buying a new dress form

ratherbesewin · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:31 am Post subject: buying a new dress form

Hello;
I have finally been let out of prison. Shocked

Let me explain-I have lost over 200 pounds and I would like to buy a dress form to assist me in my sewing. Does anyone have one and which ones would be good ones to consider. Thanking you in advance-Nancy

Lois · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:19 am Post subject:

Hi - I have a dressform called MyTwinDressform which is custom made from a body mold. You can get deatils at the website www.MyTwinDressforms.com.
The owner is an ASG member and often visits areas where several people would like a dressform made. That's what we did at my house. We had 7 people committed, and the owner Lynda came to my house to do the body molds.

Before MyTwinDressform I had one purchased at JoAnn's which had adjustment dials for circumference. It was a good place to begin and budget friendly. However as I advanced in my fitting experience, I had problems because it did not resemble my body. I have a spine curvature which causes a high hip and high shoulder causing many fitting adjustments. Those could not be resolved on the standard store bought dressform.

My current dressform was well worth the investment. I can make a muslin, do adjustments and use those adjusted pieces as my pattern to cut the actual fashion fabric for my project. Even if I put on a little weight, the dressform is still useful because the posture is mine and I can adjust seams for a larger or smaller "me".

Another idea.....there are instructions in old issues of Threads or on the website Patternreview.com to make a body-double similar to my current dressform using many layers of Duct tape. It's a do-it-yourself way to go, and I've read that many people like the result and it's an economical way to start.

Please keep up posted on your research and what you decide to buy.

Janee · Sawyer Brook Staff Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 64

Hi!

I second Lois' comment on an adjustable form being a good place to start. I have 2 different sizes of "My Double" by Dritz ( I own a custom clothing business, so one size didn't fit all my clients! I may even buy one more to round out my collection.) This is a good basic form, it doesn't fit all the individual curves, but with a little creativity you could pad it where needed. It's usually available at both smaller independent fabric stores, as well as the chains (JoAnn's etc), it runs around $130. But I think if you look at the Atlanta Thread ads in Sew News, you might find a better price thru them.

Hope your return to sewing is making you happy!

Kip Cowher · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Pennsylvania

Do the dress forms come with information and directions on how to pad them and what with ?? I've been reading up on them myself and would like to get one soon.

Kip

Janee · Sawyer Brook Staff Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 64

There are some models that come with pads, and I assume instructions for using them. The ones I have don't however. But I'm thinking of using my smaller one for that purpose - I just completed a fitting sloper muslin for my daughter after drafting a moulage, and it fits perfectly, so I'd like to put it on the form stuffed to fit. Then I can use it to fit her wedding gown, since I have to do it long distance!

Happy New Year, all!