The head measuring game

I'm often being asked for an online reference for standard head sizes. There are a few websites that offer up what a S, M or L should be, but personally I don't find the measurements all that accurate. Then there's the lack of length given - most of the measurement charts concern themselves with circumference only, which is crucial to having a Hat fit properly, but the length is also key, too.

It's been bugging me for a while, and so many people have enquired, so I've decided to start gathering more info to be able to work out some accurate results.

To get the best results, I need as many people as possible to take the following measurements. I also need age, too, as many people aren't aware how the head changes with age, and that it really is much bigger than most think from a young age. Gender helps determine a 'typical' size, which is something many people enquire about.

I've tried to get some nice illustrations prepared to help demonstrate where you need to measure, so here we have some cleverly disguised images of Tom to help with our purpose. (doesn't he Photoshop nicely?)

The image above shows the first measurement needed - this is around the widest part of your head. From your forehead, over your hair, over that potruding part at the back and back round to your forehead again. The tape measure needs to be fairly snug. Sometimes it's best to take the measurement a few times to check you're got it in the right place. This is the standard head measurement given for head/Hat sizes, and will make up the first part of the data.

This 2nd image shows how to measure the depth needed for Hat measurements. This needs to be from the crown of your head right down to the base of your ear, where your earlobe meets the side of your face. It's a fairly straight line down, and follows the gentle curve of your head. This measurement is the one I get asked most about from people designing Hats!

So, here's how you can help. Please post a comment with the following information:-

1. Age - babies to 2yrs to the nearest 3mths, under 18's to the nearest year, over 18 please state 'adult'
2. Head circumference in centimetres
3. Head length in centimetres
4. Gender

Please, please give measurements in metric, to the nearest 0.25cm if possible. I will provide imperial measurements when I publish the results, but they aren't as accurate for calculating with I'm afraid!

Also, emails get lost so please leave a comment with the info - it will be much easier for me to sort everything out if it's all in one place!

As an example, here's my measurements:-

1) adult 2) 61.25cm 3) 24.25cm 4) female

And Tom's measurements:-

1) adult 2) 60cm 3) 21.5cm 4) male

You can do this totally anonymously, that's fine, you don't need to have a blog or provide your email addy - just leave a comment below. All results will be used to calculate a more accurate average and will not be used for any other purpose. I'd also appreciate your help in spreading the word - the more people that help out, the more accurate the results! Measure yourself, your family, your neighbours and friends! (but not your dog) You can copy and paste this link :-

http://woollywormhead.squarespace.com/blog/2008/10/18/the-head-measuring-game.html#comments

Once it's all done, I'll add the chart to the sizing page on my website and provide the data in PDF format, too.

I'll leave this open for a few weeks, as a few hundred different sets of numbers would be desirable - I'm not afraid of the maths ;)

Thanks in advance!

Comments

[MiffyRabbit]

Here you go.

1) adult 2)56cm 3)20cm 4)female
1) adult 2)56cm 3)21cm 4)male
1) 8yrs 2)54cm 3) 19cm 4)male
1) 5yrs(but 3-4 clothes) 2)51cm 3)20cm 4)male
1) 2yrs 2)49cm 3)18cm 4)male

Hope they help and good luck with the maths!

[SianaBanana]

Thanks for this , I have been thinking about gathering this data for a little while now.

1) Adult 2) 58.5cm 2) 19.5cm 4) Female

[Rainghirl]

Just come over from Ravelry to post this:

1) Adult 2) 55cm 3) 21cm 4) Female

Goodluck with it.

[Elly]

1) adult 2) 56 cm 3)21.25 4) female

[Anonymous]

1) Adult 2) 57cm 3) 22cm 4) Female

[Emily]

1)adult 2) 57cm 3) 22.5cm 4) female

1) adult 2) 56cm 3) 23cm 4) female

[Sally in Wales]

1) adult 2) 62.5cm 3) 26cm 4) male1) adult 2) 59cm 3) 22cm 4) female

[Anonymous]

1) adult 2) 57.5cm 3) 23cm 4) female

[Jo F]

1) adult 2)57cm 3)22.5cm 4)female

[brenda]

1) adult 2)57cm 3)19cm 4) female
also
1) adult 2)55cm 3)20cm 4) female

Thank you!

[Dawn]

1) adult
2)61cm
3)22.75cm
4)male
He has a large head!

1)adult
2)56cm
3) 20.25cm
4)female

Interesting to see the differences.

[Kimothyjones]

1. adult
2.54.5 cm
3.20.25 cm
4. female

Aw... I have a small head. XD

[Silke]

- adult
- 56.5 cm
- 22 cm
- female

[littlelixie]

1. adult
2. 56.5
3. 22cm
4. female
Hey, who's silke? We have identical heads!
PS: What you're calling head width is actually circumference. But doesn't seem to have worried anyone other than me!

[Cheryl]

1) adult 2) 55.5 3)20.5 4)female

[Woolly Wormhead]

There always has to be one pedantic one, eh Lixie...? ;)

I'll go edit the post and use the correct terminology.

[AnnieBee]

1) adult
2) 58.25 cm
3) 23 cm
4) female

[Y]

1)wriggly 2.5 year old 2)51cm 3)18cm 4)M
1)jumpy almost 5 year old 2)52cm 3)19.5cm 4)M
1)adult 2)58cm 3)22cm 4)F
1)adult 2)59cm 3)21.25cm 4)M

[Jen]

1) adult 2) 61.25 3)22.25 4)female

[Anonymous]

1) adult
2)55.5cm
3) 21.5cm
4)female

[Maggie]

1) adult 2) 58.5cm 3) 24.0cm 4) female (and apparently I have a smaller head than I thought, despite being 6'0" tall!)

[historyweaver]

1) adult 2) 55cm 3) 21cm 4) female

[Anonymous]

1) adult 2) 59 cm 3) 23 cm 4) female
yes, I'm large boned

[Angeluna]

1) adult 2) 59.5 cm 3) 22.25 cm 4) female

Love your designs. And yes, I have a large head it seems.

[Marnie]

* 1) adult 2) 53cm 3) 20.5cm 4) female
* 1) 9yo 2) 55cm 3) 20cm 4) female
* 1) 6yo 2) 51cm 3) 18cm 4) female
* 1) adult 3) 60cm 3) 21cm 4) male

[Woolly Wormhead]

And Aran's measurements:-

1)9mths 2)44.5cm 3)15.75cm 4)male

We could use some measurements for little people, if anyone has one at hand!

Thanks for everyone's input so far - it's very much appreciated :)

[Rav Id Knittynora1984]

Hellooo,

Female
Adult
Head Circ - 58.5cm
Length - 17cm

[Anonymous]

1) Adult 2) 58.25cm 3) 20.5cm 4) Female

[annri]

1) adult
2) 56cm
3) 24cm
4) female

cheers!

[Anonymous]

1)adult 2)58.5 cm 3)22.25 cm 4)female

[Schrapknits]

1) adult
2) 55.75 cm
3) 21 cm
4) female

[offmyhook]

1) adult 2) 56 cm 3) 22.25 cm 4) female

[Paula]

1)adult 2)58 cm 3)23 cm 4)female

[Zabet]

1)adult 2)57cm 3)19cm 4)female

[Kath]

1) adult 2) 56cm 3) 19 cm 4) female

Will try to send a few more hat knitters over, do you mind if I do it with a blog post?

[Kristin]

1) 2 1/2 years old 2) 50cm 3) 15cm 4) male

[Penny Elverd]

Hi Ruth
1) Adult 2) 58.75cms 3)23.25cms 4) Female
Great idea!! but your welcome to all the math. Thanks .

[Ariadne]

1) adult 2) 60 3) 21 4) female
1) adult 2) 57.2 3) 21.5 4) male

[Megan]

adult
circumference- 61
head length- 21
male

adult
57
22
female

3 months
40
14
female

[knitbysue]

1. Adult, 2. 54.6 cm, 3. 20.5 cm, 4. Female

Maybe it is too late to suggest this but it might be more accurate to measure from base of ear to base of ear (over the top of the head) and then divide by 2 to get the measurement you want.

[Woolly Wormhead]

Sure, that's one way to do it!

Although if people don't take the measurement over the top of the head via the crown, they won't get the right measurement, make sense? The top of the middle of your head to ear is much shorter than crown to ear, and it's the crown to ear base that we want :)

[Katrin]

adult
62 cm
25 cm
female

[Crafty 'n' Clothy]

1) 18 months 2) 44cm 3) 17cm 4) female
1) adult 2) 56cm 3) 20cm 4) female
1) adult 2) 57cm 3) 21cm 4) male

[tea]

1)adult 2)58 3)21 4)female
1)adult 2)58 3)23 4)female
1)16 2)60 3)23 4)male
1)15 2)60 3)24,5 4)male
1)7,5 2)60 3)23 4)female
my husband is away on business, so I'll add him later...and if you make it all the way to the heel of Italy do contact me! There's always room for a few more at our dinner table (three teens and one child!!!!) =) Tea ie teacosy on Rav

[fran]

1)adult 2)56cm 3)22cm 4)female

Posted on my blog too :o)

[Megan]

6 yr
51cm
19.5cm
girl

3 yr
50cm
19.5cm
boy

[hespra]

60 yr
57 cm
23.7 cm
female

[Judith]

adult, 57 cm, 23.5cm, female.

[Anonymous]

1) adult 2) 55,5cm 3)23.0cm 4) Female


1)adult 2)59,9cm 4)23.0 cm 4) Male

[Kare]

1. adult
2. 54.50 cm
3. 20.25 cm
4. female