In this video by Threads, learn how a dress form is an invaluable tool, but to customize it to your fit, consider modifying a standard dress form or making your own.

Dress forms typically represent an idealized or unrealistic figure. For one thing, a dress form is very erect, without any slouching or sloping shoulders. Dress forms are quite slender, with an A or B cup bust. A dress form does not have natural armpits or a crotch, although there are dress forms available with detachable arms, or with permanent legs. The dress forms with legs are known as bifurcated forms. Even with extras, or formed to include limbs, dress forms don’t quite have the shape and malleability of a true human form. Consider some of the interesting options available now to create a customized dress form or alter a purchased dress form.

This detailed guide is one video in the comprehensive Teach Yourself to Sew series.

Teach Yourself to Sew

Judith got her first taste of sewing when she took the free lessons that came with her mother’s sewing machine purchase. Judith was 9 at the time. Soon after, she was sewing her own clothes and feeding her passion for the craft. In her Teach Yourself to Sew series, Judith shares her enduring love of sewing and her invaluable years of sewing experience.

Getting started

She starts with discussing the equipment and the essential sewing notions for anyone who sews. You’ll learn about shopping for fabrics, choosing patterns (including selecting the correct size), and planning the perfect pattern layout. From machine-sewing simple seams to inserting zippers and stitching buttonholes, Judith demonstrates the key steps to making a custom garment.

Discover methods for clean-finishing seam allowances and applying facings so all edges are neat. To add shape to…