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dress form height adjustment How low will my PGM go?
SecondHandRogue   Advanced Beginner RI USA Member since 12/28/05 Posts: 515	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 12/28/12 7:56 AM I just got my new PGM 601 dress form in the mail and aside from the cage looking a little crooked, it's a dream come true! I'm fairly certain that I've assembled it correctly, but just want to ask for a few opinions here. When I push the foot lever and press it all the way down it still pops back up an inch or two before locking into place. It's not terrible, as Dressy Bessy ends up about two inches taller than me in the shoulders, and that should be fine once I put shoes on. But I keep wondering if I'm doing everything right. I'm not the shortest of short, rather I'm utterly average, between 5'4" and 5'5". Why shouldn't she be able to scoot down to my barefoot height? Is this a defect or just a prejudice against the unfashionably untall? as I said, it shouldn't be a huge issue, but it could get worse once I put the fabulous fit pads on...her shoulders are more sloped than mine, and her outer shoulders might have to move up even more... ------ Yards sewn 2012: 34 Yards sewn 2013: 13.5 (goal 70!)
PattyE   Intermediate MI Member since 9/7/10 Posts: 651	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 12/28/12 3:39 PM I have a PGM. They aren't really designed to be our exact heights although most people can probably adjust it to match fairly closely. They can only go so low due to the cage and base. The dress form is more about replicating your body shape rather than your height. HTH
nancy2001   Advanced AL USA Member since 12/3/05 Posts: 6113	Login to reply to this post In reply to SecondHandRogue << Like this post Date: 12/28/12 6:46 PM Congratulations on your new PGM dress form! I'm 5'4" and deliberately set my PGM dress form to my height with 3" heels, which I always wear. I'm actually not sure whether or not my dress form can be set shorter than that. As far as the Fabulous Fit shoulder pads go, if you find they are too large for you, you can always slip in a smaller (non Fabulous Fit) shoulder pad. I bought the Fabulous Fit set, and I use the body suits, but all the pads were much too large for me. ------ The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale. Richard Dawkins
SecondHandRogue   Advanced Beginner RI USA Member since 12/28/05 Posts: 515	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 12/29/12 9:33 PM yes, this sounds about right. If I'm in two inch heels at nearly 5'5", that would make my dress form about 5'7" as well; I don't think it will get any shorter without some major fidgetting, perhaps some finesse and a hacksaw! Nancy, I followed your advice and chose a size 6--a good thing, because my rib cage is barely bigger than hers and once I square the shoulders I will need to lift up the bust line too, which shoud be quite doable...so I thank you once again for all your help:) ------ Yards sewn 2012: 34 Yards sewn 2013: 13.5 (goal 70!)
nancy2001   Advanced AL USA Member since 12/3/05 Posts: 6113	Login to reply to this post In reply to SecondHandRogue << 1 member likes this. Date: 12/31/12 5:52 PM I'm so very glad to hear my advice was helpful to you. If you need to lift the bustline just pad the top half of the bust and not the bottom. That should raise it for you. Good luck! ------ The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale. Richard Dawkins
nancy2001   Advanced AL USA Member since 12/3/05 Posts: 6113	Login to reply to this post In reply to SecondHandRogue << 1 member likes this. Date: 1/3/13 7:37 AM Rouge, yesterday I was playing around with my PGM dress form and I actually succeeded in lowering its height by several inches. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how I did it, but there are two controls that you need to be aware of and that may or may not come into play. The first control is the foot pedal which should be lowered whenever you remove the pole. The second control is the screw thingy that's a few inches above the foot pedal. If that doesn't work, I suggest that you call PGM via their toll free number 1-888-818-1991. I'm sure someone there can help you figure out how to adjust the height. Good luck! ------ The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale. Richard Dawkins
SecondHandRogue   Advanced Beginner RI USA Member since 12/28/05 Posts: 515	Login to reply to this post In reply to nancy2001 << Like this post Date: 1/3/13 2:45 PM eureka!! I hadn't thought to push the form down while clamping the "screw thingy"! Now she's shorter than I am, this is excellent! Now if I can just muster the ambition to pad her out...is it cheating to wear tights over my lumps and bumps for body matching and measuring purposes? I wear them under my dresses and skirts, so it seems like fair game... ------ Yards sewn 2012: 34 Yards sewn 2013: 13.5 (goal 70!)
nancy2001   Advanced AL USA Member since 12/3/05 Posts: 6113	Login to reply to this post In reply to SecondHandRogue << 1 member likes this. Date: 1/3/13 9:43 PM Rouge, I'm so glad you were able adjust the height of your new dress form. As far as padding goes, the form should look like you with all your regular underwear on. So, do wear the tights -- it definitely isn't cheating! You may want to dress your form in one of your good bras, as many people on PR do. I used a molded bra and stuffed just the top of the dress form's bust to raise the bustline. I found the Fabulous Fit pads were much too large and lumpy for my form, so I used batting. I did however cover the batting with the two body suits that came with the form. Whenever I pad out a dress form (I've owned a total of three forms), it usually takes me a few days to get it right. That is I spend an hour or two each day with a measuring tape and a good mirror looking, measuring and comparing my figure to the dress form's figure. For me it's a mostly visual process. On the first day, I go for an approximate shape, and then I keep refining the padding on successive days until I'm satisfied I have a good likeness. Also, if you have a tailored garment that fits you very well, trying it on the dress form is an excellent way to test the fit of your form. Good luck and have fun! ------ The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale. Richard Dawkins

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