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Sable AtelierMade-to-measure tailoring, Québec City

Measurements and fit

Made-to-measure sizing starts from your own body, taken in person — not from a size chart. This page explains what is measured and how fittings work.

What is measured

A tailor takes a full set of body measurements in person, well beyond the four used for ready-to-wear sizing — chest, waist, shoulder width, sleeve length, back length, neck and more, depending on the garment.

Core measurements used to start a pattern
MeasurementWhere it is takenWhat it decides
ChestFullest point, tape level at the backJacket pattern width
Shoulder widthSeam to seam across the backWhere the sleeve is set
Sleeve lengthShoulder point to wrist, arm slightly bentSleeve and cuff length
Waist and seatNatural waist and fullest seat pointTrouser pattern

Why it is done in person

Posture, one-shoulder differences and how you stand all affect how a made-to-measure pattern is drafted — these are things a tailor reads in person, not from numbers sent by e-mail.

What the first fitting checks

The half-built garment is checked against your body: shoulder line, balance, length and where the fabric sits. Adjustments at this stage are normal and expected, not a sign the process went wrong.

If your measurements change

Weight or fitness changes between ordering and the final fitting are common; tell the showroom as soon as you notice, so the pattern can be adjusted before the piece is finished rather than after.

Ordering for a group event

Every person in a group order is individually measured, even for a shared occasion — a shared date does not mean a shared pattern.

After the final fitting

Once the finished piece is collected, further adjustments go through the Alterations and remakes service on its own terms, not as part of the original order.