i was hoping someone here could enlighten me.
I have been wanting a body form to help in my sewing endeavors for a couple of years now.
The ones they sell at joann's are flimsy, expensive and don't seem like they would last very long or work very well.
I have found some 'professional' ones on ebay and other places online but we are still talking $200+ plus shipping.
I did some searching for a diy sewing form and the only thing I seem to find is one where you basically create a body cast with several layers of duct tape, remove it, and stuff the form either with fiberfill or with expanding form.
Does anyone here use one of these? and if so how well do they last???
I found this one online for sale for $60 but its about 3 hrs north of me- the description says
"She is an adjustable dress form in 14 sections. Size B. Bust 36-45 and hips 37 1/2 to 45 inches. "
is it worth it??
id appreciate any opinions as well as suggestions for other types of diy sewing forms
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/enseign/bodyform3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/enseign/bodyform.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/enseign/bodyform2.jpg)
I have a self made form from the duct tape and tee shirt...my cat likes to use it as a scratching post.
I have used Stuffy a few times for draping but I usually end up doing the adjustments on myself than her.
The edges of the pieces of the dress form in the picture look all out of whack and makes me wonder if she's in very good condition. Those edges should all be pretty parallel. If they don't move easily, it won't do you any good. I bought one of the dress forms from Jo Ann's (I either used my 40% off coupon or got it on sale, don't remember now) and it works great. I've owned it for about 6 years and it's never given me any problems other than trying to figure out where to store it. I use it at least several times a year, usually for several months at a time because I have to sew when I have spare time. I've done the duct tape dummy for my husband and it works well. The problem with that was figuring out how to get it to stand upright. The dress form can be adjusted for your height so it makes it easier to hem. It also helps to have the dress form if you sew for others.
We made a duct tape & t-shirt form of my wife a couple years ago that works just fine. It was fun to make too. ;)
Jon.
A girlfriend and I made the duct-tape forms on each other, and as she was out-of-town when I made her wedding garb, her form stayed with me, hanging from the ceiling. Corsetry was easy., and because the form was hung at the right hieght, hemming was a breeze. I have since used mine of me to tape paper patterns to for adjustments previous to cutting, and saved myself untold trouble...
thanks for the input guys.
How sturdy are the duct tape forms??
I want to be able to do pirate coats and cloaks, with a good base will the form hold up??
My choices right now are either that, or making a plaster cast and making my body double out of expanding foam- one of the nice thing about having oem manufacturing accounts hehe, I can get it all at better prices than craft stores or online.
Try a thrift store
There was a thread or two on here with duct tape form links and discussions.
Couldn't find the thread here but I dug it off another forum I frequent.
How to make a dress (http://www.ehow.com/how_2094102_make-dress-form.html) form with and old t-shirt.
Another version (http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00002.asp) with paper mache versions.
Alley Cat Scratch (http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/makingem/DuctDummy.htm) version. Look through this site. This is a LOTR costuming site.
ESTY (http://etsylabs.blogspot.com/2007/03/dress-form-tutorial-want-to-make-exact.html)
When we made Stuffy we cut a piece of heavy cardboard ago fit the bottom and the arms to keep them from collapsing. She is stuffed with everything from old clothes sheets stuffing from some old pillows and fiber fill. I think we stuffed might have over stuffed her but she is pretty sturdy. We also stuck a heavy coat hanger in her neck and shoulders so I can hang her. Will have to post a picture in the morning. We did do 3 layers of duct tape and it took a few hrs. My boyfriend enjoyed it more than I did hehe.
They look flimsier than they are... At least mine do! My original one is 27 years old and we just renovated it: mended a broken adjuster mounting point and reattached the cover. Took a few hours but saved me £115 for a new one.
I love you guys ;D
renfairephotog
thanks for the links
I had read the paper mache one before, but there are no instructions for making the plaster cast.
I wonder how sturdy the paper mache form is- I guess it depends on how thick the paper is??
i brought it up to my boyfriend that he will need to help me do this, and he seemed a little too excited about it, maybe I should be worried I wont get cut out of the tape hehe
Thanks for posting those links. I too was wondering how exactly a duct tape form was made. I am also in the market of looking to get one. But after looking at those links, it looks a lot easier than I thought and I think that is the route I am going to take.
Here is what Stuffy looks like
(http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss89/Genievea/003.jpg)
Arm
(http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss89/Genievea/004.jpg)
Bottom
(http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss89/Genievea/005.jpg)
The x's are the center:
(http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss89/Genievea/006.jpg)
Eeps must learn to shrink photos
thanks for the pics Genievea
let me ask you, was it hard when you were stuffing it to make sure that the depth of the form matched your body depth?? meaning u know the front to back thickness??
I have made dozens of the duct tape dummies. You will always need a final fit on a live body because flesh moves and duct tape does not, but it will give you the tools to get 90-95% of the fit correct. Two of the keys are stuffing it very tightly so that it is stiff and taking measurements prior to cutting it off at bust, waist and hips because these areas can be compressed when taping. You compare these measurements to the actual ones and make the adjustment when you tape the back closed by leaving gaps or overlapping. I also always mark on the dummy with sharpe marker while still on the person the center line of the body, the belly button, the nipples and natural waistline. IF you are going to keep it long term - keep it out of damp basements and it is wise to date the dummy so you can tell if you have changed size or shape since it was made.
Here is a slide show that shows how I set it up in a stand made of PVC pipe and Xmas tree stand I get off season. I have less than $7 in the stand and it gives me the flexablity to use on wide and narrow shouldered people's dummies.
http://picasaweb.google.com/MythrinFarm/DuctTapeDummy# (http://picasaweb.google.com/MythrinFarm/DuctTapeDummy#)
The only problem we ran into was taping it closed from the back once it was cut off to make sure we got the seams matched. Once that is done you have a hollow replica of you and stuff away. She is really packed well and there is a little distortion but for the most part spot on. However I still like to do my adjustments on myself rather than her.
One thing is you need to make sure you arent holding in your breath and are relaxed but need to hold the same postion through out the whole taping.
Y'all have got me wanting to go home and make one of these myself! I'm gonna have to try it!
I was talking to my wife about this thread the other night and she pointed out one thing that bugs her about the tape forms. The pins are sticky after she uses them in the form. Which makes sense as the adhesive sticks to the pins when you push them through the form etc.
Jon.
I know that in lieu of using duct tape, some people have also used the paper packaging tape.
It is used the same way, but the paper packaging tape (which you can find at any office depot, etc) once it dries does not have the sticky effect of duct tape on your needles. Plus/But the paper packaging tape ends up a little stiffer than duct tape does, which could be either a pro or con.
The paper packaging tape also means that you have an extra step of wetting the back of each piece before you place it in order to activate the glue. (just like old stamps it is not pre-stickied).
Hope this helps:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/946867/Duck-Reinforced-Kraft-Gummed-Paper-Tape/ (http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/946867/Duck-Reinforced-Kraft-Gummed-Paper-Tape/)
Hi Everyone,
Just to mention, if you do a search option and put in Body Double or Body Forms, or you look into the past we have spoken about his subject and yep we have talked about several methods of how to create a good form.
THere is a link to the other thread:
http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=2460.0 (http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=2460.0)
If you are going to Costume College this year, there is a workshop on Paper Tape Body Doubles. I like Paper tape because you can use pins, and you don't have to stuff, I do want to mention getting the bust correct is essential and don't eat for at least an hour before you make your double. Or have gasy things either!
Cilean
When making a duct tape form - no under garment other than the t-shirt?
And tape the chest as you would want it to appear under a corset/bodice?
My daughter and I are both losing weight (she faster than me, the show off), and we want to try making a dress form this summer, so we can make bodices that fit properly.
I wore my good bra and underwear. Just for the best version of me, you know... And if it's a duct tape mannequin, then the stuffed form is squooshy enough to take the corset shape when you fit it, and you can tell how it will squish you and where. (My friend was a buxom woman wanting an 1880's corset to go under her medieval kirtle, and looked quite fabulous!