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From: emermuffin
Date: 01-03-2006, 01:33 AM (1 of 10)
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My darling husband and my mom got together and got me a dress form for Christmas. I was totally floored! Perhaps my asking DH a half dozen times to help me make my own duct tape dress form must have sunk in! I'm thrilled at the prospect of sewing for myself for a change but the challenge of padding out this form is daunting. I'm just not sure how to go about it. Anyway, I've been searching online all night trying to find some tips on the best way to pad the form out to be closer to my own. There really isn't too much out there that's helpful. That's when I turn to this marvelous community for advice. What worked for you? What kind of batting or fill did you use and how did you attach it? Any helpful links? I'd love to hear what you have to say... emermuffin
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User: emermuffin
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 55 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 01-03-2006, 04:57 PM (2 of 10)
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What model of dress form? First of all you have to take your own measurements and pad/adjust your dress form according to your measurements. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: emermuffin
Date: 01-05-2006, 11:25 AM (3 of 10)
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It's a dritz my double deluxe. I've got the waist length, bust and hips to my measure however, my bust point is almost two whole inches higher than the form's. Also, I have a tummy roll, sway back and small dowager's hump to add to get it as close as possible to my actual shape. The form has a flat tummy and flat derriere. I have more curves than that! I've found a product called perfect fit that is shaped foam pads that adhere to a dress form and a snug sleeve that fits the whole bit. Perfect for what I need but it's like $150! As much as the form itself! I don't have that kind of money so it's a DIY prospect. I have found some instructions that include sliding some rib knit over the padding, pinning it snug then sewing it up and stretching it back over the padding and form. That doesn't sound too difficult. Where I'm getting hung up is the best way to add the padding smoothly and get it stuck down. Perhaps a quilt basting spray? Hand basting to the fabric cover of the form might work as well though I'm hesitant to sew onto the form. But hey - it's mine, right? Maybe I should make the rib knit cover, then add the padding under the knit to get it the right shape and smoothness. But then the padding may slide around... Hmmm - as usual, I believe I am overthinking this and making it more difficult than it needs to be. Since there was so little information on the web about padding a ready made form, I was certain someone on the boards would have done this before! I think I will figure this one out over the weekend then post my results. Though, I'm still open to suggestions! Thanks! Renee emermuffin
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User: emermuffin
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 55 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 01-05-2006, 05:06 PM (4 of 10)
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The knit covers are usually tight enough once the padding is in place to keep it there. Cotton quilt batting can also be used to pad/fluff up a dress form. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 01-07-2006, 10:26 AM (5 of 10)
I have an OLD dress form that I custom fit using an old body suit and heavy quilt batting to curve where I needed it too etc. I also loosely handstitched lines on the shoulders where my shoulders stopped (I have narrow shoulders and need to bring most patterns in about 2cm to fit) as well as waistlines and midlines markers. the body suit I used had a jewel neck that was perfect for me or I would have stitched that in too. When I was pregnant I gave her a maternity bra and a belly too so I could hem my tent dresses straight. 
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: skiNsew
Date: 01-09-2006, 07:47 AM (6 of 10)
| I did this with a Dritz dress form. I bought a fitting pattern from one of the pattern companies. I made the dress out of unbleached muslin and fitted it on myself as tight as possible (I did not do the sleeves). Then I went to an upholstery shop and bought about 2 yds of cotton padding (less than $1/yd). I also got some of that quilt basting spray. I padded the dummy by using the quilt spray on the cotton padding and then putting it on the dummy. When I though I had it padded up pretty close, I put the skin tight dress that I had made onto the dummy. I then finished padding up any areas that weren't quite right. I gathered up the skirt below the bottom of the dummy and tied it around the pole. It worked great but after a bit I had to put one of my old bras on her to keep the sisters looking right. If I do it again I will put a bra UNDER the tight dress. HTH, Mary |
User: skiNsew
Member since: 06-09-2005 Total posts: 33 |
From: dmoses
Date: 01-09-2006, 08:11 AM (7 of 10)
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Perhaps the industrial strength stick-on velcro would hold the padding in place, and some wide tape would smooth out the areas where two pieces come together. That way, the padding could be easily be removed if your shape changes, or you want to use the form form someone else. Just an idea, since I have never really tried anything like this... 
Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: emermuffin
Date: 01-20-2006, 01:05 PM (8 of 10)
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And that would be no progress to date! I had a playdate scheduled with a sewing mom who offered to help pad out my form but had to cancel since my son had croup. (Scary stuff, let me tell you!) Anyway, I got some rib knit and it fits quite snugly over the form. I'm going to try batting and fiber fill to put my body flaws (LOL!). Dmoses - great tip about the stick on velcro. That would hold the padding in place while I get that rib knit over the form. I also liked skiNsew's idea to make a sloper and fit it over the form and fill it out. thanks to all ya'll for your advice! It's going to be a while before I can make some sewing time but when I finally get it finished, I'll post my results and how-to's and lessons learned! emermuffin
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User: emermuffin
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 55 |
From: Scratch 'N Sniff
Date: 01-20-2006, 07:04 PM (9 of 10)
Here's a question along the same lines: the bust on my dress form is much lower than me (at least when i'm wearing a bra  ) Right now I have a padded bra on it, with the lower strap of the bra at the bust point on the form, but I feel this alters the chest and waist measurements in a wierd way. Any other thoughts on how to fix it?
~debie
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User: Scratch 'N Sniff
Member since: 01-02-2003 Total posts: 46 |
From: emermuffin
Date: 03-15-2006, 12:10 AM (10 of 10)
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OK - I used straight pins, batting and poly fiber fill to fill out my form and I think it's pretty close. I also used an old bra to pad out the bust. The bust points are way too low on the form so I hooked on the bra high on the form's bust and filled out the upper part of the bust and that brought the bust point in line with my own. (Perhaps that might work for you, too, Debie.) I need help getting the back padded out - I have a small "hump" and a sway back while the form's is quite straight. But perhaps it won't make too much of a difference - I don't intend to make anything really closely fitted! I've got some pictures, now I just need to find a way to share them with you all! Thanks for all the great tips! Renée emermuffin
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User: emermuffin
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 55 |
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