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Arts & CraftsEasy Sewing Projects

How to Make a Custom Dress Form

Instructions

  • Step 1: Wear the T-shirt Pull on the long T-shirt, which should hang at about knee-length. Have your friend wrap duct tape horizontally around the shirt, starting at the bottom, snug at your thighs and hips, but loose around your waist.
  • Step 2: Allow for breasts Use smaller strips of tape to cover your bust, since shorter pieces of tape reflect bust contours better. Lay the strips in different directions in an outward radius from the center of the bust area.
  • TIP: Wrap plastic around your neck to protect it from being taped.
  • Step 3: Fold around neck and arms Fold the tape around your neckline and armholes.
  • Step 4: Add layers Add a second layer, vertically, using strips and pressing out wrinkles at the waist. Then wrap once more horizontally.
  • TIP: Stand straight and face forward the whole time to create a consistent body model.
  • Step 5: Mark waist and middle line Mark the waistline with the marking pen so that you can locate it later. Mark the midline of your abdomen using the plumb bob hung from the middle of your throat.
  • Step 6: Cut the form Lie face down and have your friend cut the form along your spine in a jagged pattern. Step out of the form and tape the back closed, ensuring the body form won’t be skewed and the midline remains centered.
  • TIP: Use a pole attached to a stand to set the form on while working.
  • Step 7: Fill the form Fill the form with poly batting, sealing the bottom with a cardboard cutout.
  • Step 8: Fill, sand, cover Fill the cavity with polyurethane spray foam, sand the model, and cover it with the knit fabric.
  • FACT: Did you know? At the beginning of the 19th century, 75 percent of all women’s clothing was homemade.

You Will Need

  • A long T-shirt
  • An assistant
  • Three rolls of duct tape
  • Plastic wrap
  • A marking pen
  • A plumb bob and string
  • Scissors
  • 2A pole and stand bags of poly batting
  • Cardboard
  • Polyurethane spray foam
  • Sandpaper
  • Knit fabric
  • A pole and stand (optional)

Lessons in this Guide

How to Turn a Hoodie into a Bag

How to Make a Beanbag Chair

How to Choose a Cross-Stitch Craft Kit

How to Embroider a Towel

How to Turn a Hoodie into a Laptop Bag

How to Turn a Collared Shirt into a Sexy Mini Dress

How to Embroider Pillows

How to Turn an Old Sweater into a Strapless Dress

How to Convert Photos to Cross-Stitch Designs

How to Measure Waist Circumference

How to Turn a Regular Skirt into a Bubble Skirt

How to Measure an Inseam

How to Sew a Throw Pillow

How to Make Hemp Bracelets

How to Make Curtains

How to Make a Denim Rug

How to Make Hair Bows

How to Hem Jeans

How to Make Distressed Jeans

How to Make a Custom Dress Form

How to Dye Leather

How to Turn Old Jeans into a Skirt

How to Cut a Hooded Sweatshirt

How to Hem a Skirt

How to Dye Fabric

How to Turn Old Clothes into Wine Gift Bags

How to Turn Old Sheets into Shopping Totes

How to Turn Old Jeans into a Floor Mat

How To Patch Jeans

How to Make 3-D Felt Flowers

How to Iron on Patches

How to Make a Scarf Out of an Old T-Shirt

How to Make Your Own Window Valance

How To Use a Sewing Machine

How to Choose the Best Sewing Machine

How to Hem Pants

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