How to Measure for a Cardigan

The most useful fitting tool may already be in your closet. Choose a cardigan that fits the way you want your new layer to fit, ideally in a similar knit and silhouette.

Set up a fair comparison

Lay the cardigan flat on a firm surface. Smooth it gently without stretching it. Fasten the buttons if you intend to wear the new style closed. Use a flexible measuring tape and record the same units as the product chart. Our charts show centimeters and their inch equivalents; 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters.

Measure the bust

Measure straight across the garment at the underarms, then double that width to estimate its chest circumference. Compare this with the garment bust measurement, not just your body measurement. For an open-front piece, the front opening may affect how the listed measurement relates to the drape, so also compare with an open-front layer you own.

Measure the length

Measure from the high point of the shoulder beside the neck down to the hem. Keep the tape straight. If the front and back are different lengths, compare the relevant measurement separately where the chart provides it.

Measure sleeves and shoulders

For a conventional set-in sleeve, measure from the shoulder seam to the cuff. Measure shoulder width across the back between the shoulder seams. Dropped shoulders and sleeves measured from the neck use different reference points; do not compare those numbers directly with a standard sleeve length. If a chart does not identify a sleeve method clearly, ask us before using it for a close fit decision.

Plan for the layer underneath

Try your reference cardigan over the type of top you will wear. Raise your arms, sit down and button it if that is how you plan to use it. A garment chart tells you dimensions; this comparison tells you whether those dimensions suit your preferred room and movement.

Read the individual chart

Our product charts describe the garment unless a page explicitly says otherwise. Letter sizes are style-specific, and a one-size label still has limits. Knits and manual measurements can vary; check the tolerance noted on each page. Do not stretch a garment to make its measurement match.

Keep your measurements nearby while browsing the collection. If the chart leaves you uncertain, contact us with the product name before ordering. For hemline ideas, see How to Choose a Cardigan Length.