Dressmakers, help please!

[littlemisseva.livejournal.com]

Hello, my Loli dears (and those who are just plain-ol' dears)...

Many apologies for those of you who will see this more than once, I've cross-posted it in the_needle_room and egl.

My best friend and I are trying to start a Loli design line of our own, and while we've got sewing machines, fabrics, and trims galore, we've also gotten a big problem: the need for a nice dressmaker's form to put our creations on, not only for photography, but also to help with some of the hemming and trimming out. Do any of you use these yourselves, and if you do, can you make any recommendation as to where to buy one from, as well as how much we can expect to spend? I've just returned from an excursion to eBay, and I'm absolutely overwhelmed by all of the measurements and model numbers...

Also, what measurements (bust-waist-hips) for the dress form should I be looking for? I was hoping to get something that's about an average size, but I'm not sure what that is, exactly.

Thank you to anyone who can help!

Comments

[storknightmares.livejournal.com]

i myself need one, and im saving money for a new one. it will cost me about 150. i live in a small town, so we only have a joanne's. idont really feel like searching for one, or having the to get one thats been used or older, and having the adjustment knobs poop out on me after only few years of use. so i'll pay the 150. there were 3 sizes, the small went up to 38 bust 32 waist i believe. which suprised me. the medium was what was considered the plus sizes, and the large full figure one was for after 2x. i wish i could tell you wat brand it was, because i thought if a small goes up to that size, i might at well just get that one.

[cliofish.livejournal.com]

For commissions (and myself ^^;) I use a Twinfit size small. There are several brands, but I like the Twinfit because it has a dial adjuster (rather than a crank-style knob) which makes switching sizes easier. Mine was $99, but it was on sale (down from the normal $120). I shopped around, and $120 was pretty much the city-wide standard. If you wait around, they go on sale sooner or later at Hancock's, Jo-Anns, and Fabricland.

[halonoir.livejournal.com]

I got a 'My Double' from Jo-Anns. Every 4 to 6 weeks Jo-anns will put the My Double and Twin Fits on sale for $99. The only problem is that most of them don't keep dress forms in stock so you have to wait while they order one for you. I got lucky and didn't have to wait because they had one in from an order someone else decided not to complete.

As far as size goes, I believe most forms have about a 6" varience, so odds are eventually you will want to get a second one in another size if you use it for tailoring a lot. I just got the one in my size because if something doesn't sell, it goes into my closet! ^_^

[ohimesamashinig.livejournal.com]

I would loan ya mine XD but yah I'm in Florida and you're in Cali XD

[suckyfucky.livejournal.com]

you should get one for all sizes. because - if you haven't read already - i'm getting quite annoyed with seeing everything in smalls and mediums. so you should make them in all sizes, from tiny to larger. i'm an average girl, i suppose. hour glass shape with 36 bust..dont know hips but i wear 13 to 15 jeans. dont know dress size, maybe 16? but i do know girls that are very small and she wears extra small and can never find anything, so keep in mind that everyone is different and try to make everything in all sizes. it would be so much easier on people.

[tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com]

amen! i hate seeing itty bitty things for sale. i'd buy egl from someone who made it big enough to fit a curvy mini girl like me!

[suckyfucky.livejournal.com]

damn straight. except i'm not mini. i'm tall, unfortunately ;_;

btw, i love your icon. <3

[tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com]

haha yes! and tall curvies as well!!


gracias! i wish i had made it, its too cute.

[suckyfucky.livejournal.com]

i just love him and his stupid A shirt, like alvin and the chimpmunks. i can never remember his real name so i call him alvin. animes make me laugh ^_^

i like being curvy. . .but not tall. i want to be teeny weeny :-[

[tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com]

haha i think the A is for his last name. but he's very alvin like in the A shirt.

i want a A shirt!!!!!


aww being tall is fun! i like being short though -_-!

[suckyfucky.livejournal.com]

few short people i know like being short. i always tell them to switch bodies with me.

[tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com]

hahah nah, i looooove it. so i understand the want to be short.

[chunita.livejournal.com]

I have 3 of them...too bad I live in Florida
The best way to purchase them is at Garage Sales, Thrift Stores and YES, the mall!
OK...I know you're going to be on a little excursion...but it's worth it!
One day I was driving by a house and saw one in the trash. This was my first one. It wasn't dirty or anything so I took it. I put new padding in it (which I did myself-if you're starting your own clothing line you're probably crafty enough to figure out how to do something like that).
The second doll (my buddy - Joannes carries them)I got at a garage sale. It was actually in brand new condition! I got it for $20 from this lady that couldn't sew anymore because of her arthritis.
The third one I found at the mall. I got it for $10. They closed down the Eddie Bauer store at one of the malls here and they actually had one! The mall might be kind of difficult because most stores have mannequins and they're non adjustable.
I have also seen them at Estate Sales before. And they will usually go between $20-$50 which is a lot better than having to pay $150.
Good Luck

[littlemisseva.livejournal.com]

Thank you, darlings, for all your help! ^^ I've managed to track a couple down...

And don't worry, they're mainly just so I have some kind of shape to hold the dress out while I pin the trims. Sizing is a great enemy of mind, as I've got a 36-26-36 figure, which is VERY hard to find clothing for. x_x; Plus, I'm only 5'2...so I know how finding clothes can be stressful!

We will most likely do custom-made outfits, anyway, instead of just mass-producing them. Much easier that way!