Women's and Men's Pattern Sizing--It's more complicated than you think.

This is probably a pretty boring blog post as it consists of a bunch of charts.  But the charts are important when deciding on the category of pattern that you choose.  You will want to choose a category that best reflects your proportions.  If you must choose a pattern that is not in your category, the sizes in the respective chart can guide you well in making your alterations.  Please go by measurements when selecting a size. If you go by retail RTW sizes, the pattern will not fit, it will be too small.  Pattern companies have not been vanity sizing the last 40 years.

Men's and Women's circumference measuring points and some vertical measures.

From left to right: Junior/Teen, Women, Half-Size, Miss Petite, Junior, and Junior Peitite

Misses Sizing

Designed for the female American figure of average proportions. 5'5" to 5'6" tall without shoes.

Size	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20
Bust	30.5”	31.5”	32.5”	34”	36”	38”	40”	42”
Waist	23”	24”	25”	26.5”	28”	30”	32”	34”
Hip	32.5”	33.5”	34.5”	36”	38”	40”	42”	44”
Back Waist Length	15.5”	15.75”	16”	16.25”	16.5”	16.75”	17”	17.25”

Women

Designed for figures 5'5" to 5'6" tall without shoes, with larger bust and hips than the Misses figure.

Size	36	40	42	44	46	48	50
Bust	42”	44”	46”	48”	50”	52”	54”
Waist	35”	37”	39”	41.5”	44”	46.5”	49”
Hip	44”	46”	48”	50”	52”	54”	56”
Back Waist Length	17.25”	17.36”	17.5”	17.63”	17.75”	17.88”	18”

Miss Petite

Designed for figures 5'2" to 5'4" tall without shoes, with back-waist lengths shorter than Misses.

Size	6MP	8MP	10MP	12MP	14MP	16MP
Bust	30.5”	31.5”	32.5”	34”	36”	38”
Waist	23.5”	24.5”	25.5”	27”	28.5”	30.5”
Hip	32.5”	33.5”	34.5”	36”	38”	40”
Back-waist length	14.5”	14.75”	15”	15.25”	15.5”	15.75”

Half Size

Designed for figures 5'2" to 5'3" without shoes. with short back-waist and large waist and hips.

Size	10.5	12.5	14.5	16.5	18.5	20.5	22.5	24.5
Bust	33”	35”	37”	39”	41”	43”	45”	47”
Waist	27”	29”	31”	33”	35”	37.5”	40”	42.5”
Hip	35”	37”	39”	41”	43”	45.5”	48”	50.5”
Back-waist length	15”	15.25”	15.5”	15.75”	15.88”	16”	16.13”	16.25”

Junior

Designed for figures 5'4" to 5'5" tall without shoes, with high busts and short back-waist lengths.

Size	5	7	9	11	13	15
Bust	30”	31”	32”	33.5”	35”	37”
Waist	22.5”	23.5”	24.5”	25.5”	27”	29”
Hip	32”	33”	34”	35.5”	37”	39”
Back-waist length	15”	15.25”	15.5”	15.75”	16”	16.25”

Junior Petite

Designed for figures 5'-5'1" tall without shoes, with high busts and very short back-waist lengths.

Size	3JP	5JP	7JP	9JP	11JP	13JP
Bust	30.5”	31”	32”	33”	34”	35”
Waist	22.5”	23”	24”	25”	26”	27”
Hip	31.5”	32”	33”	34”	35”	36”
Back-waist length	14”	14.25”	14.5”	14.75”	15”	15.25”

Junior Teen

Designed for girls, 5'1" to 5'3" tall without shoes, the waist is large in proportion to the bust.

Size	5/6	7/8	9/10	11/12	13/14	15/16
Bust	28”	29”	30.5”	32”	33.5”	35”
Waist	22”	23”	24”	25”	26”	27”
Hip	31”	32”	33.5”	35”	36.5”	38”
Back-waist length	13.5”	14”	14.5”	15”	15.38	15.75

Men

Designed for the male American figure of average proportion, 5'10" tall without shoes.

Size	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48
Chest	34”	36”	38”	40”	42”	44”	46”	48”
Waist	28”	30”	32”	34”	36”	39”	42”	44”
Hip	35”	37”	39”	41”	43”	45”	47”	49”
Neck- band	14”	14.5”	15”	15.5”	16”	16.5”	17”	17.5”
Shirt Sleeve	32”	32”	33”	33”	34”	34”	35”	35”

Just an observation, it seems like only the men's chart makes any sense in relation to the size and the measurements...