Last year I read an article in Threads about how to use duct tape to create a “body double.”  I’ve also read suggestions about using gingham to create a sloper (the grid makes it so easy to keep up with grain…).  Well, I’ve married the two. 

I have a commercial dress form that is way smaller than my current body shape.  So I had my Mom help me create my “duct-tape-body-double.”  I then created a sloper out of 1/4″ gingham which I dressed on my new form.  This allows me to pin pattern or fabric pieces directly to the form giving me the best fit possible.  Now I’m looking forward to using the suggestions on draping in the current edition to mark all of the pertinent positions.