Gigil
 Advanced FL USA Member since 9/15/08 Posts: 29 |
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Date: 5/29/12 11:05 AM Just bought a dress form at a garage sale, it was really cheap $4, and an older model which has the adjusting screws on the inside. I've looked on the form itself, and don't see any manufacturer. I know it is old and cheap; but I would like to work with it to see if I can get it to approximate my body. Any help on how to adjust this? I do have the time to "play" with it, and it won't have to be exact, I just want it to be easier to sew and fit.
Geri |
nancy2001
  
 Advanced AL USA Member since 12/3/05 Posts: 6148 |
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Date: 5/29/12 1:15 PM Congratulations on finding such a great bargain. The secret to getting a dress form to approximate your figure is to make sure that all the form's measurements, vertical and horizontal, are smaller than yours, so set the form's measurements to be smaller than yours or even as small as possible. If the form's measurements are larger or if for example the bust is too high, you will not get a good approximation.
Take one of your good but worn bras and put it on the form. Then stand in front of a mirror with a measuring tape and some padding and batting and use your eyes and the tape measure to add fluff wherever it's needed. Then dress the form in a stretch body suit and remeasure. And then dress it in a garment that fits you perfectly and see whether it fit s the form.
You will want to revisit your dress form over a couple of days or so to modify it as necessary. ------ The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale.
Richard Dawkins |
NhiHuynh

 Advanced CA USA Member since 1/4/11 Posts: 611 |
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Date: 5/29/12 1:39 PM Peggy Sagers did a webcast on doing just this. Dress form webcast see upper left hand corner. As nancy2001 states, you do need to adjust the form smaller than you. ------ www.lolitapatterns.com |
Miss Fairchild
  
 Advanced USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 7111 |
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Date: 5/29/12 3:26 PM Is it grey (or tan) fabric and does it have lots of pieces that should move? If so, it's an Acme form, from the 1940's I believe. I've had a few of those and padded them up by making a fitting shell without ease and slipping it over the form, then adding padding where needed. Lots of fun! ------ "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 |
BMoyer
 Advanced Beginner OH USA Member since 10/10/03 Posts: 93 |
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Date: 5/30/12 7:26 AM HI Gigl,
I just did this myself with an old wolf form I had from years ago. I made a muslin to fit myself and then put in on her to see where she needs padding, then used quilt batting (per peggy sagers webcast) to fill her out till she looked like me.
Check all her base measurements. I had to pull in the collapsible shoulders on mine to make sure she was smaller than me at the back, funny that was the only place she was to big. But as long as yours is smaller you can make her fit.Betty |
KD in ATL
 Intermediate GA USA Member since 4/21/08 Posts: 28 |
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Date: 5/30/12 10:35 AM Kenneth King has an interesting article in this month's Threads that describes how to create a body double that you can put on a form that is smaller than you are. Worth reading... |
CBLSEWS
 Beginner LA USA Member since 11/24/10 Posts: 13 |
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Date: 5/31/12 9:44 AM I am looking for the article and I can not find it. Is it in Threads Magazine? That is what I am looking in, but it is not coming up. |
Gigil
 Advanced FL USA Member since 9/15/08 Posts: 29 |
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Date: 5/31/12 11:51 AM It's in the Threads June/July 2012. On newsstands now.
Article is by Kenneth King
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Gigil
 Advanced FL USA Member since 9/15/08 Posts: 29 |
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Date: 5/31/12 12:04 PM Thanks, right now, she's DEFINITELY smaller than me. It will be a work in progress; but I appreciate your advice. I started to loosen the inside screws; but some of them are tight. Looking forward to playing with it.
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Gigil
 Advanced FL USA Member since 9/15/08 Posts: 29 |
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Date: 5/31/12 12:22 PM Thanks so much, will check out the webcast.
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