I’ve had several people ask me about my Duct Tape Double dressform. (You may have seen it in some of the photos I post.) Here is how the dressform came about.
A couple years ago I decided I wasn’t going to procrastinate any longer, wasn’t going to wait until I lost those few extra pounds, nor keep debating with myself over “corset/no corset” before I re-did my dressform. Enough of waiting!
My 1st Duct Tape Double:
I made my first Duct Tape Double dressform in 1998. (You can read about my experience (and an early online review)Â at Leanna’s dressmaking studio site. Scroll down and click on “Jennifer – Stand and Taping Ideas.”) I used Leanna’s instructions for both the first form and the re-do (below). In 2008Â Threads did an article on custom dressforms and included one from duct tape.
That form was good back then. It served me well despite the fact that I kept my hands on my hips during the taping so the shoulders were raised out of place. This caused issues when trying to fit garments over that area. ‘sigh’
So for the last few years I had said I wanted to re-duct tape myself for a better and more accurate dressform. I woke up on a Wednesday and told myself I would be doing it that very weekend. No more procrastinating!
Two t-shirts combined to make the layer next to the skin.
A quick trip to a discount store brought me rolls of silver tape, beige tape and stuffing. I also picked up two cheap t-shirts for the tape to go on. (You wrap your body over the shirts which you then cut through both the tape and shirts to remove the form.)
I wore a modern bra for the taping. I really went back and forth on this one as I make so many Victorian dresses and having an already corseted form for draping would be nice. In the end I went with modern undergarments as I make modern clothes for work as well
It took about three hours for my husband to wrap me (keeping my arms down at my sides of course!) and another two to drape it over my current form and stuff to fill out the new layer. I will say that it was much easier this second time as my fitting skills are SO much better than before. (And that includes my time spent in fashion school a couple of years after the first form was made.)
Measurements were taken before we cut the form off. As I stuffed and taped up the back I took the same measurements so the form was my perfect size (despite it not being my ideal size. Custom sewing is so clothing can fit YOU perfectly; NOT display a number dress size.)
I think the best thing about having a true dressform again is for draping and pattern fitting over the back (a hard-to-fit spot when sewing alone) and getting the armhole cut just right for movement (crucial when making well-fitted historical clothing).
And even though corsets will alter the body shape, the upper back won’t change much. With time, patience and a good mirror or two, I can manage fitting issues on the front. Even having the hips the right size will help skirt fitting when I throw on a bustle or hoop and petticoats.
I’ve debated doing a 3rd form over my corset and starting from scratch. But with so many other projects and life going on, it may be awhile.
Have you made a custom dressform? Have you duct taped yourself or a friend to make your own dressform?
My duct tape form did not hold its’ shape very well. Even though I stuffed it really full with poly-fil (pillow stuffing) it began to sag, rendering her rather useless. I have a 1920’s copy of instructions using the gummed kraft paper. I wonder if those who used the paper to make a form are happy with the results.
For my form’s base I used PVC piping placed in a Christmas tree stand base. You can cut the pipe so your form is at your height. I used a smaller diameter PVC pipe for shoulder support. For that I cut out two holes on either side of the vertical pipe, just wide enough to push the smaller pipe through. The small pipe was a little bit narrower than shoulder width. The results look like a cross with a tiny little cross piece. I found this PVC piping to be great for my form. It’s inexpensive and can be cut to your desired dimensions.
My form was teetering lately – the weighted lamp base grooves were becoming stripped from the weight of the pole with the dressform. I used JB Weld to “glue” it back together and it’s working fine now! Although, I have researched the Christmas tree stand idea. It’s a good one!
I made one of these over the summer with 2″ Kraft paper tape with water soluble glue on the back of it. When it is dry the form is solid and there is no need to stuff it. No fumes, either.
What are all the numbers and marks on your body double?
They are measurements of the form that match my figure.
How did you get your shirts so long? Did you use both shirts underneath? I cut the tape and 1 shirt so I did not catch the stays.
If you click on the link in the post to my original try with a DTD you’ll see I sewed the lower portion of one shirt to the bottom of the main one to lengthen it. Yes, you have to be very careful when cutting through the tape and shirt so you don’t cut any undergarments you’re wearing.
Jen do you put your stays on the dress form?
No. It’s not really squishy enough to do that. But I totally want to make another form with my Victorian corset on.
I have made a dtd in stays for my friend and it came out pretty well. It was harder doing my own, unfortunately it does look like me-bumps, rolls and all.
This is also one of the best things I’ve decided to do. My friend and I did ours just last month, and it’s been the best thing ever! I’m just starting out making costumes, but I knew I needed my own body double, as I have wonky measurements all around. I just watched your tutorial on Making a 1870s Bustle Skirt, and couldn’t help but notice your dress form! How did you do your stand? I put a wooden hanger in mine, and planned to hang it on an IV rack. I like the stand better! It’s easier for the hoop skirt and other poofy dresses I plan to make! And thank you for all your great blog articles!
I have the wooden hanger in the top which is cut down into a fabric tube. The tube is over the base of a torchiere lamp. It’s my second base as the first broke in a move. Works great but the lamps themselves are harder to find nowadays. If you use one, unscrew the top and rip out the cord.
Oh my! This is brilliant!
Now I know what my next project is – I absolutely NEED one of these before I break out my latest patterns and really put my new sewing machine through its paces! This will make fitting and adjusting patterns so much easier than my bad old habits of eyeballing, simply assuming that I’m a size bigger below the waist than above it, and guesstimating. No more going through 4 muslins before I find the right fit! (Seriously – I went through 4 muslins on my last corset! AARGH!)
I have body doubles of several people I sew costumes for, as they don’t live nearby. I can get accurate results with infrequent fittings.
I made myself a gummed paper dress from a few weeks ago and have found it invaluable. I never knew one shoulder was slightly lower than the other, had a rounded back and a low bust.
My friend who helped me is a vet and apparently there’s a technique to cutting off bandages that she used to cut me out of the ‘cast’ without any clothing mishaps.
Yes, isn’t it funny the details we pick up about our particular figures? Good and bad both!
I did a duct tape dressform and when I had mounted it on a hanger + pipe + lamp stand in the right hight/angle, I stuffed it with pillow stuffing. This left a rather flexible dressform. I then put on my corset and noted down the distance between the laced panels in the back, took it off and put it on my dressform with the same distances. Now I can use my dressform to work with my period costumes in the correct corsetted size. What a big, big help!
I finished mine a few days ago. I had a problem with the aerosol foam over-filling the form and blowing it up about another size. I came up with a temporary solution for most of the problem by putting my corset on the form and tightening it to my corseted measurements. It crushed slightly in a few spots, but it’s usable. I am now trying it out for the first time. When the Bustle Day Dress class ends I will take the foundation garments off and see if the dummy holds the form. If it does I’ll put one more layer of tape over the crushed bits.
I’ve made two myself. The first one collapsed before I could stuff it because I didn’t use enough tape. The second time I wore my stays and they got nipped a bit when we cut it off me :-/ the muslin recommendation is a good one! I also had my arms on my hips and have the same shoulder problem as you do; I wish I had seen this first!
To protect the underclothes when cutting off the form, place a strip of manila folder down the center back, under your shirt but over your undergarments when taping. Then just follow the manila folder up the back when cutting off. You will protect your underclothes and your back.
I made two several years ago, one for my best friend and one for me. We had so much fun doing it and it was great. I need to mke another one. They are the best custom dress form you can ever have
My daughter wrapped me up last weekend. Was rather horrified by the size of my stomach and decided that the tape must have stretched (ahem 😉 ). Now just to make a stand. It’s certainly me-shaped and as opposed to an idealised dressform which would be less accurate.
My friend and I spent an afternoon making the duct tape dress forms. Hers turned out okay, and she has found it useful. I, however suffered terribly from the duct tape fumes during (and after) the taping process. Also I felt claustrophobic the whole time, and stood in an agitated pose because of my discomfort.
Duct tape doubles are a great idea, but I think if I did it again I might do it differently… and shop for low-odour duct tape!
Oh my! So sorry you had fume issues. I’ve not experienced that. If you Google Threads Magazine Dressforms you can find a few different ways to make one including using paper tape – which will have decidedly less fume release.
This is a genius idea! Much like yourself, I have pretty much always felt out-of-century, and as a kid, I would make my barbies “old fashioned” clothes out of old curtains, or anything else I could get my hands on! I also grew up watching “Anne of Green Gables”, my family loved it so much that when my sister had twins, she named the baby girl Avenlea. I’m so glad that I found your website, and thank you so much for being such an inspiration to girls like me!
I grew up with Anne of Green Gables too! Love those films.
Welcome to our happy community Natalie!
I made a dress form with my mentor who instructed a few of us. We taped, cut and stuffed each other. It was a lot of fun. I find it useful to have around, but it sometimes gives my husband a shock in a dark room. Mine is mounted on, plastic drainpipe to the correct height and I found a christmas tree stand in a charity shop that holds it up very well. I really appreciated the correct height when I was doing edwardian stuff with A train.
I was so horrified at the shape of my first duct tape form (the ‘real’ me) I threw it in the trash. I am now more accepting of my real shape and fitting my clothing is a dream. I now duct tape all of my clients. The fittings are down to two or three and saves many hours.
I like your idea of using a heavy coat hanger for the shoulders and to hang form.
I made a duct-tape dress form in 2008 at a workshop in a local sewing studio. I loved it. Incredibly helpful to have a form that’s ME. And, the duct-tape version is much less expensive than a store-bought form that wouldn’t be my shape anyway.
Since then, my figure has changed and I need to make and now need to make a new form.
About to make my first set of truly historic garments and my first corset in your Corset Sew Along, I’ve been mulling over making a second “Edwardian” form.
If you were going to make a DTD of your corseted figure, how would you do it? I can’t think of how to cut the form off with no harm to the corset….
Remember the tape is stuck to the t-shirt that protects your skin and undergarments. The t-shirt becomes a permanent part of the stuffed dressform.
You could pin or hand baste a bit of muslin over the laces to help cover them – this would be done by the person taping you and after you’re in the corset.
When cutting the taped form off the person (in a corset or not), the non-scissor hand should be face up between the t-shirt w/tape and the body/undergarments. That hand should follow the edge of the scissors as the person VERY CAREFULLY cuts the form up the back. If the muslin is there it will help keep the laces out of the way of the scissor tips.
I’ve not done a DTD in a corset but that’s what I would have my taper do to remove the form.