Mannequin

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Sewing Translated

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23055 Posts Recent Started

Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 12:07 PM

Dear users, dear authors,
What is a dress form used for, and what should you look for when buying one?

Akela

5085 Posts Recent Started

Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 12:32 PM

Dress forms are ideal if you want to sew clothes, but you can get by just fine without one. When buying a dress form, make sure it covers your own clothing size. Dress forms are the perfect tool when you’ve drafted your own pattern—they let you check whether the garment fits properly. I used to have one myself, but “Olga”—as I called her—was always just in the way. She was getting old and starting to fall apart, so I got rid of her, and I’ve managed just fine without one ever since. A dress form wouldn’t be much use to me anyway, because I’m now 4 cm shorter on the right side than on the left, and you can’t adjust these dress forms that much—at least not that far—so I’d have to start fiddling around again anyway. So I have my daughter measure me, and I adjust my pattern to my crooked body; that’s why it’s hardly noticeable that I’m a bit "lopsided" when I’m photographed.

Best, Inge

Petra Perle

899 Posts Recent Started

Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 7:34 PM

I think dress forms are absolutely essential if you work a lot with clothes… You can hardly do without them… I’ve gotten dress forms in three different sizes… And even one in a children’s size—working with dress forms just makes things so much easier

Schnuckelina

5951 Posts Recent Started

Friday, February 18, 2022 at 9:48 AM

Since I sometimes knit clothes for myself and can’t really see myself from all angles during fittings, I bought a dress form in my size. It’s very practical, and it makes the process of creating the garment much more enjoyable. You can see how the garment fits on the body, though you’ll still need to measure yourself for the sleeves.

They’re usually covered in fabric and have a wooden frame. Mine is off-white with a rich wood tone. That seemed like the best fit to me. There are also ones with high-contrast or colorful fabrics. I don’t like those, because for me, the garment itself is the focus. But to each their own. In any case, they’re a big help.

There are also adjustable dress forms that you can adapt for different sizes. But since I only wanted mine for myself, a fixed-size one is enough for me.

You also have to keep in mind that you need somewhere to put it. You can take it apart into two pieces, but you still need to be able to set it up or store it.

Best regards, Ina

CraftingCafe

383 Posts Recent Started

Sunday, February 20, 2022 at 10:33 AM

I can only agree with the previous speakers.

I have one where I can adjust the bust and waist to my size, as well as the height. I find that especially handy for hemming skirts :).

Best regards, Sonja

CrochetGiftsShop

41 Posts Recent Started

Monday, February 21, 2022 at 10:22 AM

A dress form is a great purchase. It’s useful if you sew or knit clothing. (Made to order, for sale). A few years ago, I was in the business of making clothing (crocheted to order) and also sold ready-made crocheted clothing. I used the dress form to display the clothing. My mannequin is adjustable and can accommodate multiple sizes. My customers were in another city. It was very convenient. My customers were very satisfied. Today, I no longer crochet to order. The mannequin was disassembled into two parts (the body and the stand) and packed away in a box. I put it in the storage closet.😊