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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: melaniestenius
Date: 03-24-2007, 10:01 PM (1 of 22)
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I have read so many articles about making dressforms at home but I wondered if anybody here has actually made one and how it turned out- and if it did work out, what method did you use? Melanie |
User: melaniestenius
Member since: 03-15-2007 Total posts: 6 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 03-24-2007, 11:05 PM (2 of 22)
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I have made serveral using the duct tape method. They came out very true to their own bodies and I have much less problems fitting them. I took a class to learn the instructors way of doing it.
Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: Magot
Date: 03-24-2007, 11:43 PM (3 of 22)
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My young apprentice and I mde one using the duct tape over a t shirt method - The problems she had with it were that she did not stuff it hard enough with scruncched up newspapers so it tended to fall in on itself. Was true to her though and very useful.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 03-26-2007, 10:38 AM (4 of 22)
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I made a duct tape dressform when I was making my wedding dress. It worked out really well, but it did end up a bit too big -- I think I needed to have DH wrap me tighter and possibly use a tighter T-shirt. It did help tremendously with fitting -- I could see areas that didn't fit that weren't easy to see in the mirror. I definitely recommend using good duct tape, though. I used some cheap generic stuff and it smelled awful, plus the tape peeled off around the edges and wouldn't keep it closed in the back after I stuffed it. I'll probably try again after my weight stabilizes a bit.
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User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222 
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From: lendube
Date: 03-26-2007, 10:43 AM (5 of 22)
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Am I understanding this right? You just put on a tight t-shirt over underthings, wrap yourself tightly with duct tape, slit open the back and voila??? Boy, I'm sure the duct tape folks never imagined that! I know my son made his own wallets with duct tape.  Lennie
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User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Helen Weiss
Date: 03-26-2007, 12:36 PM (6 of 22)
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My duct tape body double was very successful - I have used it alot, and while I was a little horrified by seeing myself, it is true to form. I got lots of help on the internet - just google "duct tape dress form" and you'll be amazed at how many links come up - some very useful tips.
sewhappy
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User: Helen Weiss
Member since: 10-16-2003 Total posts: 69 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 03-26-2007, 07:19 PM (7 of 22)
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thats is the basics of it. you make a stand and have your double waiting for you to do your thing. i use rib knit (the kind that you use to make cuffs in sweatshirts)to cover the duct tape so I saw something nicer than grey.
Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 03-26-2007, 07:39 PM (8 of 22)
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Last fall, there was an article with instructions in the Threads magazine. They have them posted on their web-site. Here's the link to it. http://www.taunton.com/Threads/pages/t00002.asp TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: Nefla
Date: 03-27-2007, 08:26 PM (9 of 22)
| Wow, I had no idea you could make a dressform this way! It's such a good idea. Can you still do this if you don't have someone else tape you? Can you tape yourself? |
User: Nefla
Member since: 03-26-2007 Total posts: 6 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 03-27-2007, 09:05 PM (10 of 22)
I've never done it either way Nefla (although I'm certainly going to at some stage). But I would think that doing it yourself would entail some bending and twisting that might distort your shape. You could end up with some pretty ill-fitting garments. 
Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 03-27-2007, 09:53 PM (11 of 22)
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I agree with Pauline. Plus, when you're all done getting wrapped, it's quite a bit like a cast. I might pay money to see someone try to cut(chew?) her own way out of one of those things! I think you need to ask a really good friend. One you can stand to be bare to your undies with, b/c eventually the whole thing has got to come off.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: Nefla
Date: 03-28-2007, 02:15 AM (12 of 22)
| Hehe, ok. The undies thing was my biggest worry, but maybe I can do it the next time I visit my best friend. |
User: Nefla
Member since: 03-26-2007 Total posts: 6 |
From: Sherri
Date: 03-28-2007, 09:06 AM (13 of 22)
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I would really like to do th paper tape wone but living in the middle of nowhere I am having problems finding the tape. Sher My website
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User: Sherri
Member since: 02-07-2001 Total posts: 357 |
From: lendube
Date: 03-28-2007, 12:32 PM (14 of 22)
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But I would think that doing it yourself would entail some bending and twisting that might distort your shape. You could end up with some pretty ill-fitting garments. Or in traction! Anyone for a game of Twister??? Lennie
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User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 03-28-2007, 02:47 PM (15 of 22)
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We wore a turtleneck that was snug fitting and tights. You need another person to tape you and it does take a couple of hours to do so be prepared to stand.
Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: Helen Weiss
Date: 03-29-2007, 10:48 AM (16 of 22)
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The best hints I got were to make sure you visit the loo before you start, and to lie on your stomach before your partner cuts the form off. I neglected to mention that I made a stretch knit cover for my form so that I can pin patterns and fabric to it. My husband was my wrapper and he wrapped the bust area so tight that it was flat - we had to do an augmentation ! It was fun, lots of laughs and the finished product was fine.
sewhappy
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User: Helen Weiss
Member since: 10-16-2003 Total posts: 69 |
From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 03-29-2007, 02:43 PM (17 of 22)
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Oh, another hint -- definitely go from the bottom up. Once you start wrapping the chest area, it start to feel very tight, so you definitely want to save that for last! As Helen Weiss said, you can make alterations to your dressform after you're done, so don't worry if some areas don't look quite right. You can expand by taping a bit more stuffing on, or reduce by cutting out slits and taping it back together. I would have done this with mine, except with the icky, smelly tape, I thought I'd be better off making another one later on.
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User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222
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From: diannab
Date: 03-31-2007, 07:33 AM (18 of 22)
Okay, I have made 5 of these lol  I have ducttaped all my kids and dh did me! LOL  So put a tight fitting tshirt on (dont have a tight fitting one? Alter it some) Start out with an x of ductape, to do this run one piece from should to opposite hip. Then do the other side.  Just make sure you smooth out the tape. Wrinklies are no fun just continue wrapping making sure you lend enough supp to the girls LOL I had dh wrap me because you can wrap yourself but it won't turn out right. Once completely wrapped, dh drew a line up my back and used scissors to cut it off We then taped up the line he cut and stuffed with extremely crumbled newspaper. I had measurements of my body, so whilst stuffing I would check the measurements to make sure I was keeping true to form. heehe I even made the right boob bigger than the left. So thats all there is to it!
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User: diannab
Member since: 10-28-2006 Total posts: 78 |
From: VenusElaine
Date: 03-31-2007, 06:24 PM (19 of 22)
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There are great instructions for duct tape dressforms at www.leanna.com. While I have been doing alterations and custom fabrications for many years, when I have a question, I go to Leanna! VenusElaine "Always put as much effort into your marriage as you do into your wedding."
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User: VenusElaine
Member since: 10-22-2005 Total posts: 126 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 04-11-2007, 09:42 PM (20 of 22)
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OK, I'm gearing up, now! I see how a taped form would be true to shape and postural differences, but how about size? Wouldn't it come out a little bit bigger than the model? And would it be a difference big enough to hamper proper fitting? I'd hope to be able to build a corset or other truly fitted garment using it. What do you think? Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: Margreet
Date: 04-12-2007, 10:19 AM (21 of 22)
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Dear Melanie, There is a method that can give you high quality results with little effort, right from the start. There are very interesting Online Courses at: www.etelestia.com. These courses are suitable , if you have no prior knowledge and wish to learn by hand, or if you already have prior knowledge and wish to expand or update your skills. You may also wish to learn and acquire some 'Skill Snacks' for your own personal use (e.g. how to make skirt blocks, or trousers.) When you register for an eTelestia course you should expect a structured interactive learning experience. The courses are rich in graphic content, animation and video and highly interactive. You will find that right from the start you will be able to have high quality results with little effort. |
User: Margreet
Member since: 03-28-2007 Total posts: 1 |
From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 04-15-2007, 12:35 PM (22 of 22)
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Andrea, Sorry I didn't respond sooner -- I didn't see your PM until just this morning! Ideally your dressform would only be very slightly larger than you -- the thickness of the T-shirt and 3 layers of duct tape or so. I did find that my dressform was a bit bigger, but I think this was because we used a very large T-shirt and the wrapping may not have been as tight as it should have been. Remember to stand up straight too -- it gets more difficult the longer you stand there. I didn't realize I was slouching, and my dressform ended up with more of a belly than I usually have!  Even with these issues, mine was definitely less than a size bigger. I was still able to use it for fitting, although the fit was a bit tight. It still worked a lot better than trying to look in the mirror while modeling or having my husband try to pin me. It really helps to be able to look at it from multiple angles -- I found it very helpful in fitting the bust area. You can also adjust the size when you're done by adding some padding and taping it on if you need it larger, or by slashing a piece out and taping it back together if you need it smaller. That's what I would have done if my dressform didn't stink to high heaven. Good luck! I think I'll be trying this again soon too, so let me know how it goes and if you come up with any new tricks! http://www.sew-whats-up.com - the new home for Sew What's New
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User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222
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