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I bet all this info has helped you make a decision.
2945I use bits of patterns, unpick loved clothes and create something appears. You can make your own dress form with brown paper and lots of heavy duty tape AND an assistant to wind the tape round yourself and then cut you out. Think it was Sewing World mag a number of years ago that showed yo how to do this. I dont have a dress form and dont need one. Most commercial patterns are on sale at some point of the year and chaarity shops have loads for sale. Buying a couple of 'traditional' styles you can then adapt would be my choice
by drro
01 Jul 2012
Charity shops are a good idea! I have adapted many patterns in the past, but now I need new sizes;>) oops! Too many snacks during retirement:>) Thanks for your help:>)
114322I draw my own patterns, except for most of the (grand)children's clothes - they grow so fast it makes no sense to sew them to their exact measurements.
I 'inherited' an adjustable dress form.
- Dislike - It's adjustable only to a certain extend, so it's never a close fit to somebody's measurements. So I don't use it for exact fitting.
- Likes - It is useful to see if the general shape and some of the details (e.g. a collar) are as you intended them to be, you can audition placement of things like pockets. Pinned the embroidered parts of my daughter's wedding dress in place till I had them all done - kept them wrinkle free till I could start sewing.
But I'm afraid for the last few years mine has been gathering dust in the attic as my sewing room is overcrowded as it is (sewing has been a bit down on my activity list after digitising and embroidering).
by drro
01 Jul 2012
Thanks Martine. I looked at Jo-Ann's today and saw a couple,,one was more adjustable than the other...but also MORE $! This one brand even makes chest forms for men:>) Who Knew! I am still thinking...I will do a little more research and then decide. Your information has helped !!
145191Have always wanted a dress form but could not afford one when the children were young,I buy the patterns, the fabric is expensive and want perfect results.I would buy a good one that you can adjust to fit your shape,some of the cheap ones will not hold the weight of the fabric.
by drro
01 Jul 2012
Thanks for your help. I agree, good fabric is costly and I want things to fit me well, unlike stuff in the ready made shops.
7314Have you heard of Burda sewing magazine? I have found it in large book stores. Each magazine has at least 15 patterns for dresses, skirts, blouses and kids clothes. They are not very hard to follow and each patterns comes in several sizes, I've done many dresses etc., from the magazine. We do not find patterns in Saudi Arabia but this magazine sells well!!
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by drro
01 Jul 2012
I will have to look for the magazine. Jo-Ann's sells Burda patterns. I have not bought a new pattern for myself in twenty years! But, when I went to purchase to make for the g'babies, I had sticker shock! Thanks for your information and help.
45070I used this book to create my toile many years ago. I didn't realise it was still available!
by drro
02 Jul 2012
I learned to make a personal basic pattern many years ago. I think I still have the starter kit from Vogue patterns. I have the Vogue sewing book too, that gives you the "how 2's". Thanks Sue for your input. Cutting garments apart to copy is a good idea too:>)
140716I don't use commercial paper patterns very often and never use a dress form. I have many strategies for making patterns, including taking worn out garments apart or simply drawing round favourite item which works if you understand the allowance of different amounts of ease for different fabrics.
I suse to cut patterns properly using a "toile" but when I lost some weight, I didn't bother creating a new one.
140716Try going to thrift stores, they always have a crafters section and I've seen patterns for sale at 10 cents! I once got 12 crochet magazines at 25 cents each!!
45070Paper patterns are often on sale at different times of the year .I go through the pattern books & keep a list of the ones I like so when they are cheap I can get them if they still appeal to me. With kids patterns get the multi size ones ,these can be used for years .
by drro
02 Jul 2012
That's a good idea. Before I had my babies, I worked in a fabric store during my summer months off from teaching. I spent my lunch time with the pattern catalogs doing just that! We used to wish for assignment to the pattern counter/section so we could do it all day! Thanks for reminding me about that!!
25212A friend of mine made her own, she thinks its great since it is exactly to her size, great for kids too. check out this site for instructions.
http://www.wikihow.com/Create-You...
by drro
02 Jul 2012
Thank you for the link. I might be doing something wrong, but the article is missing now.
24276My Daughter took a pattern making class and they made torso forms of their own bodies. I put a silk cammie on it. Lol!
173580I buy my patterns at Joann's. They don't have a sign out at my store, but they are always like half price.
6788I would wait until Joanns or Hancocks has their sales with their coupons and get it that way. That way you can actually see what yuo are getting. You can even get patterns on sale through their sign up program. I save a lot on senior days, too. If you are old enough.
by drro
02 Jul 2012
I do not know about the sign up program; I need to find out about that:>) Thanks!!
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