Dress Form (20682 Views)

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Step 1 of 1
Create your own clone as a duct tape dress form, follow these quick instructions: (you will need another person helping out)
1. Wear a t-shirt you no longer need.
2. Apply a row of duct tape at waist line, above the bust and hips.
3. Continue applying horizontal tape all over, not too tight, not too loose.
4. Apply another layer of tape, vertically
5. Finish it off with a horizontal layer, make it neat.
6. Cut in the back with old pair of scissors, from neck line down, but not all the way, so that you can take it off.
7. Insert a hanger that fits the shoulders and stuff it
8. apply duct tape over the back cut.
9. You can place it on a PVC pipe, or hang it from the ceiling and dress it up in cotton/lycra jersey.
More detailed instructions: http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00002.asp

My version: http://mirelap.wordpress.com/2006/09/29/form/

The whole process takes around 3 hours max. This is useful if you need a cheap dress form for your body, or create one for a frequent (or more challenging body type) client.

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COMMENTS (19)

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Tinkerbelle Ï Posted 5 February 2007 at 10:32 AM

Great Idea, I would suggest that the first layer of tape may be best done with the sticky side out which will help you get out of it with some dignity and maybe even your T shirt intact as well as having all the sticky on the inside making the form stronger. A can of builder expandable foam sprayed inside would add durability and strength without adding much weight as well as being ideal for pinning.
needles&pins Ï Posted 9 April 2007 at 10:38 AM

Great idea & one I will pass onto the art dept at school - they always want mannequins (shop window or tailors) for final display & the kids don't seem to realise how expensive they are.
Mirela Ï Posted 18 May 2007 at 11:09 AM
http://mirela.etsy.com

Dress it up with a stretch jersey tube, to look more finished in case you want to use it as a display.
atmomma Ï Posted 22 November 2007 at 7:14 PM
Learning how to make hairbows

I recently used this how to to make my own dress form and thank you. While mine isnt as pretty as this one it definantly serves its purpose. I ended up making one for my daughter as well, but instead of duct tape I used clear packing tape. It is a little cheaper and after the form is done and cut off the body you can peel the shirt off the tape and "decorate" your form with scraps of fabric. I even filled hers with scraps that I was never going to use. I think in total I spent $2.00 us.
maryj101602 Ï Posted 7 January 2008 at 3:50 PM

this is awesome cant wait to try it!!!!
taylorose Ï Posted 26 January 2008 at 11:55 AM
bored!!

oh thanks!! that is a great idea! i have been wanting to get a dress form for sooooo long, and they were super epencive!!! great idea!!!=)
Thaniasam Ï Posted 31 January 2008 at 6:23 AM

What a great idea. I'm going to try that out and follow Tinkerbelle's sugestion. Looks kinda tricky though.. but I'm sure it will work out. Thanx
mica-noelle Ï Posted 13 February 2008 at 4:07 PM

how cool is this idea! and it looks really easy (and funny) to do! Plus, the price of a roll of duct tape compared to a mannequin is much much cheaper! thankyou :)
gunstreetgirl Ï Posted 21 February 2008 at 8:32 AM

thanks for this one! i've been looking for sth like this for long!
alikila Ï Posted 23 February 2008 at 9:12 PM

Thanks so much for posting this information- I have been thinking about a dress form and this sounds like it would be a perfect diy version...