Japanese Size Guide
Japanese sewing books do not share one size chart. This guide explains the size systems you will meet and which measurement to compare yourself with. We do not convert sizes to US/UK/EU sizes or publish our own chart: always use the size chart printed in the book you buy.
Body measurements vs finished measurements
Japanese books and patterns often print two kinds of numbers:
- 参考寸法 / ヌード寸法 (body measurements) — the body the size is made for. Measure yourself and compare with these.
- 出来上がり寸法 (finished measurements) — the sewn garment itself. It includes ease (ゆとり), so it is larger than the body figure. Useful for judging how loose a design is.
Example: one pattern listing both figures (M / L). Source: Boutique-sha sewing pattern TM-0003 (camisole and shorts) — a separate pattern, not one of the books compared here (checked 2026-10-05). The figures are copied as published.
| Body measurements （参考ヌード寸法） | M | L |
|---|---|---|
| Bust (バスト) | 82 cm | 94 cm |
| Back length (背丈) | 38 cm | 40 cm |
| Waist (ウエスト) | 66 cm | 76 cm |
| Hip (ヒップ) | 90 cm | 98 cm |
| Finished measurements （出来上がりサイズ） | M | L |
|---|---|---|
| Camisole bust (バスト) | 86 cm | 98 cm |
| Shorts hip (ヒップ) | 103 cm | 111 cm |
This example is a single Boutique-sha pattern, shown only to illustrate how the two charts differ. Other books and sizes use other numbers.
Size systems you will see
| System | Looks like | Where | Publisher examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter sizes | S, M, L, LL (also XS, 3L and up in some titles) | Most adult sewing books. Labels are defined by each book's own chart. | |
| Children's height sizes | 90, 100, 110 … 150 (cm of the child's height) | Children's clothing books. Some books group the heights under S/M/L. | |
| Gō (号) numbers | 5号–17号, 7号–15号 | Drafting blocks (原型) and some pattern-making books. | |
| Height-adjusted lengths | Cutting lines for 148 / 153 / 158 cm height | Some newer patterns let you choose garment length by your height separately from the width size. |
In letter systems, LL and 3L are the sizes above L. The exact numbers behind each letter come from the book's own chart, so we do not list "typical" values here.
Children's sizes are named by height
Children's sewing books usually name sizes after the child's height in centimetres (90, 100, 110 …). Some books group several heights under S, M and L — for example, one Nihon Vogue book describes S, M, L as covering children about 90–140 cm tall. Check the book's chart for chest, waist and garment length.
Sizes in the books we compare
From publisher pages only. "Size labels only" means the page lists the labels but not whether its chart is body or finished measurements.
| Book | Sizes | Basis | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes for Me, Gently Stirring the Heart | S, M, L | Size labels only (chart basis not stated) | Japanese |
| Cute Clothes for Girls (Expanded & Revised Edition) | Upper end 150 (children's height-based size); lower end not stated | Child's height (cm) | Japanese |
| Stylish Children's Clothes with Lovely Silhouettes (Expanded & Revised Edition) | For children about 90–140 cm tall | Child's height (cm) | Japanese |
| Pattern Magic | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | English |
| Pattern Magic | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Japanese |
Before you choose a size
- Find the size chart in the book (usually near the "how to make" section) and read its heading: 参考寸法 / ヌード寸法 = body; 出来上がり寸法 = finished garment.
- Measure your bust (バスト), waist (ウエスト), hip (ヒップ) and, for children, height (身長) in centimetres.
- Pick the size whose body figures are closest; then look at the finished figures to see how much ease the design has.
- If your size is outside the book's range, the book's patterns may not include it. Check the range on the comparison page before buying.
Terms used on this page are explained in the Pattern Terms Dictionary.