Dressing Stuff: A Tutorial

This wouldn't be a true blog without a DIY I suppose. Nothing ever fits me quite right so I dug out my old notes from a costume construction class I took while in Regina and set out to make a custom dress form. 
You will need:

• duck tape (at least two rolls)
• scissors
• old shirt
• a partner
• department store-type hanger (optional)

Step 1. Get wrapped in duck tape. I didn't plan this part very well and I ran out of duck tape but I had electrical tape. My advice would be to make sure you don't wrap too tight. Once you are completely taped cut up the back of the shirt. Some articles suggest putting a long strip of paper along your spine as a guard from the scissors. I skipped the paper guard and survived just fine. Normally at this point you would stuff the inside of your form and tape up the cut, but because I was wrapped so tight the form was a few dress sizes too small.

Enter step 2 and 3:
Step 2. This is the part where I was able to use my knowledge of sewing and found my instructions on how to build a body block. Google was also helpful for constructing a body block. Once I had stuffed the original duck/electrical tape form I began taping pieces of scrap fabric to build up my body shape. As the form filled out I was able to place the body block (gray fabric) onto the form and continued stuffing underneath the block. Gradually I had built up the form enough and was satisfied with my duplicate. I also placed a hanger from an old department store in the neck hole (this will be handy for storing in a closet when I need space).

Step 3. I knew this dress form would likely stay in my studio (the corner of our living room) so I wanted to cover it one more time entirely. Using a thrifted bed sheet I once again cut out and sewed another body block. I then constructed a sleeve block (I had never made one before and again Google was my friend) to fill out the arm holes. Basically I was slip covering my form and ended up with what you see in the first photo. It isn't perfect, but I am quite pleased with it. Happy sewing!