There are some awesome tutorials out there to make almost anything you could think of. Pinterest is my absolute favourite site to learn about all sorts of DIY projects. I was really excited when I came across instructions for a DIY dress form using saran wrap and duct tape to make your body double. Then stuffing the duct tape body with various things such as newspaper, foam or fibre fill. One person actually used expanding spray foam! I'm not sure that is such a good idea as I've watched my husband use it in construction and often it expands more than you want and you have to cut off the excess. The goal is to make your body double as close to your size as possible. Once you cut the duct tape off your body (a cut straight up the middle of your back) you have to tape the cut back up very carefully matching the coloured tape you used to mark off bust, waist, hip and neck. Then, using cardboard to close the neck and arm holes and whatever you prefer to stuff the inside taking care not to overstuff and distort the body. When fully stuffed, more cardboard at the hip opening to keep the stuffing inside.
I have a very sweet husband who agreed to this task. It took about an hour and a half to wrap me in saran wrap and then using 7" to 14" lengths of duct tape, and trying to keep it as smooth as possible, wrap me like a cocoon with duct tape. You need to do it as tight as possible without distorting your shape. It didn't take long before my heat started rising and my husband had to set up a fan to keep me cooler!
I now have a mannequin with my own measurements. I have yet to tape the back seam back up and start stuffing. I forgot how hard it was for me to stand in one spot for long. Especially my leg with the artificial knee replacement. When it was all finished and cut off of me I could barely walk. I had two sets of stairs to climb to get back into more than just my underwear and didn't think I was going to make it up the first flight of stairs. I thought I'd walk some feeling back into my legs before I tried to do the rest of the job.
Yesterday I went to a second hand store that is closing down and advertised 30% off. I went there looking for something that would work as a stand to attach the dress form to. I was thinking of a coat stand and when I didn't see any I decided to look at the floor lamps. I thought I'd pick up a stand for $10-$15. Guess again! Most of the floor lamps were $85 or so. I finally found one that had no lamp shade on it and the centre pole tilted a bit to one side. Typical for me - I chose something without a price tag. The only person taking care of the store must have been the owners' son. He didn't seem overly enthused about having to take care of the store. When he decided $45 would be about right for the floor lamp I asked if he would take $25 for it and he agreed.
If you've ever wondered how much ease a manufacturer has built into a pattern, and don't have the patience to make a muslin version of the outfit first to make sure it fits before you cut into your precious fabric.... or having lost weight, having nothing in your closet that fits and needing to alter your clothing until you are sure that you are finished losing and can afford to buy new clothes once again; you'll understand why sewing enthusiasts love a dress-form. I have looked at them for years wishing I could buy a ready made dress form but usually they are anywhere from $350 to $500. Last month Fabricland had theirs on sale for $190. Still, I can't justify that cost knowing full well that my weight goes up and down like a yo-yo.
Since I haven't quite finished making mine; here is a sample picture from the tutorial I found.
