Tuesday 5 April 2011

It's me, only with more dials!

I'd like to introduce you to someone special who's just come into my life...my new dress form. Well, she's not so new - try vintage 70s - but she's new to me. I picked her up yesterday for only $25 and she is now happily residing in my bedroom.


Regular readers of this blog are probably scratching their heads thinking one of two things: A) Why does a quilter need a dress form? or B) What the hell do you need a dress form for...you never sew clothes for yourself! Okay, okay...you got me on the first one. There is absolutely no need for a dress form in quilt making. The second point, however, is only partially true. I have been known to make my own clothes on occasion. The problem is, most of the time they never seem to fit quite right. With this shapely gal's help, I'm hoping to remedy that! I'm dying to take a stab at some of the patterns and techniques in my Built by Wendy Dresses book to create a few dresses that will actually fit me!


For those of you thinking of getting your own dress form ('cause I know you all want one), a couple of remarks:
  1. It's alarming to see one's own proportions on a life-sized form standing right in front of you. Somehow, it seems more real than looking in the mirror. There's no denying your actual measurements when you have to dial them into place.
  2. Carefully plan out where your dress form is going to live. Sitting at our desk is now sort of creepy since she kind of looms over anyone sitting there. Not good if you're at all prone to paranoia.
  3. Ever wonder if your measurements are proportionate? Dial them into a dress form and you'll find out (my waist is tremendously disproportionate to my other measurements...and not in the good way).

Anyhow, all this is to say that I'm super excited about my new toy. I think she needs a name though. Leave a comment with your suggestion and next week I'll pick my favourite entry to receive a super-special surprise -- so super-special, I don't even know what it is yet!

UPDATE: The giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Lesley who won herself a set of quilted coasters and a mug rug!

9 comments:

  1. awesome! i need a dress form. i have two 'built by wendy' books and haven't yet had the courage to try anything!! i also have a hankering to draft some patterns, they are there in my head but need to come out!

    i think you ought to name her scarlet. she's very pretty :)

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  2. ruby! a vintage name for your vintage red friend.

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  3. I was thinking Emelia...

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  4. Dress forms were also known as a Judy...so you could call her that!

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  5. I can't believe you bought this! I was totally going to. But you scooped me, and by the time I called, it was gone. It probably went to a better home in the end, since I was just going to use it to take photographs with, and not actually use it for its intended purpose.

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  6. hmm, red skin... ahsoka!

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  7. Bionica .....as she looks like a bionic women

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  8. How about Gertie? That sounds fun and definitely old school :).

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