Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Go to Page: 1 of 22 of 2

Dressforms for guys Assuming I'll just have to make one...
thebagcollector Beginner PA USA Member since 2/1/13 Posts: 4	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/2/13 11:41 PM Hey guys! Been looking around for a good male dressform for a while. I'm interested in sewing outerwear, so I think I'm going to need to one to figure out fit and drape and all that good stuff. Thing is, most dress forms are... well, built for women. Not to mention the fact that I'm abnormally shaped (short and stocky), so I'm pretty sure I'd be out of luck even if I could find a reasonably priced male dressform. Any guys have advice or tips? I'm pretty sure I'm just going to use duct tape and a t-shirt to make my own. Might be fun! Thanks! -Chris
Scheri   Advanced Beginner AB CANADA Member since 7/13/10 Posts: 251	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 2/3/13 2:29 AM Here is a good price Dritz ------ Scheri Manson Edmonton, AB CANADA
thebagcollector Beginner PA USA Member since 2/1/13 Posts: 4	Login to reply to this post In reply to Scheri << Like this post Date: 2/3/13 9:46 AM Thank you! That's a much better price than I've found online. And free shipping, no less.
KathySews   Advanced Beginner MI USA Member since 10/1/06 Posts: 2893	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/3/13 10:21 AM I highly recommend making a paper tape or duct tape double. I made one a few years ago and it is very helpful. I could not find a dressform with narrow enough shoulders so padding it out was not an option. Youtube has several good videos about it. There have also been several discussions about it here. If you decide to go this way, we are here to offer advice.
Marilly Advanced Beginner OR USA Member since 7/9/06 Posts: 609	Login to reply to this post In reply to thebagcollector << Like this post Date: 2/3/13 4:40 PM Hmm. If you do go for a standard male form and your circumferences quite different in form from it, perhaps you can pad it out where needed. I wonder if you got one of those knit suppression shirts to cover it with and added batting if that would work? Unlike us, you don't have a bust point to worry about so it seems like it'd be easier to just raise the waist up if you're really that short. The only issue as Kathy mentions would be the breadth of the shoulder area. If the form is significantly larger than you in that area, then it probably won't work well. Since you seem to be only interested in outerwear, there's probably a little wiggle room there. Unfortunately, that's one of the critical measures most dress form descriptions omit along with backwaist( unless it's a higher end ones like from PGM). The only way to get a truly custom form and do it on the cheap is to go with duct tape. Not that hard if you have one or two buddies to help and use 2 colors of tape.
mportuesisf Advanced Beginner CA USA Member since 1/8/12 Posts: 40	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/3/13 8:32 PM One more option you might consider for making your own dressform.... I just recently finished reading the book "How to Make Sewing Patterns" by Donald H. McCunn. It was recommended by the people on this forum because it covers pattern-making for men as well as women. The last chapter of the book actually discusses how to create a dressform from your measurements. Essentially, after measuring yourself and drafting the basic patterns for bodice and pants (hips), you take the master pattern pieces, draft out the fitting ease, then score, cut, and tape them together. What you get is a form that doesn't necessarily match the curves and contours of your body precisely, but does match all your measurements for fitting purposes. I haven't tried it out, but it does look like another thing you could consider if you go down the route of making your own dressform. -- Edited on 2/3/13 8:33 PM -- ------ http://lineofselvage.jotabout.com
thebagcollector Beginner PA USA Member since 2/1/13 Posts: 4	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/4/13 9:37 AM Between the price difference and the recommendations from people here, I think I'm going to try and make my own! This is gonna be fun. I'll let you guys know if I have any questions - thanks!
SandiMacD   Intermediate FL USA Member since 2/8/09 Posts: 1046	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/7/13 6:31 AM Tou can also make them from brown paper tape used to seal boxes. ------ re-living my youth through sewing...
Vicsguy Advanced Beginner OH USA Member since 5/17/09 Posts: 143	Login to reply to this post 3 members like this. Date: 2/7/13 6:47 AM I just use a broom handle with a spare tire thrown over it for my dressform.
Elona   Advanced CA USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 7401	Login to reply to this post In reply to Vicsguy << 2 members like this. Date: 2/7/13 8:38 PM Well, if I'd been drinking coffee when I read that, it would have sprayed all over the keyboard! However, I have found that when the problem is a non-standard body, the best solution is indeed a custom form. I budgeted for the big expense to get a MyTwin expandable foam affair, since the business is not far from where I live. However, if I had not had the resources for that, I would have gone for the paper tape dressform. The reason is that I have seen old, old paper tape forms that have held up extremely well for almost a hundred years, while duct tape doubles tend--with time--to sag even faster than their owners do.

Go to Page: 1 of 22 of 2

Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Printable Version

* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.