Sunday, September 15, 2013

Padding the Dress Form and Pants

I just can't name my dress form, I don't know why. I can't name any inanimate object. Like in high school when my friends named their cars, I just couldn't do it; it seemed contrived. So this will just be "my dress form," whose shoulders are wider than her hips.


I made a bodice in lining fabric, and I don't really need both shoulders covered, because the bust is the same size as me. This is mainly about the gut and hips - yuk. (I had to crop pics carefully, because this isn't very long and won't fit over shorts.)


Now the hips are a little wider than the shoulders, and the measurements match up pretty well.


More pics of how this thing fits over my shape.


Note that my gut is about even with my bust (I am not a proud woman)...


as opposed to the dress form, whose bust is the only thing protruding. (Watching football makes me feel better about my gut, especially since they didn't show AJ McCarron's girlfriend.)


Till I wrapped her with batting - so sorry to turn you into a real woman who's been eating too much key lime pie this weekend!


I just slapped a spare zipper on the side for easy removal.


Next, I muslined the Hot Pattern pants. These pattern envelopes are HUGE, and look at all the fabulous measurements they give you on the back!


Now I noticed right away that the rear crotch curve is very different. It literally goes straight down and does a 90 degree turn at the crotch. Unfortunately, my back is not straight, so I have lots of gappage. (Jake is depressed they didn't turn out perfectly on the first try.)


I took in some near the top of the back and a little at the side seams, and ended up with a little wonkiness, which I can certainly work out, but I need to let the bottom out a little bit too. I guess there's not as much bagginess as I usually have below the seat, if you discount the unironed fabric.


So I'm torn about working on these today, vs muslining the New Look pants. Hmmmm, now after looking at these pictures, I remember that my Betzina pants looked wonky too, but ended up fitting beautifully. Decisions, decisions. Maybe I'll just knit instead! (Or watch the "Hand Embellishing Knit Fabric" class by Natalie Chanin that I purchased on Craftsy this morning. I know, I know, but the reviews were glowing and I fell asleep last night reading her book, so I just had to do it. I'm seriously considering an Alabama Chanin dress for Mardi Gras, maybe something like this in purple with beading.


It would be so rebellious...so green...so "crunchy".....so WEIRD!

7 comments:

Pam said...

I love the dress! Off the shoulder looks great on you. I do like your dress form as well -- and I don't name mine either!

Dr. Fun (AKA Sister) said...

And I think we've got the same form, too! You helped me track it down - shipped all the way from California. If I ever give her a name, it'll be Pam!

Anonymous said...

Good progress on the dress form. Hope the pants work out for you.

Robbie

Dr. Fun (AKA Sister) said...

Thank you, mum. Counting days to the sewing expo...

BeckyW said...

Love your dress form. That one is really nice.

Mine is a Goodwill find with a duct tape double of my daughter for a cover. She is named Scarlett for Austin Scarlett from Project Runway. I love having one though she takes up a fair amount of my available floor space in my 9'x9' room and her stand is very wiggly.

I love the idea of doing a Alabama Chanin Mardi Gras dress. That could be really cool.

Dr. Fun (AKA Sister) said...

Thanks, Becky! Her classes are so cool, and I'm trying the fitted dress as a shirt first to get sizing right. Now I can see with the family since it's all by hand..y knitting is jealous!

Dr. Fun (AKA Sister) said...

That was SeW with the family, and MY knitting is jealous....