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Another Dress Form Dilemma: I'm Ready to Cry! Dress Form Problems
SewBusySewing Intermediate NJ Member since 1/7/07 Posts: 29	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/26/11 4:14 PM I have been sewing for many years but never had a dress form. I made the decision to go back to clothes-making (for myself), and I don't want to do it without a dress form this time. PROBLEM: I am TINY. I don't mean 5'1" small. I'm talking about 4'10" on a good day. I'm also child-like in body style, and weigh under 100 lbs. I have ruled out duct tape or other DIY methods. I also mistakenly purchased a Dritz double deluxe form from Joanne Fabric and promptly returned it. It was extremely flimsy and too big anyway. Roxy Display is about 20ish minutes from my house, so picking one up would be easy. I am asking for help or advice....please! I realize that everything is harder when a person is petite, but there has to be an answer! Thanks in advance. -- Edited on 8/16/11 6:27 AM --
Skye   Intermediate NEW ZEALAND Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 1633	Login to reply to this post In reply to SewBusySewing Like this post Date: 7/26/11 4:23 PM brainstorming - what about a shop mannequin that you could padout? ------ Wellington, NZ
Michelle T Intermediate BC CANADA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 4179	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/26/11 4:24 PM Why not look for a child size dress form? ------ Proud parent of a Dwight International School Honour Roll Student
marymary86 Intermediate GA USA Member since 7/20/08 Posts: 2202	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/26/11 4:24 PM My husband made a duct tape double for me and honestly it didn't do that much for my sewing. It eventually went into the trash. What kind of things do you hope to sew for yourself? Do you have a friend who can help (I get DH to take pictures when I'm trying to fit myself - it helps a lot). I stopped sewing for years and started again not too long ago. The best advice I got was to use simple patterns and gorgeous fabric. It took a few tries but I found a T shirt pattern that fits and a simple pull-on pants pattern that fit well. I'm learning about my body and having some success. Thankfully life in the 50's seems a little slower and easier (I finally don't need corporate suits and I hope you don't either!) :) ------ Mary http://checkmatesystem.com
Sue Anfang   Advanced ON CANADA Member since 4/8/02 Posts: 845	Login to reply to this post Like this post Subject: Another Dress Form Dilemma: Im Ready to Cry! Date: 7/26/11 5:09 PM I have the same problem on the opposite end of the scale - being 6' tall, my waist length is 1" longer than the longest dress forms can extend. I fit clothes on myself, I guess if I wanted a form I would proably make a duct tape double, not sure why it didn't work for Mary..... ------ http://sewstashsew.wordpress.com/ Sue who used to be Sue Wilson
SewBusySewing Intermediate NJ Member since 1/7/07 Posts: 29	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/26/11 5:14 PM @Skye- I did think about a mannequin, but I guess because I have no idea of what I'm doing, I didn't even know what to look for! @MichelleT- I have Fabulous Fit getting more in-depth measurements for me in a child's size 14 form. The FF forms are so expensive, even on sale! I will definitely check out other child forms. @marymary- What I hope to sew is EVERYTHING! I need tops, pants, and possibly some skirts. I don't need to dress corporate, thank goodness. I do feel like I'm entitled to a dress form after all the years that I've been sewing, even if that sounds egotistical!! LOL According to what I've read from others, it also does seem to make fitting for garment construction and alteration easier. How horrible would it be if I purchased a size 2 and the shoulders were slightly larger than they should be? Or if the torso was slightly longer? (I will not be making jumpsuits any time soon)!! Does collapsing the shoulders make them more narrow? If I could figure out how to be more accurately measured for a dress form, maybe the buying process would be somewhat easier.
a7yrstitch   Intermediate TX USA Member since 4/1/08 Posts: 4397	Login to reply to this post In reply to SewBusySewing Like this post Date: 7/26/11 5:22 PM One of the ladies on PR detailed her experience with having a tailor in Canada make her a pants sloper (pattern). I have honestly thought of doing this myself. She went to a bespoke tailor. Lucky girl, I called around here in Houston and the tailors that work like that will only make patterns to work with their special clients. I don't have the $$$ to be anybody's special client but my own. You may have better luck in your area finding a tailor or a dressmaker to work with you on this. This might help fill in the gap while you wait to find that perfect dress form. And, had you considered whether or not you could use a boys form and fill it out just a bit in the hips/bottom? ------ I have no idea what Apple thought I was saying so be a Peach and credit anything bizarre to auto correct.
SewBusySewing Intermediate NJ Member since 1/7/07 Posts: 29	Login to reply to this post In reply to a7yrstitch Like this post Date: 7/26/11 5:27 PM LOL...A boy's form...I laugh because I often joke that when my hair is cut short, I feel like I resemble a little boy! I guess that as long as the form is not anatomically correct, it might be possible!
Miss Fairchild   Advanced USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 6999	Login to reply to this post In reply to SewBusySewing Like this post Date: 7/26/11 5:29 PM I can mimic what the others have said about buying a child's size form, but I also want to tell you that you did the right thing by passing up the FF form. For one thing, they are made out of hard foam, and you would have had to chop up the shoulders and bust area, BEFORE you applied the pads. I bought one, stupidly by my bust size and not by my high bust size, and the darn thing was too broad in the bust area. I gave up trying to fit with it, and sold it, but I still have the pads. Why not make one using a fitting shell? I did and find it's very helpful. Click here for the review The reason why I used Surefit was because I knew how much ease is in the fitting shell/sloper, and I removed it to stuff the form. It takes no more time that making a dress. ------ "We don't impose our rhythm on Nature. The key is to respect and live within Her." Jean-Charles Boisset, Winemaker "And no, now that you asked, I didn't enjoy that play one bit, and I'd like a refund" Signed, Mrs. Lincoln My Etsy shop: auntmaymesattic My blog: auntmaymesattic.wordpress.com Avatar: First place award for jacket at county fair
MBMc   Intermediate FL USA Member since 7/29/08 Posts: 129	Login to reply to this post Like this post Subject: Another Dress Form Dilemma: Im Ready to Cry! Date: 7/26/11 5:35 PM http://plasterlinks.com/plaster_dress_form.html This link will take you to directions for making a dress form out of plaster of paris and gauze. You have to get someone to cut it off you. Then you have to put the halves back together. Sounds interesting. I think gauze would be expensive, but you might be able to use a very gauzy fabric cut or torn into strips.

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