Doing a ton of measuring and guesswork when sewing can waste fabric and cause mistakes.
The amount of times I’ve tried to make myself a dress or a shirt, only to have to cut it apart to start over or throw it away entirely? Too many times for comfort.
If you sew like I do, you know that working off a mannequin or live model is the easiest way to make clothes from scratch. Less measuring and guesswork, just fabric, pins, and sewing.
But what if you want to make a perfect-fitting garment for yourself?
That’s where this DIY body form come in.
All you’ll need to make this body form is the following:
- Duct tape
- Loose, long, cheap t-shirt
- Scissors
- Polyester pillow
- Polyfill stuffing
- Ceran wrap
First, put on the t-shirt over a tank top or any other garment you have on. Have someone ceran wrap your neck, then start duct taping from the neck to the hips.
Have them wrap just tightly enough that it’s true to your body shape and size, but make sure you’re still comfortably able to breathe.
Once finished, have them cut you out of the body form. You’ll be cutting the t-shirt and the duct tape.
Stuff the bust with polyfill. Put the pillow in the duct tape shell then tape everything shut, making sure the cut edges line up perfectly. Seal everything else, and you’re done!
Use this whenever you need to make something with the perfect fit.
With this body form, I’ve become my own fashion designer. Watch the tutorial below so you can, too!