I am quite a large man, and I always struggle to find clothes that fit. Even if I find clothes that fit, I am very picky in terms of what I wear. So naturally, I measure some of my favorite apparel and get custom clothing made. I wrote this article because people love hoodies, and it’s cool to have one made up and customize it.
To measure a hoodie, you will need a measuring tape to measure all the various parts that make it up, and these include the length, width, the circumferences of the cufflinks, and neckline.
In this article, I go into a step-by-step tutorial on measuring every part of your hoodie to have those measurements for future reference if you are looking to get one made because of your size or you just want a specific style in your cut. Then I finish off the article with a step-by-step tutorial on how to customize a hoodie with bleach. It is awesome, so check it out.
How to measure a hoodie (12 steps)
In this little step-by-step tutorial, I will lay out all the steps you need to create measurements from your favorite hoodie. You can use these measurements to order a custom hoodie, or you can use them for when you are next in the store, so you can get the exact fitting hoodie you like.
You do not need any skills in sewing or knitting or anything for that matter to use this step-by-step tutorial. I have listed all the tools you will need below.
The only thing you will need to note is that depending on where you are in the world, you will have to either take your measurements in centimeters or inches.
Tools you will need
- Measuring tape
- Flat surface
- A hoodie you own
- Pen or pencil
- Notebook
Step-by-step measuring process
Lay the hoodie out flat on a surface
Take your favorite hoodie or a hoodie that fits you pretty nicely and lay it on a flat surface. A table will do fine, and you can even use a bed.
Extend all the parts of the hoodie, so it is laid neatly and flat, so you can get to any section of it with the measuring tape.
Measure the arm section from shoulder to sleeve
Take the arm sleeve and extend it straight if you have not already. Then measure the sleeve from where the shoulder is to the end of the arm where your hands come out. Write that measurement down.
Measure from the neckline to the shoulder
The neckline is the part of the hoodie where your head fits through. Measure from the side of the neckline to where the shoulder is. Write that measurement down.
Measure from the arm seems to the end of the sleeve
The arm seems are where the joints of the arm sleeve attach to the body. Measure that and write it down.
Measure the circumference of your cuffs
The cuffs are the holes where your hands come out on the sleeves. What you do is wrap the tape measure around the hole so you can get the circumference. Remember that circumference means around, while diameter means the straight distance through the center. Write that measurement down.
Measure the circumference of the arm joint
The arm joint again is where the arm sleeve meets the hoodie. You need to measure this to make sure that your shoulder and arm fit comfortably through the hoodie. Write that measurement down.
Measure the circumference of the chest area
The chest area will be the area below the arms. You need to measure this area’s circumference. However, you can just measure from one side of the hoodie to the other (left to right) and then double the measurement. This will be easier than trying to wrap the measuring tape around the backside of the hoodie. Write that measurement down.
Measure the circumference of the hoodie at its widest point (the bottom)
As with the chest area you need to measure the bottom part of the hoodie, so you know how wide it is, the widest part is usually the bottom part because that is how you put the hoodie on. Then the wideness also compensates for your stomach. Write that measurement down.
Measure from the shoulder seam to the bottom of the hoodie
We now need to measure the length of the hoodie. This is very important because you need to know how long your hoodie is or how long you would like it to be in the future. Remember that all people’s body types are different, and then their choice in style is as well.
You measure from the top of the shoulder seam to the very bottom of the hoodie. Write that measurement down.
Measure the length of the zipper
The front section of the hoodie is different in length from the back. In the previous step, we measured how long it will be. However, the front is always shorter because you need some space for your head and neck to fit through and for them to be comfortable.
Furthermore, sometimes a hoodie will have buttons or zips, and we need to compensate for this as well. Write that measurement down.
Measure the neck line
The neckline is the hole in which your head fits through. We need to measure the circumference of this so you can either wrap the tape measure around the neck, or you can measure the front part from left to right and then double up the measurement. Write that measurement down.
There you have it. You now have all the measurements you require to make a custom hoodie, and the next time you are in the store, you will be able to check which sizes fit you the best.
Watch Jenn Apoxon measure a hoodie in these 12 steps.
How to make a custom hoodie
I wanted to add something cool to this article, so I decided on making a custom tutorial on how to take your plain hoodie and, with the process of bleach, create something extraordinary.
One thing to note is that this tutorial is designed for hoodies that are dark in color because we will be using bleach to strip color away.
Tools you will need
- Bleach
- Empty spray bottle
- Rubber gloves
- Cooking paper or plastic sheeting
- Sharp knife
- Sharpie or marker
- Brushes (optional)
- Mask
- Your favorite plain hoodie.
If you do not have a plain hoodie, then check out these fantastic hoodie options from Amazon. You can choose the color and size. Just be sure to pick a dark color for this tutorial to work well.
Gildan Men’s Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt
Hanes Men’s Ultimate Cotton Heavyweight Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt
Hanes Men’s Pullover Ecosmart Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt
Champion Men’s Powerblend Fleece Pullover Hoodie
Hanes Men’s Full-Zip Eco-Smart Fleece Hoodie
Step-by-step by tutorial for customizing your hoodie
Fill the empty spray bottle with bleach
You need to fill the empty spray bottle about halfway with bleach and then fill the rest of it up with water.
Be sure to wear your mask, so you do not breathe in the fumes of the bleach. Also, be sure that you are wearing your rubber gloves, so you do not spill bleach on yourself.
Stencil your pattern
This next part of the tutorial is where you can get a bit creative. Trace or draw a pattern or image onto your cooking paper or plastic sheeting and then cut it out with a knife.
Be sure not to hurt yourself while doing this step. If you are a bit of an artist, you can also use brushes and forgo the plastic stencil.
Create your masterpiece hoodie
All you do now is either apply the stencil to your hoodie and spray the bleach onto the stencil (The bleach will then take the shape of the pattern you cut out). Or use some brushes, dip them into the bleach, paint, and design your pattern or image onto your hoodie.
Leave the bleach to settle onto the pattern for about 30-60 minutes, and there you have it, your own one of a kind custom hoodie. It truly is that simple to make.
Wash your hoodie
The last thing you need to do is wash your hoodie after letting it sit with the bleach on it. I suggest washing it in cold water. Then you are good to go.
The great thing about this method is that no matter how many times you wash your hoodie, the pattern and images will stay there because the color has literally been stripped away.
Watch DokeTV create the most amazing custom pattern using bleach and a black hoodie.
Conclusion
We found out that you do not need any skills to measure a hoodie, and then you do not need any skills if you want to make your own custom hoodie either. It would help if you have some artistic abilities, but it is not required because you can trace and cut out your patterns, shapes, or pictures.
I hope these step-by-step guides help you buy, make, and create one of a kind custom hoodies that anyone and everyone will be envious of.