How to Send Your Measurements

If you are commissioning me for something you wear, I will require measurements. There are a couple ways you can send them to me.

Method 1 - Email Numbers

In this version you take the measurements at home, record the numbers for each and email me the numbers. Below are my suggested methods for taking your own measurements. 

Measuring Tape

Wear whatever you intend to wear underneath or just undergarments. Use ribbon-like measuring tape to take measurements. You can do this on your own or get a friend to help.

The basic process is to hold the end with the number 1 against the starting point of the measurement.
Wrap the tape around the body part until it meets the starting point again. Overlap the tap and see where the line where the starting tab sits.

For length, hold the starting end at one end of the measurement. Keeping close against the body, run your fingers along the tape, keeping it taut until you reach the end of the length. The line where you stop with your fingers is your length measurement.

Tips:

• Stand up with your best posture for torso measurements 
• Don't hold your breath or suck in your stomach to make yourself skinnier. Relax. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. 
• Don't wrap it too tight. You don't want it to bite into the skin. It should rest snug against your body. 
• Measure twice if you need to. 
• Tape a safety pin one end. You can use this as a way to slide the other end through and measure circumference. It is also helpful to measure certain lengths by pinning one end to the top instead of holding both ends.
• Write down the measurement after each measurement.  
• If you need to round a measurement, round up, not down. I can do more with something that is too big than with something that is too small. 
• Don't feel bad or guilty about your size. Knowing your number makes it possible to be comfortable while wearing the piece. It does no good to lie about your numbers. ;)

Masking Tape

This is my own cheater, cheater pumpkin eater way of taking measurements without measuring tape.
It requires masking tape, a marker, and a ruler or measuring device.

For this you would wear the appropriate clothes that you would wear with the piece. Start to unravel the roll a bit and stick it to the starting point.
For circumference, unravel the roll around your body part pressing it against your clothes as you go until it meets up with the starting point. Tear the tape and mark the overlap.
Take the tape off and lay it down on a flat surface. (You can use wrapping paper or just your floor or table). You can measure the length with a tape measurer, measuring tape, or yard stick or whatever.

Length: unravel from start to finish. You can make marks if you don't have even tears. Place on the flat surface and measure.

Reference Video:

Method 2 - Duct Tape Dummy 

A duct tape dummy acts as a sort of life-cast of the wearer that I use for reference. It must be shipped physically. 

For this you wear throw-away clothes, use plastic wrap, and strips of duct tape to construct a body double. You will need another person there to cut you from your duct tape prison. Then tape the seam.

If you are making a duct tape dummy to send to me, please mail it to me unstuffed. This makes it easier to ship.

Depending on the piece of armor/costume you're requesting, I may not need a neck to toe duct tape dummy. You could send just a limb or torso. I've been able to successfully cut out shoulder to wrist arms and thigh to foot forms on my own.

References for this Method:

Female:

Male:

Alternatives to the duct tape dummy

If you're an eccentric, anti-social hermit like myself, the duct tape dummy is not an option. Because I have no one to cut me out of the prison of tape. So, what alternatives do you have? Well, you can create a dress form from a sewing pattern. Check out the link below.

Alternative to Duct Tape Dummy: Dress Form Sewing Pattern

Basically you enter your measurements and it creates a custom pattern to make a dress form or dress form part.

How to Ship a Dummy 

Before you are cut from your piece, draw the cut seam and include horizontal dashes so I can match them back up. Then cut yourself free. You should be able to fold the form in a way that in to can fit into a bubble mailer or a flat rate box at your local post office. 

I will piece it back together and stuff it once it arrives.

If you go the route of the Sewing Pattern,  you must sew the pattern, but leave it unstuffed and send it to me in the same way you would a duct tape dummy.