As many would appreciate our shape changes over the years and we find that a pattern needs to be tweaked more than it used to be. Gone is the day when I could whip up a pattern in an afternoon and only adjust the length. While sewing skills improve over time, I still struggle with adjustments for a full bust and curvy hips. But I now have a new friend, Hazel, who has come to the rescue.
Hazel is such a help, she tries on items any number of times without grumbling and doesn’t mind if it’s in various stages of construction or if she gets stuck with pins. Hazel is my new self-made custom dress-form.
I’d been thinking of a dress-form for some time and while I had considered a duct-tape version, I thought that there had to be something better. I came across the Bootstrap version when wandering through some favourite sewing U-Tube videos and felt encouraged to give it a go.
The process is quite straight forward. You select the type you want, enter in multiple measurements and, in my case, 20 minutes later I had a custom pattern for my own body double. The sewing took some time and the instructions are long but not difficult. Hazel sits very proudly in my sewing room and has been a great help with projects since.
If you are considering doing the same, below are the You-Tube videos that inspired me to give it a go and a link to the site. And before you ask I haven’t been sponsored; just sharing a good find with fellow sewers. Enjoy!
The construction process
Filling out her curves
Standing tall ready for action
Pattern
https://patterns.bootstrapfashion.com/diy-dress-form-sewing-pattern.html
Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CftuCNwehK8&list=WL&index=10&t=0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYbU45OTvVA&list=WL&index=11&t=236s
How to Make
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjK4NXagI0Y&list=WL&index=33&t=201s
How to Make Detailed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWcb9nJcsl8&list=WL&index=31&t=14s