Drafting the Men's Shirt Block
Added Apr 1, 2010
First, you will need to measure the armscye (that is, the distance along the curve from point U through point M to point Y). There are several ways of doing this. I sometimes use a ruler - I set the ruler up to measure the first 2 cm (inch) and then pivot this distance along the curve to measure the next 2 cm (inch), and so on. When the curve gets very steep, then I measure a shorter distance before pivoting. This results in a (somewhat imprecise) measurement. A better way is to use a cloth tape measure or a piece of thread or string (embroidery thread is good for this), and drape it around the curve, then use the straightened cord to measure off the distance. The next step consists of replacing the point L with the point b, and extending the line from point "a" to "b" upwards one third of the armscye measurement obtained by the means described above. Mark this point "c".