Systems of Measurements in Dressmaking

1. APPLYING THE
SYSTEMS OF
MEASUREMENTS
Ricky S. Camado, LPT

2. TWO SYSTEMS OF MEASUREMENT
◦Metric system
◦English system

3. Metric System
◦Metric System is a decimal system of measures
based on a unit of length known as meter, from
the Greek word metron means “measure”.
◦The unit of measurement more commonly used
is centimeter.

5. English System
◦The basic unit of the English System is inches.
However, it is not frequently used in
dressmaking. It is utilized by some of the
designers.

6. 2
8
÷
2
2
=
1
4
4
8
÷
4
4
=
1
2
6
8
÷
2
2
=
3
4

7. The pencil’s measurement is 13mm or 1.3cm
Remember!
• To convert your millimeter
figure to centimeter, divide the
value by 10.
• To convert your centimeter
figure to millimeter, multiply
the value by 10.
mm
cm

8. The pencil’s measurement is 12/8 inches or 1.5 inches
Remember!
• To convert your measurement
in decimal form, divide the
numerator by the denominator.

9. Mathematical application is used in order to
have an accurate division of the measurements
of body parts and at the same time, in
measuring the length and width of the materials.
In this process, the four fundamentals of
operations such as Multiplication, Division,
Addition and Subtraction is involved.

10. Always remember!
◦To convert your centimeter figure to inches,
DIVIDE your figure by 2.54.
Example:
42 cm ÷ 2.54 = 16.5354 in

11. Always remember!
◦To convert your inches figure to centimeter,
MULTIPLY your figure by 2.54.
Example:
15 in x 2.54 = 38.1 cm