McCunn

Scaling Measurements for Custom Mini-Mes

Custom bespoke Mini-Mes can be created for any body's size and shape. They rely on 7 measurements of the body as described in Fashion & Costume Design in Quarter Scale. (See pages 126 and 127). Use the form below to calculate the necessary quarter-scale lengths. The circumference measurements are for one-fourth of the body from Center Front and Center Back to the Side Seam so they are 1/16th of the full scale measurement.

This form does not work with measurements using fractions such as 10-1/2. When you enter a value specify it as a decimal value: 10.5. The chart below shows the conversion of the fractions commonly used in pattern making.

Use the Tab key to enter the values and see the results.

Length	Full Body	Quarter Scale
#1. Center Back
#2. Side Front
#3. Side Back
#4. CB Waist to Shoulder
Circumference	Full Body	Quarter Scale/4
#5. Chest/Bust
#6 Waist
#7 Hips

Fraction Conversion

1/8	1/4	3/8	1/2	5/8	3/4	7/8	1
0.125	0.25	0.375	0.5	0.625	0.75	0.875	1.0
1/16	3/16	5/16	7/16	9/16	11/16	13/16	15/16
0.0625	0.1875	0.3125	0.4375	0.5625	0.6875	0.1825	0.9375

This form can also be displayed in a popup window that is reduced in size. It can be printed and moved on your screen as you use other programs.

PopUp Custom Scaling

Scaling Patterns for Custom Mini-Mes

There are two types of patterns used for these Mini-Mes, patterns with darts and patterns that do not have darts. The patterns with darts create an accurate representation of the contours of the torso of the body. They are created by using the measurements above and tracing quarter-scale photographs.

The patterns that do not have darts can be created using just measuremnts of the body. These patterns are for the appendages including the legs, arms, feet, hands, neck, and head. For these appendages, patterns for one size are provided in the Ready-to-Print PDF, Studio, DXF, and SVG CAD files. To change the patterns to a different size, use the measurements of the body shown below.

Head (page 14) - Circumference of the forehead
Arms (page 13) - Circumference of the biceps*
Hand (page 15) - Length of the hand from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger
Leg (page 12) - Circumference of the thigh*
Foot (page 15)- Length from the back of the heel to the tip of the middle toe

Page numbers are for the pages in the Ready-to-Print PDF file.

* The main difference for arms and legs in additon to the biceps and thigh are the lengths of these appendages. For the arms it is the length from the shoulder to the elbow and from the shoulder to the wrist. For the legs it is the length from waist-to-floor less the distance from the waist to hips. These lengths can be changed as needed either manually or using CAD functions.

Select the appendage (i.e. Head Circumference)
Enter the measurement of the body (18")
Click the "Calculate" button

Appendage Percentages in Inches

Appendage Percentages in Centimeters

Scaling Calculator

Tracing Photos

Home Page

How to Make
Sewing Patterns

How to Make Custom-Fit Bras & Ligerie

Free Online
Pattern Making Classes