I have exciting news :) I have finally got hold of a dress form (of sorts)!
I've been wanting one for as long as I've been sewing, but never found one that I liked
Then suddenly, an old beat up gal from the late 50s showed up, and I couldn't just leave her out in the cold. Yes, she is stained and a bit crumpled, and in desperate need a new stand and some TLC, but I think she is just lovely and charming!
The only story I have on her is that she used to belong to a seamstress working professionally.
The date 28.11.1959 is written on the dress form stand, so she is a mature lady of nearly 60. I cannot find a size on her, but she is stamped 4 in the neck. She is quite curvy, with a 39" severely pointed bust and a 26" waist, and the shoulders of an Olympic swimmer! She is made from some strange kind of lightweight material. If cardboard and felt had a lovechild, this would be it!
She matches my bust size, but I will have to pad out her trim waist, sadly (or start wearing a corset myself). She is somewhat adjustable, she is assembled with some kind of metal rivets, and there are punched holes at regular intervals on the waist and hips for different size settings. I've never seen this type of dress form, and found it quite interesting.
So what better way of introducing her, than to give her her first modelling assignment? (I've decided she will be my bad-hair-day-stand-in. Oh man, is she going to be busy!)
This is my latest version of the Style #3410 pattern I first made last summer. Although I loved the finished blouse, it was too short in the body, and the polyester fabric was VERY static and clingy and drove me nuts. I wanted to make a new one with the long sleeves option and with some adjustments to the body for a better fit. I cut the pattern before Christmas, hoping to wear it over the holidays, hence the color. Obviously, that didn't happen but instead ended up in a bag. I finished it just in time for Constitution day 17th of May. The fabric is flowy viscose. A pain to cut, ok-ish to sew, but a pure joy to wear. (I do apologise for the photos, red is not easy on my camera, apparently.)
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| I think the curved seam on both front and back is a nice detail. |
I am really happy with this one, but I am wondering if it would be even better with fish eye darts in the front. It is a bit boxy, but then again it is meant to be tucked in. The style is soft and feminine with the gathered details, and I love the longer, slightly "bishopy" sleeves. They reach just below the elbows, perfect for me, cause I'm always rolling up my sleeves without even noticing.
The plan is to sew a skirt to go with it. Skirts are hard for me, but it needs to be done. Do you have a favorite style of skirt or a favorite pattern?
Så tøff sømbyste! Den ser jo mye stiligere ut enn den skranglete jeg har fa Stoff og Stil. Selv om jeg har fått justert målene til å stemme med meg stemmer den likevel ikke. Det er noe med fasongen som ikke blir likt. Lurer på å lage en med tape for å få den helt riktig.
ReplyDeleteBlusen er kjempestilig, det var et litt uvanlig mønster. Stilig med den måten ermene går over i bærestykket.
Mitt favorittmønster til skjørt er for tiden et selvtegnet 1/2-sirkelskjørt. Det er kjempelett å tegne, det er jo bare livvidden som skal stemme. Også er det veldig behagelig og praktisk. God bevegelsesvidde, men ikke så stort som et sirkelskjørt.
-Heidi
Bysten er kjempetøff, men hun ER litt skranglete da ;) Jeg vurderer å fylle henne med byggskum (eller noe) og hun trenger en ny fot. Men flott er hun! Ja det er ikke så lett å finne noe som matcher ens egen fasong. Jeg tror at mange ganger stemmer ikke lengden på ryggen/avstanden fra byste til midje, men det er vel litt forskjellig. Jeg forsøkte med tape en gang, men det var ingen suksess. Kanskje det var feil tape?
DeleteJeg er litt overrasket over hvor godt jeg liker dette blusemønsteret, det ser ikke noe særlig ut på omslaget. Men det er sånne fine detaljer.
Jeg må absolutt forsøke en form for sirkelskjørt. Jeg tror jeg kanskje kler det bedre enn et smalt et. Vi får se hva jeg finner. Absolutt viktigst er rett stoff. Noe med godt fall. Alle skjørta jeg har laget til nå er i dårlige stoffer, og da blir de ikke brukt :/
Jeg ville vært litt forsiktig med byggskum, det er jo utrolig klissete. Det blir jo umulig å få vekk igjen hvis du skulle angre, og hun er jo nesten en antikvitet. Kanskje du kan stappe henne hardt med sånn fiberfyll som brukes i kosedyr? De har det på S&S.
ReplyDeleteTja, det som bekymrer meg mest med byggskum, er at man har litt lite kontroll på hvor mye det ekspanderer. Hun kan lett bli deformert :/ Nei, det blir nok heller noe skumgummibiter eller poser med sånne isoporkuler som er i saccosekker. Vi får se. Kjenner jeg meg selv rett, blir det ikke gjort noe i det hele tatt :D
DeleteI love your dress form - I've never seen one like it. Also love the blouse - you know I will suggest a 70's pattern for the skirt. :)
ReplyDeleteShe is rather unique ;)
DeleteYes, I know you are a 70s kind of gal, and rightly so! There are tons of great patterns from that decade :)
Such an interesting and special sewing companion - great blouse too ;o)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am happy with both my new acquiries :)
DeleteWhat a find!! I have never seen one like that before, and I have to admit that your description of the material made me LOL. =) She's a very cool piece of equipment, torpedo boobs and all!
ReplyDelete