1. Head: hat circumference:
Measure around head, horizontally, immediately above eyebrows and ears, taking care to keep the tape level in back. If you wear your hat over your ears and are elven or Vulcan, please measure over your ears.

2. Hood: height: base of neck to eyebrows
Measure from the back of the head at the hairline or base of the neck, up over the top of the head, over the forehead, to the tops of the eyebrows. It is important to measure over your crest, especially if you are Klingon or upland Gorilla.

3. Neck: circumference at base:
Measure at the base of the neck, with the tape edge sitting on the flare of the shoulders, at the place the neck becomes vertical.

4. High Neck: circumference 2" above base:
Measure well up on the neck, beyond the flare at the shoulders, but below the chin area, over the Adam's apple if this is prominent.

5. Front opening: collar bone to neckline:
For oval or slit necklines this is the lowest point you want the bottom of the neckline to drop. Measure from the highest point on the shoulder, next to the neck, straight down to the level at which you want the center of the neckline to fall. This measurement is important, as it will determine how much chest men will expose, and how much cleavage women will show. (Depending on your preferences of gender attire, of course, it might be the other way around.)

6. Shoulders: neck at side to point:
Measure at the highest area of the shoulder, from the base of the neck at the side, straight out to the place where the arm drops away vertically. Arm should be lowered, relaxed. For folks with fleshy shoulders, measure to the widest point of the shoulder, even if this is a little way (no more than 1 inch) down the arm.

7. Total shoulder to shoulder:
Measure with both arms down, relaxed, across the back at the widest point of the shoulders. For folks with fleshy shoulders this will not be a straight line, but will curve at each end to the mid point of the shoulder width, front to back. For those with spinal curvature or additional flesh at the base of the neck, it will really curve.

Yes, this measurement is redundant with the previous and the following; it is used as a double check, as this is an essential area of fit.

8. Sleeve: center back of neck to wrist bone:
Measure with the arm lifted to shoulder height, bent 90 degrees at the elbow. Start from the base of the neck bone at the center back, across the shoulder point, down the arm and around the outside of the elbow, and down to the wrist bone. This allows for the extra sleeve length needed when the elbow is bent.

9. Upper arm length: shoulder to elbow:
Measure with the arm down, elbow bent, from the point of the shoulder to the outside point of the elbow.

11. Forearm: circumference:
Flexed, just below the elbow at the widest part. Measure your larger arm-if you are left handed, measure that arm, as it will be larger. If you order a garment with extra wide cuffs, we use this measurement to flare the cuff from the wrist up the arm.

12. Wrist: circumference:
Measure around the wrist at the bone. Measure your larger wrist-if you are left handed, measure that wrist, as it will be larger.

13. Fist: circumference of closed fist:
Use the hand you favor, right or left. Close the fingers with the thumb curled over the knuckles. Measure around the knuckles at the widest point.

14. High Chest: under armpits:
Measure over shoulder blades and above the pectorals.
For ladies, above the swelling of the bust.

VERY IMPORTANT: Ladies, please wear the bra you plan to wear with the ordered garment, especially if it is padded or strapless, as this will change your measurements significantly.
Gentlemen, please wear the armor you plan to wear with the ordered garment, especially if it is padded or plated, as this will change your measurements significantly.

15. Chest/Bust: at widest point:
Measure chest at widest point. Make sure tape is horizontal across the back.
VERY IMPORTANT: Ladies, please wear the bra you plan to wear with the ordered garment, especially if it is padded or strapless, as this will change your measurements significantly.
Should you happen to be a man ordering a dress, please measure
over your prosthetic.

16. Under Bust (Ladies only): circumference at level of bra strap:
Measure under the breasts, making sure the tape is level across the back.

This measurement ensures you have enough room in the back of your garment, should you have a broad back.

18. Physical Waist: circumference where you wear your waistband:

Everyone wears his or her pants/skirts in a different place. Only you know where you like to wear your waistband. Measure your actual physical size at this location.

19. Garment Waist: circumference where you wear your waistband, at the
Tightness you prefer.

Everyone wears his or her pants/skirts at different tightness. Only you know what is comfortable for you. Measure at the same place as No. 18, but at your comfortable tightness. To check this measurement, measure the waist of a pair of pants you like.

20. Hips: circumference at widest point:
Measure at the widest area of your hips-if your belly is bigger than your hips, and is below your waist (No. 18 & 19, above), give both measurements.

21. Back Waist: base of neck to waist:
Measure from the bone at the base of the neck in back, down your spine to your waist in back.

22. Front Waist (Ladies only): from neck at side, over bust to waist:
Essential for proper fit if you are large busted. Start at the curve where the neck meets the shoulder on one side, measure over the breast, to the point of the breast, out and down to the waist at the center front. If the garment is to be made of spandex, it would be best to also include the same measurement going down the under curve of the breast to the waist along the flat of the ribs.

23. Rise: sitting, side waist to chair:
Sit on a hard, flat chair or bench. Measure from your waist at the side, straight down to the top of the chair seat.

This provides the radius of the curve that becomes your pants crotch seam. If we don't make it long enough, you will have what we call the "eek" effect when you sit down.

24. Crotch Length: front waist, under to back waist:
Warning! For obvious reasons, a trusted friend or family member should only perform this measurement.
Stand, with knees apart. Place one end of the tape measure on the waist at center front, and run the tape down the abdomen, under the crotch, and up over the hips to the waist at center back. Gently pull until snug. Do not measure over jeans, unless you want very loose pants.

This measurement ensures that the curve of the crotch seam is large enough, especially for those who are large in this area (not THAT area, the abdomen and hips!) It also can serve as a double check for the Rise measurement.

25. Thigh: circumference at widest point:
Measure around your thigh at the widest point. Avoid measuring up at the very top of the thigh, as this is not usually as wide as about 2 inches down from the groin area. If you are right handed, measure the right thigh; if you know one thigh is bigger, measure that one.

26. Calf: circumference at widest point:
Measure around your lower leg at the widest point, usually about 3 inches below the knee. If you are left handed, measure the left calf, unless you know that the other is larger.

27. Ankle: circumference:
Measure around the ankle, over the bones. If one ankle is larger, measure that one.

28. Heel to Instep: circumference around foot:
With the toe pointed, measure around the widest point of the heel and instep.
This makes sure that pants with narrow hems will go over your foot.

29. Waist to Knee: at side, standing; waist to top of knee:
Measure standing, from your waist at the side to the top of your kneecap.

30. Outseam: at side, standing; waist to ankle bone:
Measure standing, from your waist at the side to your anklebone.

31. Inseam: inside leg, groin to ankle bone:
Measure with the knee straight, from the groin to the inside anklebone.
Many men think their inseam measurement is an absolute-but it isn't. The inseam varies, depending on the length of the pants' rise. It is the outseam that does not vary.

32. Base of neck to heels:
Measure from the bone at the base of the neck to the floor at the heels (no shoes).
This gives us an overall length for capes and serves as a double check for other vertical measurements.

33. Height:
Measure standing, from the top of the head, to the soles of the feet (no shoes).

36. Glove size: (S, M, L, XL or number, if known)
Used when we acquire gloves for your costume.

37. Shirt/Coat size:
Used for a double check for measurements.

38. Bra cup size (Ladies only):
Important for proper fit of bodices, especially for large busted women.
Most patterns are designed for B-cup, and must be adjusted for larger busted women.

a. Very loose
Being able to grab 4 or more inches at each side.

b. Loose
Being able to grab about 3 inches at each side.

c. Slightly loose
Being able to pinch about 2 inches at each side.

d. Snug
Being able to pinch about 1 inch at each side.

e. Tight
Less than 1 inch ease.

f. Very tight
No ease or smaller than body measurements-for stretch materials only. (Also known as, "within an inch of your life")

2. Sleeve Width:
"Drop" is a measurement of how far a sleeve hangs at the cuff, from top to bottom, with the arm held out. You can envision drop by looping a measuring tape around your wrist, with the measurement listed at the bottom of the loop.

PRICES ARE FOR LABOR ONLY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE