DIY Dress Form?

Yup. For starters, read these:

Not too long ago, I read a reference to making a custom dress form by wrapping an undersized form in batting, then compressing the batting with a muslin shell made from body measurements, with no ease or negative ease.

I *think* it was in a discussion of Don McCunn's _How to Make Your Own Sewing Patterns_, but I don't have a copy to hand to check. And I have the impression that the reference was a URL.

I'll post when something reminds me.

Joy Beeson

Teri Jones has told us about this on several occasions. Maybe she'll jump in here with a reference.

Dh and I made a Duct Tape Double of me. It is fine for the shoulders and bustline, but came out too thick in the waist. However, it is excellent in the two areas where I really need it.

Olwyn Mary n New Orleans.

Could you give a few deatils please? I'd like to know how long it took and whther it was an experience you wouldn't want to repeat because you were stuck in the thing for ages and nearly died of the heat etc.....

Excellent!

I've made 'death masks' (of living subjects) using dental 'rubber' and plaster but it would be frightfully expensive to use it for a whole body, I love these ideas.

My professional costumier friend has a body form which she wrapped with thick bands of cottonwool when she made something for me. Hrumph!

:-)

Mary

I've used the method Connie Crawford shows in the Sew News articles... it's quite straightforward, and results in a pinnable form (important if you're draping!) She also has a DVD with the process

tape, ime, is Not Good for this purpose...it slumps in the heat.Self-stick (not water-stick) adhesive paper tape works very well and holds upquite nicely.

Important points if you're the tapee: it gets quite warm in the tape shell, and if at all possible, try to leave an area open in the midriff for breathing purposes until the last minute. A helper in addition to the person actually doing the taping is quite useful -- you want to get this done with as little hanging around as possible. air conditioning and possibly an ice pack for the neck or head is desirable..

Kay

That reminds me of when I made my first 'death mask' - a late teenage son was the subject. He lay on his back on the table while I worked and to allow him to breathe I had to insert a straw up each nostril.

Then his father kept making comments which made son want to laugh, the worst was when he suggested that son could have a cup of tea if we attached a funnel to the straws. I don't know how son kept a straight face but he did and the mask was superb - and worth the discomfort.

Just like the subject of a diy body form.

Mary

Hey all!

Wow lots of info! Thanks so much for all the help. So many choices!

-Erin