Don't let the name fool you, a dress form is not limited by gender in any way. This is a fantastic tool for anyone who is interested in doing cosplay, or perhaps creating new clothing pieces, or just altering old ones. Having a dress form (mannequin/sewing dummy) that is tailored specifically to you can save you from a lot of heartache when it comes to getting the fit just right.
Needed Materials:
Tape Measurer (Body/Tailor)
Old T-shirt (One You Will Not Miss)
Duct Tape
Scissors
Pillow Stuffing
More Duct Tape
Marker
Large Sheet of Cardboard (Broken Down Amazon Boxes Work)
Optional Materials:
2" diameter/3' tall Wooden Dowel
1' diameter Wooden Base
Part I:
Step 1: Have your measurements taken, BY SOMEONE ELSE, and write them down in a notebook, you will refer to these later. It is important to have someone other than yourself measure you, they are less critical and biased and will take a more accurate measurement.
Step 2: Throw on that old t-shirt, and take a few deep calming breaths. For the most part this next part is not uncomfortable, but if you suffer from issues with being confined, maybe be wary of this next part of the activity.
Step 3: Using the Duct Tape over the t-shirt, begin the process of wrapping yourself completely where the t-shirt covers your body. Once again it is helpful to have someone else there to help with this process as the tape can become tangled up.
In the video I am wrapping up my bestie, I first made sure to place vertical strips where certain lines and reinforcements needed to be maintained, then I wrapped her like a mummy!
Part 2:
Step 4: Once you are all wrapped up tight like a sausage, it is time to cut you out of your new Duct Tape shell. Once again I echo my advice you have a friend or partner help you, especially when sharp object such as scissors are involved...
The best place to cut is through the back of the body casing, moving straight up from bottom to top. Take your time here. It is already difficult to cut through Duct Tape layers, it isn't worth an injury.
Step 5: Time to tape this puzzle back together. I used a different color of Duct Tapt to illustrate the areas that will be closed up.
Simply overlay the seams over where you cute, and use segments of your Duct Tape to combine your seems into one piece once again.
Step 6: It's all about the arms. And there is a bit of finessing and patience that goes into this particular step. You want to tape across the diameter of the opening, working your way around, close the arm off, while allowing it to maintain it's shape. Once you get the first two pieces on, it should be easy going from there.
Step 7: Grab your cardboard and lay it flat. Stand your Duct Tape Shell up on top of the sheet of cardboard and carefully trace the bottom opening of the shell. Try and be as accurate as possible in your tracing. Then cut out your traced piece of cardboard, and begin taping it to the bottom opening, creating a nice base for your form.
Step 8: You should now have only one opening remaining, at the neck of the form. Begin to stuff your form with the pillow stuffing, being wary of overstuffing. This isn't in fact a pillow we are creating, and we want it to hold it's measurements as well as it can. Once you feel you have added enough stuffing, and it will hold it's form, go ahead and measure the form against the body measurements you had taken earlier. This will ensure that you are on the right track. You may need to add more, or remove stuffing. Worse comes to worse, you may need to take some of the shell itself with scissors, that's okay! This is why we are using Duct Tape, the king of all tapes. Easy fixes and repairs.
Step 9: If you are satisfied with your measurements and the fill of your form, you can move on to the final step and start using the Duct Tape to cover the final opening of the form around the neck. I just laid in a horizontal pattern moving from front to back, up and over the top.
Optional Extra Steps:
At this point you are completely ready to use this dress form as a table top sewing dummy, but you can take this one step further. If you would, ask for assistance and create a diameter that matches the diameter wooden dowel in both the base of the dress from, as well as the wooden base. Using wood glue, coat the bottom of the wooden dowel as well as the hole you have had made in the wooden base. Place your dowel into the wooden base and allow glue to dry. Then, push the wooden dowel into the dress from as far as it will go without hitting the top, and use Duct Tape or hot glue to reinforce the spot where the dowel enters into the form. Now you have a standing dress form!
I hope you guys have enjoyed this, and use it to get out there and make something wonderful and new that is wholly you!
by Kris H, Library Specialist
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