Measurements

Before you begin you will need the following

• A reliable friend to help you. This can be anyone whom you trust to see you in your undies AND whom you trust to take accurate measurements for you. Remember, this is the most important part of your custom made costume.
• A flexible tailor's measuring tape. They come mostly in plastic now, but sometimes you can find a paper or even cloth ones. Definitely do NOT use a metal carpenter's measuring tape or yard stick or anything of the sort.
• Shoes that you will wear with the garment or some that are of the same height. You need to wear these when taking the length measurements.
• Undergarments that you plan on wearing with the garment. This may be a corset, bustier, strapless bra or a regular bra.
• Ribbon or string to go around your waist.

Click here for a page to print out and record your measurements. Use the print button in the browser window to print.

CLICK EACH IMAGE TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW

	Waist around waist at smallest point. Let's start by tying a ribbon or piece of string around the natural waist, which would be around your torso at the smallest point. Leave the string in place while you do the rest of the measurements. You will need it for reference for some of the other measurements.
	Waist front from side to side across front at waist. This one is a must if you are expecting a baby. I do more maternity stuff than one might think.
	Waist Back From side to side across back at waist.
	Full Bust around bust at fullest point.
	Side Under arm from the point we just made down to the string or ribbon on your waist.
	Front Bust Measure only the front part of your bust from side to side across bust at fullest.
	Back Bust Measure only the back part of your bust measurement from side to side across back at fullest.
	Chest Measure above your breasts in the same manner as you measured across them.
	Rib Cage Measure under your breasts in the same manner as you measured over them.
	Bust to Bust bust point to bust point. Okay, technically, nipple to nipple.
	Bust to Side bust point to side.
	Bust Length from the top of your shoulder down to bust point (nipple. Take note of the point on the top of your shoulder where you started from, you will need to use that point for a few other measurements. Draw a dot on your skin with a ball point pen if you need to.
	Armseye This measurement gives me the size of the sleeve hole that you are comfortable wearing. This measurement is entirely subjective and you can make it as deep or as tight as you are comfortable with. Just remember that some of the other measurements are taken from this one.
	Shoulder Width Remember the dot we put on your shoulder from the bust length measurement above? Measure from there out to the edge of your shoulder,where your shoulder ends and you arm begins. You can feel the edge of the bone socket if you flap your arm up and down while holding you hand on your shoulder joint. Measure to there.
	Shoulder to Shoulder Now from the edge of that shoulder socket, measure all the way over to the same point on the other shoulder along the back.
	Center back Length Now, when you measured the last measurement your tape should have been lying over your spine and a point on it at the base of your neck. From that point at the base of your neck in the back, measure down to the ribbon on your waist. This will also be a reference line for future measurements, but it is easy to remember, it is usually straight down your spine. Now if your spine happens to be crooked, I need to know.
	Back Length from Shoulder Move the measuring tape over to your neck on top of your shoulder and straight down to the waist, following the contour of your back.
	Shoulder Slope Back Inner from center waist back to shoulder at neck.
	Shoulder Slope Back from center waist back to shoulder at arm.
	Front Length Shoulder to Waist Remember that point on your shoulder at you neck? Well use that again and measure from there OVER your bust straight down to the ribbon on your waist.
	Shoulder Slope Front from center waist front to shoulder at arm.
	Shoulder Slope Front Inner from center waist front to shoulder at neck.
	Chest width Don't confuse this one with front bust. This one I want you to measure from the inside of your bra strap on one side to the inside of the strap on the other side. This will tell me how wide I can make the neckline without showing your bra.
	Back width Again, like the chest width, I want you to measure from the inside of you bra straps from one side to the other.
	Full Hip around hips at fullest point, taking note of how far down from th waist that you are measuring.
	Front Hip side to side across front of torso at hip level.
	Back Hip side to side across back hips at the fullest point.
	Hip Depth from the ribbon around your waist down to fullest point of hips where you took the hip measurements.
	Neck around neck loosely. You will not need this one unless your garment has a high neck and/or collar.
	Wrist Measure around wrist at smallest point.
	Forearm around your arm just below the elbow about 2 inches down.
	Elbow around the bones of you elbow.
	Above Elbow around arm just above the elbow.
	Bicep around arm at fullest part of upper arm.
	Arm Length shoulder point to wrist arm bent.
	Upper arm length Measure from shoulder socket down to elbow.
	Lower arm length Measure from elbow down to wrist.
	Full Arm Length from CB Measure from center back to wrist with arm slightly bent as shown in illustration.
	Shoulder to floor back Measure from the point on your shoulder at your neck down the back letting the tape measure hang free to the floor. Stand up straight with your weight on both feet and not leaning. It helps to let the O inch end touch the floor and read the measurement on top of the shoulder.
	Neck to floor back Measure from the point on your shoulder at your neck down the back letting the tape measure hang free to the floor. Stand up straight with your weight on both feet and not leaning. It helps to let the O inch end touch the floor and read the measurement at the neck.
	Outer Leg from waist to floor WITH your shoes on.
	Inseam from crotch to hem. You only need this one if your costume includes pants or any kind of leg covering.
	Head Circumference around head. I only need this if you want a hat, headpiece, or anything that goes around your head. Wrap it around your head with your hair and pull comfortably snug. Measure to the 1/4th inch.
?	Bra size You know, 32A or 44DD. It helps to know cup size.
?	Height How tall you are WITHOUT shoes on.