I only need six measurements to draft your pattern, but it’s important they’re accurate. It’s easiest to have someone help you with them, but it’s certainly possible to take them yourself. Just make sure you stand up straight, and relax your shoulders. Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, is happy to lend us a hand. Or she would be, if she had them.
First, find your natural waist: if you lean to the side, where do you actually bend? It might be best to tie a string around yourself at that point, as you’ll need to know exactly where it is.
Next, I need to know your bust measurement at the fullest part.
Then, around your waist, where that string is.
Then your hips: not the full hip, but where the bottom of the corset will go: about five inches below the string.
From the bottom of where the armhole of a shirt or the top of your bra panel would be down to that string. This is also a matter of preference to some extent. If your boobs tend to bound exuberantly forth at any given opportunity, you may want to go half an inch higher or so. If they usually behave and stay put, no need.
Measure between the two forwardmost points on your bust. (Usually, this is somewhere around 8″). The top of the stomacher will usually be wider than this, but it gives me a starting point.
From the centre of your spine to where the side seam on a shirt is, at about the same height you measured your armpit.
I know this is all a lot to throw at you, and I don’t know if you’ve had measurements taken before, or if you sew, or if I’m utterly insulting you with too much detail, or too little. If you have any questions about any of this, just let me know. Also, if you happen to have a full-body photo of yourself, that can be incredibly helpful to me!