A unique, inexpensive alternative to a purchased dress form is made from nylon tricot fabric, masking tape and stuffing.
NEEDLE & CRAFT Apr 1989 (v.12#2) pg. 30
How to make inexpensive dress forms. First article explains how to sculpt a styrofoam form that has all the critical dimensions and posture necessary for successful pattern adjustment. Second article explains how to make a plaster body mold. Est. cost: $20.
THREADS #24 Aug-Sep 1989 pg. 34, 39
Added Info THREADS #26 Dec 1989-Jan 1990 pg. 4
Suggestions on buying a model form, the industrial version of the dress form sold for home sewers.
THREADS #29 Jun-Jul 1990 pg. 8
How to work with half-scale mannequin forms when exploring design ideas.
THREADS #31 Oct-Nov 1990 pg. 78
Tip tells how to pad a dress form to enlarge a bust measurement.
THREADS #34 Apr-May 1991 pg. 14
An introduction to draping. Getting the most from a dress form.
THREADS #36 Aug-Sep 1991 pg. 50
A fitting companion. How to make an inexpensive custom dress form from poster board.
THREADS #37 Oct-Nov 1991 pg. 48
Couture fitting techniques. Part 1. Padding a dress form with fusible interfacing and cotton batting to reshape it to match your figure.
THREADS #44 Dec 1992-Jan 1993 pg. 35
Added Info THREADS #45 Feb-Mar 1993 pg. 4
Couture fitting techniques. Part 2. Draping a cover for a padded form.
THREADS #45 Feb-Mar 1993 pg. 42
Tip suggests using a bra and slip to pad a dress form.
THREADS #47 Jun-Jul 1993 pg. 16
Couture fitting techniques. Part 3. When draping calls for darts. Two draping methods, one with a single piece of fabric and a second with two narrow pieces. Step-by-step photos show how to drape a darted muslin.
THREADS #47 Jun-Jul 1993 pg. 58
Couture fitting technique. Part 4. The real you. How to fit a muslin shell perfectly.
THREADS #48 Aug-Sep 1993 pg. 47
Four fast, cheap (and amusing) ways to make a custom-fitted body form. (1 & 2) Two approaches using duct-tape. (3) Molded papier-mache form. (4) Brown-paper tape form.
THREADS #75 Feb-Mar 1998 pg. 37
Added Info THREADS #76 Apr-May 1998 pg. 6
Added Info THREADS #77 Jun-Jul 1998 pg. 6
Added Info THREADS #80 Dec 1998-Jan 1999 pg. 8