Clothing Sizes (are wacko!)

Customer Service & Information Page

We started a project aimed at helping you pick the right sizes. Unfortunately, our research showed that it's hard to find two people in the clothing industry that agree on anything. Every manufacturer has differently sized patterns and a different understanding of what the size numbers and letters mean. Really crazy!

After lurking in department stores and pattern departments we realized it wasn't our imagination, or just the vendors we deal with. In any case, what we show below are what we decided to be "normal" or average representations of sizes in general based on weights and measurements of the average medians (got that?). Use it as kind of a guide or starting point, just remember that we get blanks from all over, and the vendors don't necessarily conform to the charts below. Also, "normal" sized stuff shrinks if not pre-shrunk so you have to allow for the shrinkage when ordering. A very few vendors "cut oversize to allow for shrinkage". This means that after shrinkage, they should fall into the appropriate size ranges, depending on that vendor's interpretation. We mark those items with a "cut oversized" icon. When we realized, though, how much variation there was, we decided to measure everything we carry, before shrinkage, and you will see those measurements on all of our clothing - use that when you need to have a more specific fit, and don't forget to allow for shrinkage!

That's the deal. Confused? Join the club. Anyway, we hope it helps.

I WONDER HOW MUCH IT SHRINKS?

Cotton shrinks! This fact is reported to have been discovered by the ancient Egyptians and has been confirmed by countless distraught women through the ages. You can figure about 3-5% in width and 8-12% in length depending on the type, weight & knit. Sharp changes in temperature cause more shrinkage than gradual changes. High agitation washing machines cause more shrinkage than gentle hand washing. Preshrunk goods shrink less, but still shrink. "Compacted Cotton" has been scrunched up between rollers so that there is built in extra length in the fibers so it seems to shrink less. Some big name T-shirt manufacturers call their T-shirts pre-shrunk, but they are actually only compacted, and have never been washed.

Allow for the shrinkage! In some garments, this means buying a size larger. If the item is "cut oversize to allow for shrinkage" then it will be big at first, and then shrink down to the size on the label. In the end, we have to leave it you to judge the right size to buy.

JUNIOR WOMEN'S SIZES:
Junior sizes run a size smaller than Missy or Ladies, are cut closer fitting and are cut shorter to fall at or above the waist for tops and at or below the waist for bottoms. Adults buying Jr. sizes should buy one size larger than usual.
Size: Chest: Waist: Hips:
Small 3-5 32-33" 24-25" 34-35"
Medium 7-9 34-35" 26-27" 36-37"
Large 11-13 36-37" 28-29" 38-39"

WOMEN'S SIZES:
Size: Chest: Waist: Hips:
Small 4-6 34-35" 25-26" 35-36"
Medium 8-10 36-37" 27-28" 37-38"
Large 12-14 38-39" 29-30" 39-41"
XLarge 16-18 41-43" 32-34" 42-44"
2XLarge 18-20 43-45" 34-36" 44-46"

T-SHIRT SIZES
(Men's or Unisex Sizes)
Size: Chest:
Small: 34-36"
Medium: 38-40"
Large: 42-44"
XLarge: 46-48"
2XLarge: 50-52"
3XLarge: 54-56"

SHORTS & PANTS
(Unisex Sizes)
Size: Waist:
Small: 28-30"
Medium: 32-34"
Large: 36-39"
XLarge: 40-44"

INFANT SIZES
Size: Pounds: Length:
XSmall Newborn-3 mo. 0-12 lbs. to 24"
Small 6 months 13-17 lbs. 25-26"
Medium 12 months 18-22 lbs. 27-29"
Large 18 months 23-26 lbs. 30-32"
XLarge 24 months 27-30 lbs. 33-37"

TODDLER SIZES
(Sizes Correspond To Age)
Size: Pounds: Height: Chest:
2T 25-33 33-37" 21"
4T 34-38 37-42" 23"

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SIZES
(Sizes Roughly Correspond To Age)
Size: Height: Chest: Waist:
6 42-46" 24-25" 22"
8 50-52" 27" 23"
10 53-56" 28-29" 24"
12 56-59" 30" 25"
14 60-62" 31-32" 26"
16 63-64" 33" 27"
XSmall 2-4 35-41" 21-23" 20-21"
Small 6-8 46-52" 24-27" 22-23"
Medium 8-10 50-56" 27-29" 23-24"
Large 10-12 53-59" 29-30" 24-25"
XLarge 14-16 60-64" 31-33" 26-27"

Customer Comments
Image of a notebook and pencil
 

If you'd rather speak with a human, please call toll-free from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada M-F 8am to 5pm PST

Phone: (800) 542-5227

Your item has been added to your shopping cart   Item Added to Cart
Your item has not been added to your shopping cart   Item Not Added

About Tiered Discount Levels

You can combine cotton and rayon clothing & accessories to get the greatest discounts. Your discount is figured on the total number of cotton and rayon items we ship, not how many of each type, style or size. Mix and match them to get the best discount.

Example: adding 4 each of 3 different T-shirts in any sizes will give you the 12+ price on all 12 shirts.

Visual aid for discount details

Visual aid for how discounts will look in cart

Some products may be excluded from discounts, and / or may discount only with themselves. If you have any questions at all please contact us toll free at 800-542-5227 (no buttons, just humans).

Drag and Drop chips to the Palette first.

ssl test img