Size Guide
Last updated:
Choosing a size for an embroidered piece matters a little more than for an ordinary sweatshirt, because the design is placed for the size you order: a left-chest name sits where a left chest is on that size, and a family roster is spaced for that width. This guide explains how our sizes run, how to measure a garment the wearer already likes, how to choose between two sizes, and what to do if a size turns out wrong. Measurement charts for each garment are shown on the product page; if a product page does not yet list measurements for a size you need, email us and we will send them before you order.
Sizing at a glance
- Sweatshirts and hoodies: sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL and 5XL in a relaxed unisex cut. The sizes available for each colour are shown on the product page.
- Caps: one size with an adjustable back.
- Between two sizes: most people choose the larger for a relaxed fit.
- Wrong size: exchange within 60 days of delivery; we pay the return postage and ship the new size free.
1. How our sizes run
Our sweatshirts and hoodies are cut as unisex garments. A unisex cut is straighter through the body than a fitted women’s cut and slightly roomier than a slim men’s cut, which is the shape most people expect from a weekend sweatshirt. Hoodies feel a step roomier than sweatshirts of the same size because of the hood and the kangaroo pocket, but they are not cut larger. Zip hoodies sit a little closer at the front once zipped.
| Size label | Usually chosen by people who wear | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S | Small in most unisex or men’s sweatshirts | Women who usually wear a medium in fitted styles often choose S for a neat fit |
| M | Medium in most unisex or men’s sweatshirts | A common choice for a relaxed women’s fit |
| L | Large in most unisex or men’s sweatshirts | The most frequently ordered size for gifts when the size is unknown |
| XL | Extra large in most unisex or men’s sweatshirts | Popular for an oversized look on a medium or large frame |
| 2XL and 3XL | 2XL and 3XL in other brands | Available in most garment colours |
| 4XL and 5XL | 4XL and 5XL in other brands | Available in fewer colours; check the product page |
| One size (caps) | Most adult heads | Adjustable strap or snap at the back |
This table describes how people choose, not exact measurements. Exact garment measurements for each size are listed on each product page when the owner of the blank publishes them; garment makers measure slightly differently, so the product page is always the reference for a specific garment.
2. Measure a garment you already like
The most reliable way to choose a size is to compare our measurements with a sweatshirt or hoodie that already fits the wearer the way they like. Lay it flat on a table, smooth it out without stretching, and measure:
- Chest width: straight across from armpit seam to armpit seam, one inch below the armholes. This is the single most useful number.
- Body length: from the highest point of the shoulder, next to the collar or hood seam, straight down to the bottom of the ribbed hem.
- Sleeve length: from the shoulder seam to the end of the cuff, along the top of the sleeve.
Compare the chest width first. If the garment you measured is wider than our size, choose the next size up; if it is narrower, choose the size whose chest width is closest without going under. Then check body length, which decides whether the sweatshirt sits at the hip or below it.
Measuring a person instead
If you cannot borrow a garment, measure the person around the fullest part of the chest with a soft tape, keeping it level and snug but not tight. A relaxed sweatshirt is usually several inches wider than the body measurement all round, which is why measuring a favourite garment is easier and more accurate.
3. Choosing between two sizes
| If the wearer likes | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A relaxed, cosy fit to wear over a T-shirt | The larger size | Room through the body and sleeves, the typical look for embroidered fleece |
| An oversized look | One or two sizes above their usual | Longer body and dropped shoulders; check body length on the product page |
| A neat fit under a jacket | The smaller size | Less bulk at the waist and sleeves |
| Wears it as a layer over a thick shirt | The larger size | Avoids tight sleeves when layered |
| Has long arms or a long torso | The larger size | Extra length matters more than width |
Fleece can shrink slightly if washed hot or tumble-dried on high heat. Washed cold and dried flat or on low heat, as we recommend for embroidery anyway, the size you choose is the size it stays.
4. Sweatshirt, hoodie or zip hoodie: which fits best?
The garment changes the feel of a size as much as the label does. A crewneck sweatshirt sits closest to the body at the neck and is the easiest to layer under a coat; it is the best canvas for a centre-chest roster or portrait. A pullover hoodie has the same body width, but the hood adds weight at the back of the neck and the pocket adds a little bulk at the front, so many people like it one size larger for a relaxed drape. A zip hoodie can be worn open, which makes the fit more forgiving, but the design moves to the left chest, a sleeve or the upper back because the zip splits the front. If the wearer runs warm, a sweatshirt is the lighter choice; if they live in their hoodies, choose a hoodie and size up.
5. Common sizing mistakes, and how to avoid them
- Measuring all the way round a garment laid flat. Measure straight across the front only, armpit to armpit. Our chest widths are flat measurements too.
- Measuring a stretched-out favourite. An old sweatshirt that has been washed many times may have grown or shrunk. If possible, measure one that still looks new.
- Ignoring body length. Two sweatshirts with the same chest width can sit very differently if one is longer. Check length for tall wearers.
- Ordering a fitted women’s size in a unisex cut. Women who wear a medium in fitted styles often take a small in unisex for a neat fit, or a medium for a relaxed one.
- Guessing for a teenager. Teenagers often wear adult sizes now but grow quickly. A relaxed adult small or medium usually lasts longer than a size that fits perfectly today.
6. A simple measuring worksheet
| Measurement | Where to measure | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Chest width (flat) | Armpit seam to armpit seam, just below the armholes | The most important number for choosing a size |
| Body length | Highest point of the shoulder to the bottom of the hem | Decides whether it sits at the hip or below |
| Sleeve length | Shoulder seam to end of cuff | Check for long arms or if the sleeves are worn pushed up |
| Hem width (flat) | Straight across the bottom ribbing | Useful for a relaxed look that does not cling at the hip |
Write the four numbers down, open the product page of the garment you want, and compare. If two sizes are close, the guidance in section 3 decides. If you would rather not measure at all, send us the brand and size of a sweatshirt the wearer likes and we will compare it for you.
7. Sizing for gifts
Buying for someone else is the most common reason people are unsure. A few approaches that work:
- Check the label of a sweatshirt they wear often, or ask someone who lives with them.
- If you only know their T-shirt size, start from the same letter; a sweatshirt in the same size is designed to go over a T-shirt.
- For a surprise where you cannot ask, choose a relaxed fit in the larger of the two sizes you are considering.
- When in doubt, choose a cap: one size, adjustable, and just as personal.
The recipient can exchange the size within 60 days of delivery, without involving you, using the order number on the packing slip. We pay the return postage and ship the new size free.
8. Sizes in a matching set
Each piece in a family or couple set is ordered in its own size. Placement is adjusted for each size so that a left-chest name sits in the same relative position on an S and on a 3XL, and a roster is spaced for the width of each garment. The proof for each piece shows how its design sits on that size. If one piece in a set turns out to be the wrong size, only that piece is exchanged.
9. Caps
Our caps are one size with an adjustable back: a strap and buckle, a hook-and-loop strap or a plastic snap, depending on the style. Structured baseball caps and snapbacks have a taller front panel and hold their shape; soft dad caps sit lower and closer to the head. If the wearer usually finds caps tight, choose a dad cap, which is less rigid around the crown. The embroidery on the front panel is placed for the cap’s shape and does not depend on head size.
10. How size affects the design
Designs are sized for the garment, so the same name may be stitched slightly larger on a 3XL than on an S to keep it in proportion. Rosters and portraits are limited by the width of the chest area on smaller sizes; if a design will not fit comfortably on the size you chose, the proof will show a layout that does, such as a two-line roster, and you can ask for changes before approving it.
11. If the size is wrong
Exchanges for size are covered by our 60-day returns, including personalised pieces. Ask for an exchange within 60 days of delivery, tell us the new size, and we stitch the same design in that size within 1-3 business days of approving the exchange and ship it free. We send a prepaid label for the original piece, which should be unworn and unwashed. See our Returns & Exchanges Policy for the full steps, or submit a ticket with the subject “Return or exchange”.
12. Care that keeps the fit
- Turn the garment inside out before washing.
- Wash cold on a gentle cycle; skip bleach and fabric softener.
- Dry flat, or tumble dry on low heat and remove promptly.
- Never iron over the embroidery; press from the reverse with a cloth between.
- Spot-clean caps rather than machine washing them.
13. Questions about sizing
Send us the wearer’s usual size in other brands, how they like a sweatshirt to fit, and the garment you are considering, and we will suggest a size. Email support@stitchyhome.com with the subject “Sizing help”; we reply within 1 business day. You can also read our FAQs or browse sweatshirts, hoodies and hats.