Dressmaker Forms Are Sew Helpful

Dressmaker forms, dress forms, dressmaking forms, sewing dress forms. These are all names for basically the same thing which is...a form used by people who sew clothing for the purpose of getting a proper fit.

For a beginning or intermediate sewer are they necessary? No. Are they extremely helpful? Yes!

You can sew your entire life, never use a dressmaker form, and still make wonderfully fitting clothing just by understanding how to properly measure your body and how those body measurements relate to the measurements of the pattern you are using. (Otherwise known as pattern fitting or altering.)

However, if your body (like most of us) does not follow the industry standards, trying to fit a garment to your actual body shape can be a real challenge unless you have an extra pair of arms and hands!

I have several dvds and books on pattern fitting in my personal library. They are all good and I've learned a ton of stuff from them. However, it's so much easier to apply those fitting and altering techniques to a dressmaker form than by holding and pinning the pattern (or material) to my own body!

Let's take a brief look at dressmaker (or dressmaking) forms!

About Dressmaker Forms

The Professional Form

The manufacturing of dress forms for professional use is big business and I'm not talking about display forms, which is big business too. Most professional dressmaking forms are custom made exactly to the measurements of each real life "fit model" employed by clothing companies. These fit models usually have body measurements that companies consider standard for that specific item of clothing they are producing. Which is why clothing bought off the rack often doesn't quite fit those of us whose body shape is not the same as the industry standard! Which is all I'm going to say about professional forms. Besides, if you are a professional or high end seamstress... you aren't reading this anyway.

Dress Forms For The Rest Of Us

There are basically three kinds.

Adjustable dressmaker forms

However, even though you can adjust them in the critical areas, they are not you. They aren't your exact shape. They don't have tummies, they don't have bulges, and the bust... well my bust hasn't looked like that since I was sixteen and weighed ninety-seven pounds.

Non-adjustable Dressmaker Forms

These are made either to a standardized size (i.e. 8, 10, 12, etc.) or they can be custom made to the bust, waist and hip measurements provided by you. Like the adjustable forms, they won't be exactly your shape. Another type of non-adjustable form can be made from a mold which you provide of your body, which does give you a better duplicate of yourself to work with. These forms can be several hundred dollars to purchase.

Home-made Dressmaker Forms

For years now, ladies have been making dress forms which are a duplicate of their bodies at very little cost. These forms are made using either duct tape, brown paper tape, or a combination of both. You can also make one with what looks like lightweight chicken wire. Each method requires a buddy to help you get the form made and lots of patience. Personally, the process looks like a mild form of torture. If you want to know more, Threads magazine has an excellent article on how to create customized dressmaker forms.


If the idea of making your own form for the purpose of getting a better fit for YOUR body shape doesn't appeal to you (like it did not appeal to me) there IS another choice.

Let me explain.

My old adjustable Singer dress form is so old that, over the years as I've matured (ok, gained weight), I've maxed out the dials. It's been spread out so far that it looks like it's been blown up from the inside. For months I debated whether or not to replace it with the next size range (they come small, medium and large which you adjust to a specific size within that range).

Do I absolutely need it? No. Can I make pattern and garment adjustments without a new one? Yes. Does having the correct size dressmaking form make the fitting process easier? OH YES!

Therefore, while looking into all the different available forms out there, I came across a company called Fabulous Fit which has a fitting system kit made up of several uniquely shaped foam pads which you can use to "pad" your existing dressmaker form in the areas where you are also "padded". I have to tell you, it took me about three hours to redo and then cover my old form. Mostly because I measured and re-measured; up, down, right, left using as many pattern fitting measurements as possible. I wanted the final product as close to my shape as possible. My form now is shaped so much like me that I feel the need to keep it clothed. I don't want people seeing where my bulges are! This may not be your cup of tea, but I wanted to mention it to you.

In Summary

Truthfully, you don't need a dressmaker form to sew clothing. However, if you get one and learn how to use it, I think you will agree that fitting issues become less of a problem.

And should you NOT learn how to use it, what then?

Fun Things to Do With A Dress Form You Never Use

Turn it into a sculpture: Mix up paper mache glue and cover it in all kinds of unique and colorful strips of paper. Once it's dry, spray or paint it with some kind of clear coating to keep it shiny and hard. Or, instead of paper mache, glue pieces of leftover fabric and other trims that have been cluttering up your sewing room to the form. See how creative you can get! Add little clear "Christmas" lights and it can do dual duty as a large night light.

Turn it into a lamp: Get an inexpensive lamp kit from your local hardware store and wire your form to accept a lightbulb. Buy a ready made lamp shade or make your own.

Use it as a dance partner (at home, please): Put an old formal and some jewelry on it for a glam date (or whatever fun outfit of your choice). Turn up the music and dance your socks off. Just don't expect it to handle "dips" as the form will most likely come off of its stand!

These ideas should get you started... I'm sure you can come up with a whole lot more!!!