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Faire Garb => Sewing => Topic started by: Irma on June 15, 2013, 05:10:35 PM

Title: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Irma on June 15, 2013, 05:10:35 PM
Is it normal for one to name her dress form / mannequin?  After wrestling for a few years with a wonky one that fell over on me several times, I've upgraded to a professional model.  I think she deserves a name.  Suggestions for a suitable Renaissance name? :D
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Stuben on June 15, 2013, 05:38:27 PM
Sounds reasonable to me. I been riding motorcycles/scooters most my life and I always name them. Most of my riding buddies name theirs too. I have no doubt I would name a dress form if I had one.
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: gem on June 15, 2013, 06:42:10 PM
Meet Headless Bianca:

(http://elizabethcbunce.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/new-middles-e1350593857740.jpg?w=500)

Three very Tudor names would be Anne (Boleyn), Catherine (Howard), or Jane (Grey).  ;D
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Irma on June 15, 2013, 08:18:19 PM
All three of whom were ultimately as "headless" as Bianca!
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: mollymishap on June 16, 2013, 05:48:10 PM
LOL!  Didn't we have a thread on this very subject on the "old" forum before it got hacked?

My mannequin's name is Molly.  The name just sorta happened, I'm not even sure when, exactly.  She's the only one I've ever had, so I don't know what I'd name a new one.

How'd you arrive at "Bianca", Gem?
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Lady Rosalind on June 16, 2013, 09:22:47 PM
Mine is Scary Mary, because... she's headless, and usually dressed in noble garb.  ;D
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Marietta Graziella on June 17, 2013, 09:19:13 AM
Mine is named Alvira because it was my grandmothers.  :)
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Elennare on June 17, 2013, 10:23:18 AM
I haven't named mine (don't use it much, sadly, as I have very little time to sew...), but I don't think there's anything weird about that at all. :)
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: LadyStitch on June 17, 2013, 02:36:12 PM
When I worked in the costume wardrobe at school we named all our mannequins.  It helped us know who we were working with.   Since we were the first one's to use them we got to use them.  We had Susan, Alice, Laura, Rebekah, and of course Fabio and Maurice (our trusty men.)

At home I have Lucy, and Beaulah, and one other one I haven't decided on what to name her really.  Lucy is actually a foam based store dummy some one threw out near our theater's dumpster. Lucy is the name of our theater's mascot.  The theater staff rescued her so that I could have a dummy to sew with and knew I didn't have one.  Beulah is my plus size dummy.  I had a plus size adjustable one before I went to NZ but I couldn't take her with me so she was sold to a new home.  Beaulah was gifted to me when she died. She was helping me one week, the next she died of a cancer she didn't know she had until it was too late.  Beaulah is named for her.  My unnamed one I'm think I am going to break down and name her Cassy.  For the past few months she has been wearing the hat of an actress that was in my first show I ever did.  The actress died 3 years ago. (Long story)  Seems fitting. 

But yes name your "partner" in sewing.  :) 
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Wickedvox on June 17, 2013, 09:30:49 PM
My first one was Betty--it was from a song or movie or something (I forget) where someone leaned into a microphone and said "Please don't harass Betty." So I used to tell everyone who came over, "Please don't harass Betty." Nobody really got it.
My second one is named Veronica--my homage to Elvis Costello. It's my favorite song by him. Now everyone assumes it's because the first one is named Betty, so I have to sing the chorus to "Veronica."
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Butch on June 17, 2013, 10:46:04 PM
I have a good friend whose cat is named Veronica.  So, I sing that song around the cat!  He laughs and says that I get it.

I prefer Elvis Costello's "Allison", but "Veronica" isn't bad.
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Irma on June 18, 2013, 09:53:21 AM
We have a name.  "Frau Schneider"  Any Germans out there who understand why?  ;)
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Adriana Rose on June 18, 2013, 11:34:03 AM
I have Gladas, and Marion.

Mom named Gladas because she has a " Glad weed puller" yup and Marion is after the lady that gave her to me.
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: captmarga on June 20, 2013, 03:45:58 PM
My lovely plus-size girl is Louise.  Primarily named after Louise in Rosalind Laker's novel Banners of Silk, set in Paris during the Age of Worth.

She is called by name when she is in use, or if anyone needs to move her.  "Do I need to move Louise out of the way?"

We name cars, why not our dressmaking forms?

Marga
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Kate XXXXXX on June 23, 2013, 06:23:51 PM
I'm not German, Irma, but I know why!  ;)

Mine are Jenny (mature figure), Dolly, Caroline, Vera, Brat and Fred.
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: genyferbelle on June 23, 2013, 07:27:27 PM
Quote from: gem on June 15, 2013, 06:42:10 PM
Meet Headless Bianca:

(http://elizabethcbunce.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/new-middles-e1350593857740.jpg?w=500)

Three very Tudor names would be Anne (Boleyn), Catherine (Howard), or Jane (Grey).  ;D

LOL that is too funny! I usually call mine Bertha or Bessie.Shes a more voluptuous mannequin ;)
Title: Re: Naming a Dress Form / Mannequin
Post by: Rowan MacD on June 24, 2013, 08:51:10 AM
 Mine's 'Ellie' and sometimes 'Nell'. Just sounded right.