How to measure your French or German ball-jointed composition body doll for a dress:
- Measure from the top of the doll's shoulder to the knee joint or floor (wherever you wish the hem to end);
- Measure the circumference of the doll's waist;
- Measure across the shoulders between the sleeve seams (do not include the arms - measure torso only).
Note: for chunky bodied French dolls, you may also with to measure the circumference of the upper arm, lower arm, and widest part of the hand and compare these measurements to the sleeves of the dress under consideration.
DRESS SIZE ESTIMATES
Height of Doll (Compo Body in Inches)
|
Dress Length (Inches) |
| 10 |
7 |
| 11 |
7-1/2 |
| 12 |
8 |
| 13 |
9 |
| 14 |
9-1/2 |
| 15 |
10 |
| 16 |
10-1/2 |
| 17 |
11 |
| 18 |
11-1/2 |
| 19 |
12-1/2 |
| 20 |
13 |
| 21 |
13-1/2 |
| 22 |
14 |
| 23 |
14-1/2 |
| 24 |
15 |
| 25 |
16 |
| 26 |
17 |
| 27 |
17-1/2 |
| 28 |
18 |
| 29 |
18-1/2 |
| 30 |
19 |
How to measure your French Fashion or other kid or cloth bodies dolls for a dress:
- Measure from the top of the doll's shoulder to the floor (or wherever your desired length may be
- Measure across the shoulders of the torso (do not include arms);
- Measure circumference of bust, waist, and hips;
- Measure circumference of upper arm;
- Measure length of sleeve from shoulder to wrist or desired length.
How to measure for a bonnet or hat:
- For a bonnet which fits around the head and ends at the ears as for baby dolls or bebe's, measure over the top of the head from ear lobe to ear lobe. Be sure to get this measurement of the front opening from the seller of the bonnet.
- Measure from ear lobe to ear lobe around the back neck and compare this measurement to the bonnet.
For a hat, consider how you wish the hat to fit and the style of the hat:
- French Fashion doll hats may look best sitting at a jaunty angle, tipped downward, or placed foreward on the head. If you only have the circumference of the opening in the hat, this measurement alone will not be adequate to judge the fit of the hat on your doll. We have found it helpful to get the width and length of the hat opening (as measured in a cross-ways fashion) and cut a circle or oval piece of paper and hold this on the doll's head to see if the scale of the hat will be accurate for the doll. (See pictures.)
