How to Make a Mannequin for Sewing
Having a custom-made mannequin for sewing can make a huge improvement in your sewing efforts but the forms typically cost hundreds of dollars. Luckily, with a couple of hours, a few rolls of duct tape and a friend to act as an assistant, you can create a custom dress form that will accurately reflect your body shape. While it can be a bit confining to stand still as rolls of the tape are cut and wrapped around your torso, the resulting form will allow you to easily customize alterations while saving time as you sew.
Things You'll Need
- Turtleneck shirt
- Plastic wrap
- 4 60 yard rolls 2 inch duct tape
- Scissors
- Permanent marker
- Cardboard slightly larger than the circumference of your hips
- Dress hanger
- Foam pellets
- Plastic or metal Chain
Instructions
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1
Put the turtleneck shirt over well-fitting underclothes. The shirt will remain inside the duct tape mannequin when it is completed. It should be one size too large for you so it hangs a bit belong your wait.
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2
Pre-cut lengths of duct tape 4 to 10 inches long. You will need several additional pieces long enough to wrap around your waist and to cross your heart and go over your shoulders.
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3
Apply the tape in layers beginning under the bust. It should be wrapped snuggly, but not so tight as to compress the body. Wrap the waist a bit more loosely. Wrap horizontally down to below the hips.
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4
Finish the first layer by taping across your heart. Begin at the right shoulder and tape across the top of the right breast and then under the left breast to the back. Repeat from the left shoulder across the top of the left breast to under the right breast and around to the back.
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5
Cut the shirt sleeves, if needed, so the tape follows the line of your body.
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6
Wrap tape in a second layer, this time placing the tape vertically across the first layer of tape.
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7
Wrap a third layer and this time wrap horizontally around the body.
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8
Mark your waist and any other important lines on the tape form with a permanent marker.
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9
Cut tape and shirt down the center of the back and shrug out of form. Insert a dress hanger and retape the back.
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10
Tape over the neck and arm openings. Stuff the form interior with foam pellets.
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11
Measure the base of form and cut a piece of cardboard to fit. Tape cardboard to bottom of form.
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12
Hang the form with chain from the ceiling or store in a closet by hanging from a dress hanger.
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Tips & Warnings
Use old scissors to cut up the back of the tape form as the adhesive from the duct tape can gum up the blades and ruin them.
References
- Photo Credit Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
