Dress forms

[MarieAnne]

I'm thinking of getting a dress form. What are you currently using for fitting garments and how do you like that?

 

[MissAmelina]

My guy got me a professional dressmaker's dummy for my b-day a few years back....and I cannot for the LIFE of me remember the brand. (Fabulous Fit?)
It came with special pads and batting to wrap around it to build it up to my dimensions and then a "body sock" with a zipper up the back to hold it all in place.

I recently discovered that it is shorter waisted than I, and the dimensions are slightly off...it needs to be "re-padded" as my weight has redistributed itself, once again.
Sewing has become less frustrating since I got her...I am a visual person, so having a body shaped canvas to pin my pattern pieces and fabric to makes life MUCH simpler.

However....if I could do it all over again (and I may do this anyway) I would make a duct-tape dummy---they cost next to nothing and match your measurements to a T.

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3659/clone-yourself-a-fitting-assistant

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I have an adjustable one that was on clearance at Jo-Ann's. I don't really use it to make alterations as the hip and bust adjustments do not produce my waist size. I use it to figure out how to put things together and it's good for the hem, too!! Also, she always looks better in the finished garment than I do so I use it to photograph my creations lol

 

[kamikat]

I have a Uniquely You form. This form is a big, vaguely female shaped foam block that comes with a canvas cover. You fit the canvas cover to your body, then squeeze the foam block into the cover. The form is an exact copy of you. The foam block comes in 3 sizes and each size has 3 sizes of canvas cover. The Uniquely You is comparable in price to most other forms. However, I had been sewing for more than 10yrs without a form.

 

[Paisley]

I use a tailor. I'm not very good at sewing.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I used to have a vintage form that I literally found thrown away in an alley -- brought it home and used it for a while, but someone made an offer on it that I couldn't refuse and it went away. Hemming is the one thing I really miss having it for -- I hem now by hanging the garment over a hook hanging from my cellar door and pinning it up by eye.

If I ever get another one I'd want something adjustable -- I had to build up the waistline of the old one with padding and duct tape to get it to reasonably simulate my midsection.

 

[The Shirt]

My goal by the end of the year is to take a sewing class and try it in earnest. I think that a dressform would drastically help me with the vintage pattern conversions as trying to fit it to myself in my first few attempts has been pretty poor. I have a slew of great patterns that are close to my measurements but not perfect. I'd like to be able to pin them easier. I keep my eye on Craigslist for ones that are more budget friendly. I'm just not ready to drop $100 on one yet.

 

[Lauren]

Dress forms are great, but there's no comparison to your figure. We aren't all perfectly symetrical like a dress form, which is why we still have to get ready-to-wear clothing altered sometimes. I'd say save up for a dress for for draping if you want to make your own patterns, or an adjustable one if not, but the best thing is a friend who also knows fitting and sewing who will fit your clothing on you.

 

[Geesie]

How much do these things cost, typically?

 

[MissAmelina]

Anywhere from 40 bucks on sale to 2000 dollars. Mine was a couple hundred.

 

[MissAmelina]

I have a Uniquely You form. This form is a big, vaguely female shaped foam block that comes with a canvas cover. You fit the canvas cover to your body, then squeeze the foam block into the cover. The form is an exact copy of you. The foam block comes in 3 sizes and each size has 3 sizes of canvas cover. The Uniquely You is comparable in price to most other forms. However, I had been sewing for more than 10yrs without a form.

I have heard good things about "Uniquely You" but just found this pretty funny story online...

http://www.dorje.com/netstuff/jokes/dummy.from.hell

 

[kamikat]

How much do these things cost, typically?

Mine was $200

 

[Shirin]

I want one, I've been watching craigslist too and I did find some going for a good price but they were either sold already or really far away. Its ok, I'm a master at patience.

 

[Tourbillion]

I have an adjustable one from Dritz. I paid about $100 on sale. It isn't perfect, but it does have adjustable waist and height. I do have to pad the chest to fit for myself though. You can't pin into the fabric on it, but that is easy to fix, put a t-shirt on it.

It is nice, but it isn't really that useful to me unless I am doing draping. I usually alter patterns before I cut them out. The skirt hem marker in it would be nice, if I could remember where I put it.