Burda Style For people who sew

I really want to purchase an adjustable dress form, but I would love to hear some feedback before spending the money. I know a lot of people will say to make a duct tape dress form, but I’d like something that I can use for other sizes than my own, is more permanent, and that I can adjust as my body changes.

I’m just curious if anyone has used an adjustable dress form and what they think of it. Do you like or dislike it? Do you recommend a specific brand?

Does the torso length adjust, or just the measurements around?

Do the size dials get in the way of your garment (ie, the way it hangs when you’re draping a pattern)? This last one is my biggest concern – if the dials stick out and mess up the drape, it’s sort of pointless all around.

Thanks! Any feedback is appreciated!

Sep 14, 2009, 08.02 PM by thirtydaysseptember

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6 Posts

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  Sep 24, 2009, 07.37 PMby tejka

  well i have dress form size 38 and when i need to bigger it i just simply drap it with bandages:D
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  Sep 24, 2009, 08.30 PMby oscarthegrouch108

  usually the dials a flush with the rest of the form, so no worries there. a basic model may omit the torso adjustment, so if this is crucial i’d double check before buying. i’ve read some pretty negative reviews about the singer dress form that the joann’s website sells, but haven’t had a chance to try it myself. Dritz makes a pretty nice one, in several styles and proportions.

  i agree with you about the duct tape forms. it seams like too much hassle, and when your body changes you have to make a new one.
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  Sep 28, 2009, 01.03 PMby thirtydaysseptember

  Thanks for the input!

  I’ve read those bad reviews as well, and for both SInger and Dritz. The crack would be a problem, and supposedly it’s near impossible to pin in them, which makes it almost pointless to me.

  I think I may (for now) purchase a boutique shop display dress form (ie: http://tinyurl.com/yedeqdf) and pad it up where needed. I’m sure the torso will be too long for me, but there is no getting around that (I’m 5’1").
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  Sep 28, 2009, 09.46 PMby katexxxxxx

  I like the Adjustaform ones, and have 4: the male form, the child form, a medium sizes female, and a large female. My oldest is the medium female, which is about 28 years old, and was recently extensively renovated (including replacing the cover and mending a busted bit!). Something was dropped on it in storage…

  They work, they are useful, they last well, and they are a huge help to me, BIUT! They are NOT a substitute for proper fitting, which you need to do AS WELL> :)
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  Sep 29, 2009, 01.34 AMby oscarthegrouch108

  i love the boutique ones for pictures. i think they make petite ones (for 5’4 and under i think), so maybe look into one of those?

  really, i’ve found that i would rather fit it to me (and just deal with having to get dressed and undressed) than try to fit a garment to a dress form. they are great for draping and getting a general idea of whether a garment will fit, but you do need to put it on the body before it’s said and done.
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  Sep 29, 2009, 08.30 AMby ichigogirl

  My advice would be to look at the general shape of the dressform before buying it, not just the measurements. I got an Adjustaform one (I think… it’s grey with very slender dials, very pretty!) and it seems great, only it has these rounded hips and a tiny waist, and since I have rather straight hips and a “normal” (I hate that word, but I can’t find the right words, I have a waist that’s neither tiny nor big!) it just doesn’t work for me, I’d have to pad half the dressform to reach my measurements since the boob and bum-areas expand beyond my measurements if I make the waist anywhere near my own. I’m getting a Diana instead, they look more like me. Also, don’t get one that you’ll need to open too much, if you get one where you’re in the top end of the sizing you’ll have so much space in between the parts that it’ll be diffucult to pin as you like if you want to do draping. I’ve been searcing for over a month now and I’ve realised I’ll have to buy one that’s slightly too busty… (there are non my size) but then, as oscarthegrouch said, you still have to try thing on yourself too, so it’s ok. I still want one to be able to drape and attach sleeves correctly, and to pin in the back more easily… Good luck with your decision! Oh, btw, it might be a good idea to bring a muslin fitted to you to the shop and dress the dressform in it before bying it to see if it seems possible to make it your shape, I wish I had before getting the first one…