Hip Adjustment Calculator — Pattern Hip Fit

Measure at the fullest point of your hips and bottom, usually 18–23cm below the natural waistline. Keep the tape measure parallel to the floor and snug but not tight.

Yes. If you need different adjustments at waist and hip, you must blend the adjustment gradually between the two. Draw a smooth curve from the waist adjustment to the hip adjustment, tapering to zero at both ends.

The high hip (measured 10cm below the waist) may differ from your full hip. If your high hip is proportionally larger or smaller, you may need to add or remove width in the upper hip area separately from the full hip.

Use the pattern’s FINISHED hip, taken from the finished-garment measurement chart or measured flat across the pattern pieces (minus seam allowances). The body-measurement chart already builds in the designer’s ease, so comparing your body hip to it and then adding more ease double-counts the room. Compare your body hip (plus any extra wearing or design ease you want) against the finished hip to get the true difference to add.

Adding or removing width at the side seams keeps the grainline, centre front and centre back unchanged, so the garment hangs correctly. Spread the total evenly across the available side seams, then taper the change smoothly from waist to the fullest hip and back out to the hem.