So, I was going to do a full tutorial on how to make a duct tape dress form, but then I realizes the internet is FULL of them. so instead, this picks up where those leave off. We’ll first drape your dress form for a fabric cover, and then make your first garment pattern, a princess seam bodice made perfect for your curves.

So here’s my dress form in progress. Was kind of fun to be all wrapped in duct tape.

Start by pinning a piece of fabric to the shoulders of your dress form. Then carefully pinch and make dart at the stomach and breasts so that it hugs the dress form perfectly. Remember this is a purely FUNCTIONAL piece, it doesn’t matter what it look like, or what you make it out of as long as it works. It’s only job in life if to give you something to pin into. (sticking straight pins into the duct tape will result in sticky, gooey pins, and gunk on your garments.)

Use some kind of utensil to mark your dart lines and side seams. I used sharpie because it was handy. You can use whatever you want.

Mark your shoulders, neckline, and side seams.

Time to do the back. Hang your fabric from the shoulders. I used push pins to hold it there.

When you pin it to the side, don’t try and pull the fabric around the curves tightly.

let it drape from the shoulders naturally, then pin the sides.

Pin your back darts just like you did the front.

Mark accordingly

Stitch your darts!

Now trim your pieces but REMEMBER TO LEAVE A SEAM ALLOWANCE!! I cannot stress this enough!

Sew Shoulder seams on both sides.

Sew side Seam ON ONE SIDE!

Extra Step!

Use your embroidery machine to decorate the cover! I used wings from Urban Threads I picked up during a sale last month!

Hand stitch the open side, and around the arm holes (for me my stupid hanger was handing out the arm holes made it a pain in the butt to do.)

Trim and pin your neck hole, and bottom seams, adjust the way the cover sits (you can see mine is twists at the bottom in this picture)

And you’re pretty much done!! Time to make your first top!