74 MAY 2016 Sewing World

FEATURE Guide to Buying a Dressmakers Dumm y

A dummy will also be able to offer you views of your garment

which would otherwise be impossible for you to see ie.

how the collar at the back of the neck is lying or how those

back darts look. And if you plan to draft your own dress

patterns, then a sewing form will be an invaluable tool. But,

dressmakers dummies can be a fairly costly purchase and

also take up precious fl oor space. And how do you choose

which dummy will be the best for you? Our guide will help you

decide what you need and show you a few of the different

options available.

What is a Dressmakers Dummy?A dressmakers dummy (also known as a tailors dummy

mannequin, sewing or dress form) are essentially a true and

life size mannequin that you can dress or try your garments

on. They usually have a padded foam covering that you can

pin to hold fabrics in place. They come in various sizes and

shapes and with differing amounts of adjustment depending

on which model you invest in. The more basic ones will have

fewer adjustable elements and the higher end of the market

offer the most fl exibility and adjustable parts. Whatever your

size or shape, the best scenario is for your dressmakers

dummy to best refl ect your own body shape and fi gure, this

way you will be able to fi t the garments you are making with

ease and hopefully achieve better fi nished results.

Which Size?When looking to buy a dressmakers dummy, you will have

different sizing options to choose from, very much like when

you are buying a dress pattern. As we all know, we all come

in different shapes and sizes and few of us fi t the stereotype

dress size that is available on the high street (which is

possibly one reason why we are opting to dress make in the

fi rst place!). But knowing our true body measurements is a

key place to start when buying a sewing form. Remember, you

can pad out a dummy to add your curves but it will almost be

impossible to remove any excess. Look at the sizing range the

sewing form offers and opt for the best match to you.

www.sewingmachinesales.co.uk have a great section on

their website helping you take correct measurements of

yourself to then help build up your dressmakers dummy as a

refl ection of your own body shape. They advocate (with the

help of a friend) taking specifi c detailed body measurements

which then act as your guide to customise your own sewing

form. They also give useful and practical hints on padding

out areas where necessary with foam or wadding.

(www.sewingmachinesales.co.uk/dress-form-information)

How will you use it?Another question to ask yourself is how you intend to use the

dummy. Are you a dressmaker who likes to make trousers? If

so, you may want to consider those products with leg forms to

make life easier. Do you need the extra add-ons such as hem

marker? Would it be useful for your dummy to have wheels for

ease of moving around?

And if you want to dip your toe in the water, it may also be

worth considering buying second hand. Often people’s

ideas and requirements can change; body size and shape

fl uctuates, equipment is updated, no longer used or simply the

sewing room is running out of space. Look out for good deals

on second hand buying websites, classifi eds or perhaps ask

around at your local haberdashery or sewing group.

Guide to Buying a Dressmakers Dumm y

A dressmaking dummy is a handy addition to your sewing room. It can give you a three-dimensional view of your garment in progress and it can be incredibly helpful when fi tting garments; making sure that seams and fabric drape are hanging correctly, measuring accurate hems and making garment alterations.

Guide to buying a dressmakers dummy_SWMAY16.indd 74 21/03/2016 11:16:04

Sewing World MAY 2016 75

Guide to Buying a Dressmakers Dumm y FEATURE

A selection of the Dressmakers Dumm ies available to buy:Adjustoform Lady Valet Dress Form

This Lady Valet Dress

Form is made from

8 sections with 12

adjusting wheels

which means it can

give many precise

body measurements

including adjustable

neck and waist length.

Not only very practical,

the neutral cover colour

and wooden stand

make this an attractive

dummy to have around.

Available in two sizes,

small and medium.

Approximate price is £139.50

Where to buy: www.sewessential.co.uk

Adjustoform Sew Deluxe Leg Form

An 8 part dress form

with 12 body adjusters.

The addition of legs;

shaped hips, bottom

and thighs, make this

ideal to use when

sewing jackets, skirts,

coats and of course

trousers. The height

can also be adjusted

for fi tting taller framed

ladies. Available in

two sizes, small and

medium.

Approximate price is £108

Where to buy: www.hobkirk.co.uk

Adjustoform Supafi t De-Luxe Dress Form

This dress form has

12 adjustable wheels

for infi nitely variable

settings at bust, waist

and hips. There is

a handy scale tape

showing back length

and the tripod stand

has scale tapes too for

measuring shoulder

and hemline height. It

also comes supplied

with a chalk hem

marker attachment

for ease in marking

hemlines. Available in

four sizes, petite, small,

medium and fuller

fi gure.

Prices start from £120

Where to buy: www.sewessential.co.uk

Adjustoform Diana Dress Form

This dressmakers

dummy has an 8 part

body along with 12

auto set dials at the

bust, waist and hip

measurements. You can

also adjust height of the

waistline when a longer

back measurement

is required and it

has a handy built in

pincushion. Available in

four sizes ranging from

dress sizes UK 10-24.

Prices start from £119

Where to buy: www.sewingmachinesales.co.uk

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