Being real about body measurement

photo via: velvetstrawberries.typepad.com

Sewing is a crazy hobby that involves being an expert in textiles, math, patience and perhaps hardest of all, being real about your own size. It's easy to walk into a store and try to squeeze into an 6 or 8, but with sewing sizes, you have to stay true to your measurements. If you aren't you've wasted hours of your time and feel oafish for not fitting into your new garment. And worst of all, sewing sizes are often totally different than ready to wear sizes. I did a pattern recently that said I was a size 14/16 (I'm normally a size 8 waist). How can a size say I am double the size that I normally am? But when it all comes down to it... why do those numbers bug us so? They are numbers. A few digits. 

There are several ladies in the fashion sewing space that are being real about their measurement and have been sharing fabulous tips about how to measure yourself properly:

Blogger Keyka has created a cute and usable worksheet to record your measurements.

Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing has a great post about vintage pattern sizing.

Selfish Seamstress had a funny little post about sizing for those who are "as skinny as a 5 yr-old."

Colette Patterns gives some advice for accurately measuring "the hard parts" like butt, hips, etc... and shares a special tool that she uses.

One of my favorite bloggers is Erica B. She's a sassy woman that has fit down and it's because she is very real about her sizing. She sews to her body type and her true measurement.

Do any of you struggle with this? Do you have any tips?