Definition
Rise is the distance from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband on trousers, and, as a body measurement, the depth from waist to seat when sitting.
On a finished garment, the rise has two parts: the front rise, from the crotch seam to the front waist, and the back rise, from the crotch seam to the back waist, which is always longer. Style names describe where the waist ends up:
| Rise | Where the waist sits |
|---|---|
| Low | 5–8 cm (2–3 in) below the natural waist |
| Mid | Between the hip bones and the waist |
| High | At or above the natural waist |
As a body measurement, the rise is usually called crotch depth or body rise. Sit on a hard, flat chair and measure at the side from your natural waist down to the chair seat; adults often measure between 25 and 30 cm (10 and 12 in). Trouser patterns add a little ease to it so you can sit and bend.
A rise that is too short pulls at the crotch, and the back waist dips when you sit; too long, and the crotch hangs low with folds. On the pattern, the rise is adjusted along a lengthen or shorten line between the hip and the crotch, not at the waist, so the shape of the waist and the crotch curve stays intact.
For the whole crotch shape, see crotch curve; for taking the measurement, see how to take your body measurements.