craftgrrl | Make a custom dressform

I mean to post this here to craftgrrl for someone last night but forgot.

There are so many ways of making a dressform for yourself but my personal opinion is that the quicker ones are inferior and if you have the time it's better to do the more involved ones. However, there are times when only one type is possible so I'll go through the five methods from worst to best. For all of these methods you will need to make your own base, which is not that difficult but here is a link anyway. By the way, a quick edit, even the "worst" method I mention will still get you a very usable dressform. Most people who have done it love theirs, so don't think you shouldn't do it if it's the one that will work best for you. :)

1) Duct-Tape Double (tutorials can be found using this term or "clone yourself a fitting assistant") -- Pros: Cheapest, easiest. Cons: Duct tape is sticky and will gum your pins up if you poke into it and if you put padding on top of it for the pins you are now making the dressform bigger than you; chances are good your posture will be slightly deformed (back curved, neck forward, etc) because it is very difficult to stay still and erect for the hours that it takes; I have read about people fainting from heat while doing it because the duct tape does not breath well; looks homemade and cheap; requires an assistant.

2) Paper-Tape (essentially the same as the Duct-Tape Double except using tape that you get wet and then dries stiff) -- Pros: Very inexpensive, better chance of not fainting, your needles will not gum if you stick into it. Cons: Same posture problem; it will be hard, not soft for your needles; much less like a proper dressform; requires an assistant.

3) Plaster Casting (basically you cast yourself using plaster, paper mache, or those strips you use for broken arms and then you pour an expandable form into the mould that you've made. Here is a company that does it for you and sells DiY kits.) -- Pros: Much sturdier than previous methods plus you have a soft foam to pin into, it looks like a proper dressform. Cons: Same posture problem but I believe the method is quicker so there is a chance it's not as bad; can be quite expensive; requires an assistant.

4) Reforming a pre-made dressform by yourself (get a dressform, the cheaper the better. The only requirement is that it is smaller than you. Take various measurements on your own body, being sure to split them into front and back [side seam to side seam] so that you can not only get the correct measurements but also make sure the shape is close to you. Do not forget to measure your neck or bust point and distance. Now start padding the dressform using whatever you have, stuffing from a cheap pillow works. Glue it on if it is not something that will stick itself. Once you have it padded up, use a stretchy plain matte fabric and stretch it around the garment, pin the straight grain on center front and then stretch to the back and pin down so that the grain is the same on left and right sides. Pin everything tight and hand sew it closed. I've included pictures of mine below) -- Pros: Can do it alone; can be very inexpensive (mine cost me 20 euros); can be pinned into properly (though if you are using a styrofoam base like I did be mindful of that as you can still hurt the styrofoam in areas where the padding is thin); looks like a real dressform. Cons: Measurements and curves will not be as perfect as they can be; takes a long time, especially if you want to do a good job.

5) Sewing a dressform (make a princess seamed basic in your size [when in doube use the size that matches your bust and adjust the waist, hip], have a friend fit it on you skin tight, sew it up good leaving the center back open, either put onto a cheap dressform and sew it up by hand or just sew it up and then stuff it full using some kind of stuffing or an expandable foam) -- Pros: Perfectly fits your measurements as well as posture; looks like a real dressform; can be pinned into properly. Cons: Need an assistant who is experienced enough to properly fit you; if you don't start with a cheap dressform you could be doing a lot of stuffing; takes a long time.

Another method has been brought up but I am waiting for more info before I place it in the list. I think it will be tied for #4. It involves thick foam, some tracing of your body and some carving. Check back later if you care :)

*** Thanks to urban_quilter for getting my photo online. The darkish lines which look like bumps in the fabric are actually green stitching showing through from a layer of fleece I added under the stretchy fabric which I stitched down so it would be smooth (so it looks like it's not smooth but it is lol). I didn't think about the thread colour until it was too late. For closing I have a center back seam and a straight seam across the back shoulders. For shaping there are two darts in the shape of a V on the top of the neck and darts at the armholes. The seams and darts were handstitched closed using cross-stitches.

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