<html aria-label="message body"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Just wanted to share! My dad and I have been working on a project for a few days. I really needed a dress form as I\u2019m learning to sew, because it makes it much easier to feel what I\u2019m doing when putting pieces together. But especially for mock-ups of garments, being able to feel where it\u2019s not fitting and run my hand along the form to feel for the tension points and such? Just\u2026 really helpful. <div><br></div><div>However, I\u2019m a plus-sized lady, and don\u2019t really have the budget for a proper dress form. So I did some research and found various tutorials for making a dress form with duck tape. Since we\u2019re a community of blind crafters, and some of you might be in need of such a thing, I wanted to share the whole process I used. Not sure if we\u2019re allowed to add pictures with descriptions for anyone who who has vision to see the form. But we\u2019ll see. </div><div><br></div><div>I named the dress form Dorothy, because my dad and I made this together. We\u2019ve been watching Ted Lasso and I thought it would be funny since the character is from Kansas. </div><div><br></div><div>This really was a blast to put together! Highly recommend for something fun and useful. I thought it would be more complicated than it was. The hardest part, honestly, was doing the math to get the piece lengths together. The special tools you need are very minimal. I wrote the directions with as much detail as possible, so it\u2019s a bit verbose. Which makes this look more intense than it is. The frame you can honestly do by yourself. The only part you need another person for is the duck tape form, since\u2026you know, you\u2019re being duck taped. </div><div><br></div><div>Just a heads up: There\u2019s some compression that happens. And you need to be prepared to be able to stand for at least an hour to two hours depending on how quickly you work. By the end I found the compression from all sides to be slightly uncomfortable. Definitely use the bathroom before doing this haha. And have scissors nearby in case of an emergency. And have some water your friend can give you, just in case.</div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><font face="Helvetica Neue"><b>Dorothy dress form Image Description</b></font></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"> Dress form made of duck tape. It has two white PVC feet at the bottom. A loose white skirt hides the PVC stand underneath. Masking tape marks specific points on the body that is peeking out behind a patterned homemade blouse. The form is outside in front of a door of a house. With grass to the left and a \u201chome\u201d door mat on the right. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 15px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 15px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 15px;">BELOW IS INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOW THIS WAS MADE. There is no additional social commentary beyond this point. (Essentially if you don\u2019t want to see how I made this, you can stop reading here!)</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 15px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><b>Materials</b>:</p>
<ul>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Duck tape (I used 2 full rolls for the entire project) </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">PVC piping 1" diameter for the frame (although we're still working out frame kinks so I'll make an update when we've worked that out.) We used four 5' long PVC pipes that we then cut down. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">PVC cutter </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">PVC glue, although we used gorilla hot glue... It's not the best. Just what we had. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Cardboard </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Joint pieces, 2 elbows, 10 T shaped pieces </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">T-shirt you don't mind destroying (it needs to be however long you want the form. I used a skirt and a t-shirt because I wanted my buttocks accurate) </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Scissors </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">1 Friend (you can't do this alone) </li>
</ul>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><b>Process</b>:</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><i>Bust Form</i><i></i></p>
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">I started by having my friend duck tape important sections first. The under bust, bust, waist, upper and lower hip. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">We did a harness like strap. Coming diagonally to the middle of my bust over my shoulders, and down the back. That secured the top tape strips. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Vertical lines were made to connect the waist to lower-hip strips. There were 4 of these. Two at the front and two at the back. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">From there, continued to fill out. Starting with the bust, we did the front chest. Then the back. All horizontal strips. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Then the waist (and belly). Like the bust, you want to be careful not to squish. Especially for plus-sized folks. Just to avoid inaccuracy. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">The lower back, then buttocks. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Once that's done, you will have a duck tape tunic. So sleeves are next. We did two vertical strips. Now, I went to just above my elbow because most of what I wear is 3/4 sleeves and I wanted the entire upper bicep. But you can do whatever. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">After the vertical, then start using horizontal circles. At the shoulder, you want to be careful. More specifically at the shoulder join. Make sure it's really reinforced. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Layer two was all up and down strips to add strength. Just, all over. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Feel around for any exposed fabric. Cover those bits up with tape. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">When finished, cut straight up the center back. Once out, seal the back up with duck tape. Make sure not to overlap the edges. This part was fiddly. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Hang your bust up on a coat hanger. I put her on a curtain rod. </li>
</ol>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><i>Frame</i><i></i></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Just a warning, the dress form will be top heavy. The frame we built isn't totally stable at the bottom. So I'll fill out this section when I've found a stable frame. At the moment it has a rectangle shape in there, with two cross-bars to maintain its structure. So if anyone wants to replicate the frame we built, just note you\u2019ll want to add more weight to the bottom. We\u2019re actually about to zip tie some roller things that came with this rolling Christmas tree stand I got. </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Description: </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Four pieces of PVC are connected to T shaped pieces. This makes the two legs, with the remaining 3rd side of the T piece pointed skyward. </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">3\u201d pipe stands vertically from there with another T shaped piece. This time the 3rd opening will face inward of the frame (on both sides, each side mirrors each other). </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">A pipe that\u2019s just under the smallest section of the bust (either the waist or shoulders most likely) connects the two facing 3rd T openers. This gives stability to the feet. </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">There\u2019s a pipe that goes up to where a second cross pole will sit. You want that to hit a few inches above the bottom of the form. </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">A third crossbar is connected using two elbow pieces around the shoulders. </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Measurements<span style="font-style: normal;">:</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><ol class="MailOutline"><li><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">Measure the height of your shoulders first. You need to know how high off the ground this thing will be. (56\u201d for me)</font></li><li><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">Measure the distance from shoulders to about 2\u201d above where the bust itself ends. (25\u201d for me)</font></li><li><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">The T pieces connecting we used had the bit that inserts into the pipe, then the outer metal sitting between the two pipes. The metal piece in between for us was 1\u201d. But you need to measure whatever you\u2019re using. There are 2 pairs of T shapes that will add height. So for us, there was 4\u201d of height coming from those pieces in total. </font></li><li><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">Subtract the 4\u201d from the total height you want the dress form to be off the ground. We needed 56\u201d off the ground. So that brought it down to 52". That\u2019s how much PVC pipe length in total you\u2019ll need. But don\u2019t start cutting yet. Just keep these numbers in mind.</font></li><li><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">Subtract the measurement from step 2 (bottom of the bust to the shoulders) and subtract it from the measurement in step one (how height you want the shoulders to be from the ground). For me that\u2019s 31\u201d. For my pieces, again, there was a single 1\u201d section of metal adding height between the bottom of the form and the shoulders. So subtract that. For me this was 30\u201d.</font></li><li><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">So, now take the number from step 4, where you calculated the total length of vertical pipe. For me that number was 52. Now subtract the calculation from the previous step (30\u201d for me) from the number in step four. 52\u201d-30"=22\u201d. </font></li><li><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">Now, you need to account for the 3\u201d of pipe that sticks up from the bottom. 21\u201d-3\u201d=18\u201d. </font></li><li><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">What you have are that you need two lengths of pipe that are 18\u201d (for my form), another two pipe pieces that are 30\u201d.</font></li><li><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">You\u2019ll need 3 pipes that are equal to the distance of the smallest point of the interior dress form. (Diameter, not the circumference). </font></li><li><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">Two 3\u201d pieces of pipe. </font></li></ol><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">TL;DR Measurements you need:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">A. Shoulders to ground.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">B. 2\u201d above bottom of form to shoulders.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">C. Distance between the smallest point of the form (diameter)</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">D. Metal bit between the two pieces that go into the pipes. (Probably about 1\u201d), multiply this by 3.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">E. Just be aware of the 3\u201d height added by the stand stabilizer. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">Using that, here is the quick version of how to figure out how much pipe you need:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">3\u201d for the stand stabilizer </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">A-B = pipe length for shoulders to the middle bar. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">A-3\u201d-D-(above number)=total pipe from middle bar, to stabilizer. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">4 pieces of about 20\u201d for the feet of the stand. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">4 bars equal to measurement C.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2">Putting the frame together:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2"><br></font></div><div><ol class="MailOutline"><li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: small;">Make two long pieces for the feet of the frame, using a T joint. Do this again for the second foot. Use the PVC glue to hold it together. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: small;">3\u201d pipe pieces go into the T joint, facing skyward. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: small;">One of the cross bars attaches to the T joints. This is what provides stability. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: small;">Bottom shaft on each side, on top put another T joint.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: small;">Middle bar goes here. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: small;">The top shaft gets added.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: small;">Elbow joints at the top. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: small;">Final cross bar goes in.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: small;">Add weight to the bottom. You can use sand bags. We\u2019re experimenting with adding metal wheel things that I pulled from a rolling Christmas tree stand.</span></li></ol></div></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><i>Finishing Up</i><i></i></p>
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Once you have the frame done, you want to plug up the arm holes and the bottom. I made duck tape circles. So you lay the duck tape sticky side up in strips on a surface. Then overlay it with sticky side down so you basically. make duck tape fabric. Then cut it to size and duck tape the seams to the arm holes. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">The bottom I made a cardboard oval that matched my lower hip area, cut out notches for the frame poles, and stuck it into the bottom. Trimmed to shape. Then duck taped that in place. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Stuff it. Mine needed a little under 5lbs of poly fiber. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Seal up the neck the same way you did the arms. </li>
</ol>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><i>Optional</i><i></i></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><i><br></i></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">I wanted to be able to pin pieces of fabric to the thing. So I used a blouse that was meant to be form-fitting, and had princess seams, then put that over the body. It worked great because it was already sewn to hug my body anyway.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">The shirt is the Harrison Shirt from Cashmerette, if anyone is interested. This was my practice one so it has some oddities in the collar and cuffs. I think the photo accidentally has one sleeve rolled up and one down haha But IRL they match fine.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Image Description: Dress form made of duck tape. It has two white PVC feet at the bottom. A loose white skirt hides the PVC stand underneath. Masking tape marks specific points on the body that is peeking out behind a patterned homemade blouse. The form is outside in front of a door of a house. With grass to the left and a \u201chome\u201d door mat on the right. </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><font face="Helvetica Neue" size="2"><img alt="IMG_0083.jpeg" src="cid:275BC831-FC4D-4C48-9F73-B663A6A358AB"></font></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><div>
<div>Kit Aronoff</div><div>kit.aronoff@gmail.com</div><div><br></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
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