If you can’t find a dress form in your size, making your own is a fantastic alternative. The duct tape method is one of the most affordable and effective ways to create a dress form that mirrors your body perfectly.
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Materials You’ll Need: (Keep weight in mind when choosing your materials)
- A fitted T-shirt (one you can cut up) (affiliate link)
- Several rolls of duct tape (affiliate link)
- Scissors (affiliate link)
- A marker (affiliate link)
- A friend to assist you
- A hanger or PVC pipe (affiliate link)
- You may also need PVC pipe cutters (affiliate link)
- Polyester stuffing or foam or cotton or New Zealand lambs wool (affiliate links)
- A cardboard or chipboard base (affiliate links)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Wear a fitted T-shirt – This will be the base layer for your form.
- Start wrapping duct tape around your torso, ensuring it follows your natural shape without being too tight.
- Layer the tape at least 2-3 times for durability.
- Mark key seam lines (center front, side seams, etc.) with a marker.
- Cut up the back carefully and remove the form.
- Re-tape the back seam shut.
- Stuff the form with polyester, foam, cotton or lambs wool to maintain its shape. (You might want to mix stuffing types).
- Insert a hanger or PVC pipe for structure.
- Seal the bottom, arm and neck openings with cardboard or chip board.
- Mount on a stand.
Your DIY dress form is complete. Have fun using it.
If you have made a DIY dress form using these instructions, share a comment and let me know how it turned out.