How to make your own Dress form - "Dummy"
I am currently busy with discovering my new Serger sewing machine so all my crafting is on standby until I become confident enough to start sewing my bags etc onthe new machine. One bag is in already in my head, for too long now. Hopefully I'll be able to show it soon.
Meantime, I had in mind also other sewing and weaving and came up with a necessity of having my own Dress-form or how they call it usually Dummy (complimentary!). This is actually really great thing to have if you're making stuff for your or anyone else often, and it's so fun to make, not only for kids, believe me...
So I found more than few instructions on Internet, some of them vintage, some new.. Base is to wrap your torso with some sturdy tape, few times, that you later cut from the back, fill with stuffing and attach to some stand (optional). It's good to have some hard tape, that way "dummy" doesn't bend in.
Tape way:
In addition to the pallet wrap, plastic wrap or film,
String or elastic for waist
Permanent marking pen
Tape: masking or artist’s tape -what you have handy
Strapping tape (reinforced mailing tape) is helpful
A ruler
Scissors
A wrapping buddy
7. You can make a neck for your mannequin by taking a piece of fabric and stuffing it with stuffing or old fabric to make a ball. Place this ball up from the bottom of your mannequin into the neck hole and hold it there in place whilst your friend duct tapes over the top of it to attach it to the main body of your mannequin.
Meantime, I had in mind also other sewing and weaving and came up with a necessity of having my own Dress-form or how they call it usually Dummy (complimentary!). This is actually really great thing to have if you're making stuff for your or anyone else often, and it's so fun to make, not only for kids, believe me...
So I found more than few instructions on Internet, some of them vintage, some new.. Base is to wrap your torso with some sturdy tape, few times, that you later cut from the back, fill with stuffing and attach to some stand (optional). It's good to have some hard tape, that way "dummy" doesn't bend in.
 |
| Vintage way |
Tape way:
Updated Materials and Supplies:
String or elastic for waist
Permanent marking pen
Tape: masking or artist’s tape -what you have handy
Strapping tape (reinforced mailing tape) is helpful
A ruler
Scissors
A wrapping buddy
T-shirt way:
1. Cut off the sleeves of your oversized t-shirt.
2. Put on your t-shirt.
3. Get somebody to start taping you up with the duct tape. You want the extra length to the t-shirt, not the extra width so feel free to cut away some of the excess t-shirt at the sides - or carefully fold it against your skin so it's trapped under the tape in an even and neat way.
4. Be careful not to tape too tight as you want to be able to breathe still! You want to tape from below the hips and right up to the neckline.
5. Once your body shape is all taped up get your friend to cut the t-shirt carefully off you at the back!
2. Put on your t-shirt.
3. Get somebody to start taping you up with the duct tape. You want the extra length to the t-shirt, not the extra width so feel free to cut away some of the excess t-shirt at the sides - or carefully fold it against your skin so it's trapped under the tape in an even and neat way.
4. Be careful not to tape too tight as you want to be able to breathe still! You want to tape from below the hips and right up to the neckline.
5. Once your body shape is all taped up get your friend to cut the t-shirt carefully off you at the back!
7. You can make a neck for your mannequin by taking a piece of fabric and stuffing it with stuffing or old fabric to make a ball. Place this ball up from the bottom of your mannequin into the neck hole and hold it there in place whilst your friend duct tapes over the top of it to attach it to the main body of your mannequin.
8. Next turn your mannequin shell upside down and begin stuffing it. You can use toy stuffing, old pillows, fabric scraps, old clothes. Be careful not to stretch the shape of your mannequin by over-stuffing and don't under-stuff! Try to get a good solid shape.
9. Once you're done with the stuffing then duct tape over the bottom of your mannequin to complete it.
10. Now you need to think about making a stand.
9. Once you're done with the stuffing then duct tape over the bottom of your mannequin to complete it.
10. Now you need to think about making a stand.
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