Molded Papier-Mâché Form

Paper-Tape Dress Form

October 24th, 2008 in fitting

Threads Magazine, editor

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Photo: David Coffin

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by David Coffin
from Threads #75, p.41

Barbara Deckert, a dressmaker from Elkridge, Maryland, and author of Sewing for Plus Sizes, uses a form-making method that I've seen in sewing texts from the 1930s: Brown-paper tape from an office-supply store forms a body mold as well as duct tape does, then hardens into "papier-mâché" to become a pinnable form, which you don't even have to stuff.

Once it hardens completely, the tape double is ultra-light, easily moved and stored, can be pinned into, covered with fabric or a tight T-shirt, marked with narrow ribbon or marker, used on a table or stand, or hung from a hanger. It's probably the easiest and cheapest method of all...so what are you waiting for? More dress forms: Introduction Duct-Tape Dress Form #1 Duct-Tape Dress Form #2 Molded Papier-Mâché Form		1. The bathroom or kitchen makes a good wrapping zone, since a wet sponge is the best aid to getting the tape properly moistened.


2. Start wrapping the snugly T-shirted, undergarment-clad wrappee horizontally below the bust, then above the bust.		3. Next, form the neckline and armholes in the shape of a traditional fitting bodice. The "cross-your-heart" method works well in paper, too, as does shortening the tape in the bust area.



4. After three or four layers (alternating horizontal/vertical), you can use a hair dryer to speed the drying process.		5. Then (when the tape is hard enough to keep its shape but still soft enough to get out of) cut it up the back through the T-shirt, tape as with the other forms, and reclose by taping over the cut on the quite-stiff form.

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Comments (16)

bunnyblack writes: Hi, I was just wondering how much tape you would need to make this if it was for a us size 6, and how long it takes to make? Posted: 11:30 am on October 26th

winterose writes: So i made this and was not happy with it. It added another 6 inches to my waist but not anywhere else. it also kept falling apart while i was putting it togeather. i would not recommend this design to anyone who wants accurate measurements. Posted: 7:22 pm on September 6th

winterose writes: what i would like to know it how do you pin into it? can you pin into it without ruining the form? or is there a way to make it so i could pin into it with out hurting anything Posted: 7:40 am on September 5th

lazisusann writes: I made this form about 15 years ago and I loved it! I made mine exactly like this but did one extra, really important step. After cutting it off my body, and it had completely dried - I spray painted it with a clear lacquer - inside and out. I did about 5 thin layers of paint. After drying, it was very stiff and easy to use. I never put it on a stand - I just kept it in the corner on a table in my sewing room. I loved that form - I lost it when our house flooded. Posted: 2:45 pm on July 26th

jestersmother writes: I have done the Plaster cast type of molding on my daughter for a costume piece of armor. I had to mix it and spread it on her. I had forgotten that you can buy the plaster impregnated gauze from medical supply stores. I would have been so much easier.
Using the Duct tape alone would be hard cause it doesn't hold its shape after cutting the front from the back. Using the plaster gauze strips make a "Mother Mold" to support it while the Papier-Mache drys. you still have to use the paper towels as a separator. Posted: 2:45 pm on July 15th

jestersmother writes: Weezie2 the paper tape is found at Staples or Office suppilys. It is for sending packages in the mail that need to be stamped with red ink. Sometimes you can get it at the Post office. But mostly at the office suppilys. Posted: 2:33 pm on July 15th

weezie2 writes: We want to make one of the paper dress forms, but I cannot find the paper tape. Can anyone help me or tell me where to buy it? Need for daughters' wedding dress since she lives 5 hours away and can't come for fittings! Posted: 9:27 am on July 10th

Pinky57 writes: I bought a vintage dressform years ago. The fabric covering was tattered, and when I took it apart, it was padded with cotton batting and old newspapers. The form underneath was made with paper tape. The newspapers are from Boston and WWD from Dec. 1930 to Jan. 1931. Pretty much dates the dress form. yes, I saved the papers! Posted: 8:44 am on June 26th

keithjr writes: cool
Posted: 3:31 am on May 24th

Bobinette writes: This method belongs to Madame Di Bello, that she patented more than 20 years ago. I had bought her books and her dress form kit in 1998. She was at the Sewing estival in Toronto up to five years ago. She was in her late seventies then. What a lady. She had a school of Haute Couture in Montreal- Canada.

Posted: 4:58 pm on March 25th

tejka writes: i tried with patex tape and it also worked out. Posted: 3:41 pm on March 8th

milady_aine writes: What a great idea for a wedding party I'm doing all the gowns including my niece's wedding gown. I know this is a silly question but in regard to the brown paper tape, is this the gummed water activated tape that is used? Posted: 9:22 pm on February 7th

csukel writes:
Just wondering, do you think that you could create the molded papier-mache by first creating the paper-tape dress form using the method described by coco1,then covering the inside of the paper-tape form in saran wrap or paper towels as described in the original instructions, and then molding the papier-mache over the paper-tape form?

This might make it a bit easier to obtain a mold without having to go through the plaster method which seems to be pretty involved. Anyone, please let me know if you think this idea would work. Thanks, csukel Posted: 4:34 pm on January 7th

sewmuchfun504 writes: This seems like a great idea, but question...what do you do with it after it is dried? Do you stuff it? And, how to make it stand up? I am thinking about doing this to sew for my daughter when she is not here to fit. I really appreciate the info! Posted: 12:06 pm on January 7th

coco1 writes: We did this over Thanksgiving for two of the bridesmaids for my daughter's friend's wedding. My daughter and I were wrappers. The bride and another friend cut paper tape strips. I was amazed at how quickly it went. Now, we can work on the dresses without having to worry about fittings for bridesmaids (one of whom will be going overseas!)

We used garbage bags underneath (so we didn't have to sacrifice any t-shirts and used duct tape to wrap above and below the bust and at the waist to shape the bag. Then we started layering the paper tape. The bag and duct tape easily peeled away after the form was dry.

Now I want to make one for myself! Thanks for all the information. Posted: 2:30 pm on December 16th

lauralee22 writes: So interesting,so informative,so impressive,Thank You lauralee22 Posted: 7:15 pm on December 15th

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