Modern Retro Woman, I love your persona. I recently purchased a bootstrap male dress form pattern to make my own custom fit body form. I agree with your assessment of the sewing instructions; they are somewhat vague and incomplete. Additionally, follow "viewers" if you choose to embark upon this project be prepared to stop, rip out, and explore the sewing process- you will learn a lot. And it is well worth it.
I feel the same way you do. That was my experience. My biggest hiccup: I thought I requested seam allowance, but it arrived without them. I’m sure my attempt to cut them evenly without drawing them first was a problem. I plan to order it again though, and double checking that the seam allowance are added.
I was thrilled to find this video, I only discovered Bootstrap this afternoon and I'm keen to try it. I nearly bought an adjustable mannequin but the negative reviews held me back. Also love the fact that you are using a vintage Bernina, I have an 830 from my teen days and have since acquired a few older Singers that I also love.
I went through all of the work of making a bootstrap dress form, only to discover that I put in the wrong measurement for the underbust. I've had to take the stuffing out multiple times and try to sew those seems closer together. she is still too large around the back. I am so happy to see somebody saying that yes, we do need dress forms that fit our bodies. I'm thinking about either finding a used dress form and padding it out or having another go at bootstrap. I am fortunate to be a pretty standard size.
I've lost a little weight since making mine. So far, I've been able to get away with just taking some stuffing out. But I'm considering doing what Morgan Donner did with her dress form--she put a corset on it. I'm not sure I want to make a corset just for a dress form but I may get some "foundations" - like an open bottom girdle and put it on to see if I can get away with it. I know I'll need to remake it again at some point since I am no a standard size/shape.
@@themodernretrowoman I've thought of that but just in a stretchy jersey fabric. I'll check out her video. the dress form took me three weeks to make, so I'm in no hurry to remake it. By the time I got to the zipper, i was also over it.
@sarag1158 3 weeks? I'd never finish it. It wouldn't be added to my PhD pile, it would be well and truly buried beneath it. Lol Good on you for getting there. Could you glue/handstitch with a curved needle, some double ended darts to adjust the size? Just a thought you can easily ignore.
LOL! I used *BULL* denim. It was in the utility fabric section at JoAnn's. Also, I'm glad that I made it look doable. I really am pleased with how I'm able to just pin into it to my heart's delight.
I have sewn my own wardrobe of Alabama Chanin designed clothes and I’m not thinking of doing any more of this kind of thing. I’m just here as a voyeur. I Do like to fantasize, though!
the only thing wrong with duct tape form is that it ruins pins, when i done one, i used the duct tape form as a pattern, then had help again to bend old wire cost hangers to my shape, got cheap window screening from hardware store and cut and sewed to match the duct tape form, sewed, stuffed and i have a sturdy me lol. cost ran about $40 Canadian.
Interesting! I’m imagining a DIY version of those old chain mail body doubles and the stuffed version I made. I like it!! ❤️. (And I agree with how the duct tape form ruins pins)
@@themodernretrowoman Serendipity and my penchant for seeking practical tips for sewing, brought me to your space, so thank you for being there! I liked your manner and even listened to the Introvert session - That was reaffirming and I agree with those 3 characteristics and how to use them. I am a nurse and my day job is working with patients over the telephone. I see that you mentor others - Both great positions for introverts to use our strengths!😊
Another option for the duct tape dress form is to fill it with long pieces of styrofoam (such as you would find for protecting tvs while in their packing boxes and cutting the styrofoam a bit to fit into the form) and spray foaming around the long pieces with ordinary spray foam you buy in the hardware store. You might have to cut little slits into your form to fill voids that the spray foam didn't reach. The last step would be to cover it with a fabric cover. That way you get a rigid dress form for not too much cost because you are recycling rigid styrofoam pieces in your form. (Don't forget that your pole has to go in when you are placing your long pieces of styrofoam and before you spray foam if you are putting it on a stand.) I have mine covered with an old turtleneck stretch knit shirt for now to make it more pinnable but I am thinking of making another out of a woven material.
Modern Retro Woman, I love your persona. I recently purchased a bootstrap male dress form pattern to make my own custom fit body form. I agree with your assessment of the sewing instructions; they are somewhat vague and incomplete. Additionally, follow "viewers" if you choose to embark upon this project be prepared to stop, rip out, and explore the sewing
process- you will learn a lot. And it is well worth it.
Thank you for your kind words! And, I agree that it's an "adventure" making it but you do learn A LOT in the process!
I feel the same way you do. That was my experience. My biggest hiccup: I thought I requested seam allowance, but it arrived without them. I’m sure my attempt to cut them evenly without drawing them first was a problem.
I plan to order it again though, and double checking that the seam allowance are added.
I was thrilled to find this video, I only discovered Bootstrap this afternoon and I'm keen to try it. I nearly bought an adjustable mannequin but the negative reviews held me back. Also love the fact that you are using a vintage Bernina, I have an 830 from my teen days and have since acquired a few older Singers that I also love.
Thank you for your very kind words! ❤️
I went through all of the work of making a bootstrap dress form, only to discover that I put in the wrong measurement for the underbust. I've had to take the stuffing out multiple times and try to sew those seems closer together. she is still too large around the back.
I am so happy to see somebody saying that yes, we do need dress forms that fit our bodies. I'm thinking about either finding a used dress form and padding it out or having another go at bootstrap. I am fortunate to be a pretty standard size.
I've lost a little weight since making mine. So far, I've been able to get away with just taking some stuffing out. But I'm considering doing what Morgan Donner did with her dress form--she put a corset on it. I'm not sure I want to make a corset just for a dress form but I may get some "foundations" - like an open bottom girdle and put it on to see if I can get away with it. I know I'll need to remake it again at some point since I am no a standard size/shape.
@@themodernretrowoman I've thought of that but just in a stretchy jersey fabric. I'll check out her video.
the dress form took me three weeks to make, so I'm in no hurry to remake it. By the time I got to the zipper, i was also over it.
@sarag1158 3 weeks? I'd never finish it. It wouldn't be added to my PhD pile, it would be well and truly buried beneath it. Lol
Good on you for getting there. Could you glue/handstitch with a curved needle, some double ended darts to adjust the size? Just a thought you can easily ignore.
@@michellebyrom6551 I'm not sure how it will work with the internal structure but you've given me something to ponder.
I like what u did but for now I will tweak my commercial dress form. Maybe in time I'll grow your patience. LOL❤
Thank you! What kind of denim are you using? The closed captioning says, "bold denim." That can't be right? lol. You make this look doable!
LOL! I used *BULL* denim. It was in the utility fabric section at JoAnn's. Also, I'm glad that I made it look doable. I really am pleased with how I'm able to just pin into it to my heart's delight.
I have sewn my own wardrobe of Alabama Chanin designed clothes and I’m not thinking of doing any more of this kind of thing. I’m just here as a voyeur. I Do like to fantasize, though!
the only thing wrong with duct tape form is that it ruins pins, when i done one, i used the duct tape form as a pattern, then had help again to bend old wire cost hangers to my shape, got cheap window screening from hardware store and cut and sewed to match the duct tape form, sewed, stuffed and i have a sturdy me lol. cost ran about $40 Canadian.
Interesting! I’m imagining a DIY version of those old chain mail body doubles and the stuffed version I made. I like it!! ❤️. (And I agree with how the duct tape form ruins pins)
I like your personable way of imparting your knowledge!
@@karinkahn7141 Thank you for your very kind words!
@@themodernretrowoman Serendipity and my penchant for seeking practical tips for sewing, brought me to your space, so thank you for being there! I liked your manner and even listened to the Introvert session - That was reaffirming and I agree with those 3 characteristics and how to use them. I am a nurse and my day job is working with patients over the telephone. I see that you mentor others - Both great positions for introverts to use our strengths!😊
❤ I Enjoy Your videos 🎉thank You 🌹
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Another option for the duct tape dress form is to fill it with long pieces of styrofoam (such as you would find for protecting tvs while in their packing boxes and cutting the styrofoam a bit to fit into the form) and spray foaming around the long pieces with ordinary spray foam you buy in the hardware store. You might have to cut little slits into your form to fill voids that the spray foam didn't reach. The last step would be to cover it with a fabric cover. That way you get a rigid dress form for not too much cost because you are recycling rigid styrofoam pieces in your form. (Don't forget that your pole has to go in when you are placing your long pieces of styrofoam and before you spray foam if you are putting it on a stand.) I have mine covered with an old turtleneck stretch knit shirt for now to make it more pinnable but I am thinking of making another out of a woven material.
That’s a great idea!
Sounds like a time consuming headache!😵
It was! But it has proven to be well worth the headache.