Oh that ol' math magic...

[Wickedvox]

What fresh math magic hell is this?! Mike's neck is 15 inch circumference, so I cut the neckband 16 inches (0.5" each side for seam allowance"), sewed it up....1.5" too small?!? wtf?!

[isabelladangelo]

Probably just forgot angle and direction.  You don't want to measure directly around along a straight line, but sloped down to the front, near the Adam's apple.   Also, you want it a slight bit loose and not snug, unlike how you would do a wrist or a waistline.   

[Wickedvox]

You're probably right Isabella...as usual lol. I don't have time now to do anything fancy, but as god as my witness my husband *will* have a collar for this weekend!!

[Kate XXXXXX]

We take the collar measurement round the BASE of the neck, with two fingers inside, and then add enough ease to wear comfortably, usually an inch and a half for a shirt.  This gives us a basis for the neck opening...    And we don't cut the collar until that fits!  it gets fitted OVER any shirt and collar and ruff.  Then the base of the doublet collar is cut to that measurement, with the upper edge about an inch shorter.

Take that collar line measurement.  Draw a rectangle that length by the height you want the collar.  At each end, mark half an inch up from the base line on the side lines, and half an inch up from the top line.  Mark half an inch in towards the center back from each end of the upper line.  Now draw a sloping line from the raised inner mark on the top line to the raised mark on the side line.  DRAW IN A CURVED LINE FROM THE RAISED MARKS TO ABOUT HALF WAY ALONG THE BASE AND UPPER LINES OF YOUR COLLAR.  ADD SEAM ALLOWANCES. (Damn!  Didn't mean to yell - caps lock stuck!)

[Wickedvox]

Thanks Kate and Isabella! I remade the collar before your post Kate, but I will definitely do that next time as it makes much sense. I did measure around the base and add to fingers inside for this one and it fits perfect. Mike was much happier not being choked to death lol.