How to do accurate measurements

The first step in any costuming project is to get the most accurate measurements you can.  Each shop that I have worked at has had a different way of recording measurements for a show or project, but the measurements are usually the same.  Abbreviations on the chart or sheet are also used often to conserve space.

One choice is a page for each person, this works well when you have a lot of building and many hands doing the work.  You can have the complete measurements for one person at the work area.

Example

Name_____________________

Character____________________

Height__________ Weight______________Hair color_______________

Bust_________

Under bust_______

Waist_______________

Hips_____________

Back Shoulder_________

Neck________

Head_________

Arm_________

Sleeve____________

Wrist__________

Nape to waist Front__________

Nape to waist back_________

Underarm to Waist_________

Waist to floor___________

Waist to knee___________

Inseam________________

Shoe_________

Dress size_________

Pant size_________

This is just an example.  The required measurements may differ from shop to shop.   The other measurement sheet is done as a spreadsheet and is used when a lot of measurements are needed together.  This is the type of sheet that most rental houses use.

Actor	Character	Chest	Waist	Hips

Etc.

This is just to show as example the spread sheet would be much bigger.

O.K so now you need to fill it in.  This is my measuring method for most major measurements.  Some tailors and other constructors of clothing measure in different ways.

Head is across forehead above ears

Neck is at the base, think buttoned collar.

Shoulder is as if wearing a tight t-shirt seam to seam

Sleeve is from the center of the back down a bent arm to the wrist.

Arm is just shoulder to wrist straight armed.

This is just a starting place,  It is important that everyone working with the measurements knows how they were taken, so a more accurate fit can be achieved.