How to Make a Fashion Form for Sewing
- 1). Put on an oversize T-shirt, preferably long enough for the hem to fall at least to mid-thigh. You'll want it to be either a shirt you've purchased specifically for this project or an old one that you don't mind destroying, since it will be completely covered in tape and cut in half by the time you're finished.
- 2). Wrap a few layers of duct tape snugly around the smallest part of your waist. This wrapping can be done on your own, but it will be much easier and take less time if you have a friend or family member assisting you. Make sure that your body is relaxed and you aren't sucking in your stomach during this step, or else the form will not be true to your actual measurements.
- 3). Continue wrapping below the waist, over your hips and thighs. Use horizontally placed strips of tape and wrap snugly until you reach the bottom of the T-shirt.
- 4). Use shorter pieces of tape to begin covering the bust and underarm area. If the T-shirt you're wearing is very large, you may need to cut the sleeves to be able to wrap the tape snugly around your shoulders and underarms. If you choose, you can place some spare fabric or plastic wrap around your neck and tape that area as well.
- 5). Cut the form off your body once it's been entirely taped. You or your assistant will use scissors to make a vertical cut up the center of your back, being careful not to catch your skin or any undergarments you may be wearing.
- 6). Take off the form and then use some more tape to close up the cut you just made in the back. Stuff your form with filling material; newspaper works well, but you can also use cotton batting or any other material you have handy. Once the form has been stuffed, close the neck and arm holes with more duct tape and put the form on a stand. You can now begin using the form to make clothing that's fitted precisely to your body.
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