I have a question. Could your one-dart dress pattern be used to make a custom dress form? After fitting, if it is a very close fit it seems like this could work.
Hi, my One Dart Fitted Dress block is very fitted and the perfect block to use to make a fitted dress pattern. However, while the shape of the block would be correct, you'd need to pad your mannequin using wadding to the correct dimensions. Essentially, you get a layer of wadding, pin it where you need to add width on your mannequin, then press it flat with an iron. The iron will condense the wadding and give you a strong, solid base to work from. You'll need to repeat this process a couple times, or more - depending on how much width you need to add. You could then put my block over the layers of wadding to use as an outer layer of protection to conceal the wadding. Plus, it will make sure the wadding is moulded to the correct shape. You could then use the same block as a base for any patterns you want to create. 😊 Let me know if you have any more questions.
So, aside from using the mannequin to create my block, what other things would I use it for? Testing pattern designs as I go, I suppose? I love to make custom fitted clothes for my friends and family, but I always fit directly on them. I suppose adjusting the size of a mannequin for each person would be a bit of a hassle. How is that handled professionally?
Yes, you could test your patterns as you go. I'll often pin my patterns to my mannequin as I work before toiling it (e.g. check shape of jacket lapels, pocket placements & shirt collars). I also do all my draping on a mannequin - and it makes it sooo much easier if the mannequin is the right measurements when you drape. Adjusting the size of a mannequin is a bit fiddly. In the industry, we pad the mannequin with wadding to make it bigger. You need layers and layers of it. You put one on, press it flat with an iron to condense it, and then repeat it again and again until you've added enough. Let me know if you've got any more questions 😊
I bought this mannequin soooo long ago from a company (www.munchkinmannequins.com.au) in Australia that is now closed unfortunately 😔 - sorry that wasn't more helpful!
One more question for you and thank you so much for these videos!! Do you think it would be worth purchasing a half-size dress form and printing your block patters in 50% scale? It is so much more affordable than the full size (I’m looking at TSC brand) or should I save up money to get the full size?
I know, they're so expensive!! But if you are going to be making patterns regularly, I think it's worth the investment. Can you find any second hand ones? Maybe contact a local college and see if they'd sell you an old one? I've never worked on half or quarter scale mannequins, but I would always recommend toiling at full scale anyway. Also, if you are planning on doing a lot of draping, I think you'd want to do it at full scale.
I would like to purchase a dress form. Which one do you recommend? I live in USA. Thank you for this channel! I tried to craft my own by carving foam at fashion design school class. I don’t like the way it turned out bc it’s very lumpy.
Hi, I really wish I had a list of recommendations for you!! When I worked in the UK, I used Kennett & Lindsell mannequins, which are amazing. Not sure how much shipping would cost to the US though... I couple of people have asked this question, and I was thinking of doing a video on how to pad a mannequin to your correct measurements using wadding. Would this be helpful?
Thank you so much for sharing your skills 💕
Finding out there’s a new release is always a joy 🌸
Thank you so much for your comment! That's so lovely to hear ❤️
Such a great tutorial! Thank you 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it! 🥰
Will have to give it a go.
Yes! Let me know if you have any questions 😊
I have a question. Could your one-dart dress pattern be used to make a custom dress form? After fitting, if it is a very close fit it seems like this could work.
Hi, my One Dart Fitted Dress block is very fitted and the perfect block to use to make a fitted dress pattern.
However, while the shape of the block would be correct, you'd need to pad your mannequin using wadding to the correct dimensions. Essentially, you get a layer of wadding, pin it where you need to add width on your mannequin, then press it flat with an iron. The iron will condense the wadding and give you a strong, solid base to work from. You'll need to repeat this process a couple times, or more - depending on how much width you need to add.
You could then put my block over the layers of wadding to use as an outer layer of protection to conceal the wadding. Plus, it will make sure the wadding is moulded to the correct shape.
You could then use the same block as a base for any patterns you want to create. 😊
Let me know if you have any more questions.
So, aside from using the mannequin to create my block, what other things would I use it for? Testing pattern designs as I go, I suppose? I love to make custom fitted clothes for my friends and family, but I always fit directly on them. I suppose adjusting the size of a mannequin for each person would be a bit of a hassle. How is that handled professionally?
Yes, you could test your patterns as you go. I'll often pin my patterns to my mannequin as I work before toiling it (e.g. check shape of jacket lapels, pocket placements & shirt collars). I also do all my draping on a mannequin - and it makes it sooo much easier if the mannequin is the right measurements when you drape.
Adjusting the size of a mannequin is a bit fiddly. In the industry, we pad the mannequin with wadding to make it bigger. You need layers and layers of it. You put one on, press it flat with an iron to condense it, and then repeat it again and again until you've added enough.
Let me know if you've got any more questions 😊
Did you share a link for the mannequin
I bought this mannequin soooo long ago from a company (www.munchkinmannequins.com.au) in Australia that is now closed unfortunately 😔 - sorry that wasn't more helpful!
One more question for you and thank you so much for these videos!! Do you think it would be worth purchasing a half-size dress form and printing your block patters in 50% scale? It is so much more affordable than the full size (I’m looking at TSC brand) or should I save up money to get the full size?
I know, they're so expensive!! But if you are going to be making patterns regularly, I think it's worth the investment. Can you find any second hand ones? Maybe contact a local college and see if they'd sell you an old one?
I've never worked on half or quarter scale mannequins, but I would always recommend toiling at full scale anyway. Also, if you are planning on doing a lot of draping, I think you'd want to do it at full scale.
I would like to purchase a dress form. Which one do you recommend? I live in USA. Thank you for this channel! I tried to craft my own by carving foam at fashion design school class. I don’t like the way it turned out bc it’s very lumpy.
Hi, I really wish I had a list of recommendations for you!! When I worked in the UK, I used Kennett & Lindsell mannequins, which are amazing. Not sure how much shipping would cost to the US though...
I couple of people have asked this question, and I was thinking of doing a video on how to pad a mannequin to your correct measurements using wadding. Would this be helpful?
@@PatternMakingWithLeigh Yes! please make a video on mannequin adjustments