How-to make a Body Form, Threadbanger Projects

Finally have seen someone actually make the dressform!!!!  If I can get someone to cooperate and help with the taping of me ..we might get one make.....need a new one so bad!

This is fantastic!  I want a body form so bad (but I'm very short on cash!) and now I can finally make one!

Love your videos & information.!  We (mom & kids) loved the pirates costume & now the dressform. Information is great, easily carried out & practical.  Keep them coming!

Thank you sooooo much!  I was wondering how I could get a body form very cheap!  I am on disability.  Every penny counts!

try covering your body form with knit fabric, this way it is alot easyier to pin things down.

I made this the other day :D
You need a lot of tape to make this stable, so instead I used modroc over the top and stuffed it with paper rather than scrap. Modroc takes a long time to dry (I got around to cutting it off today) but it does work really well.
I actually made this over another dress form, just in case you thought I'd left a friend covered in modroc and package tape for days on end x3
Also a large pack of modroc is about the same amount as just 1 roll of tape, so I think I saved a bit too ^^

Okay!!  That was very creative and will save me lots of money!!!  OMG! You guys are great!!  The illustration was fun and on point!! Great job! And thanks for sharing!!!

i would like to make bras.  would you recommend wearing a bra when making this form, or NOT wearing a bra when making this form?  also, it seems some like using the packing tape and others like using the duct tape.  which is better?  can you pin the fabric directly to the completed form?  thank you!

I made the body form with duct tape and used expandable foam insulation for the body ensuring it stayed in shape while filling.  We could then use it outdoors, dressed for Halloween using wig forms for a head.  Thanks.

love this idea, im going to make it today!!!!

Should the model be your size

I found the threadbanger site while I was surfing the web for sewing tutorials...I became a fan right away! I am just learning how to sew and I don't know how far my efforts are going to take me. I wanted a bust that I could work off of, but I didn't want to pay 0 for one. So I googled DIY sewing bust and found a tutorial from one of my favorite inspirational sites. Nice work. I love the tutorials. Looking forward to making this one!

would this work with paper mache?

I just started making my own clothes. I have already decided I am going to make my own Wedding dress. It was too diffcult to make anything with out a stand. I cant aford 200 dollars for a body form. I made this for 7 dollars. I tried this but used duck tape. It worked really good. I used a hanger instead of a stand. I used stuffing I had left over from christmas and it worked good but wasnt as sturdy. For what I need it for it works great! Thanks Thread Bangers!

This is AWESOME! I am so glad to find this resource as I hate spending a lot of money on something I can make!

Hi! From Canada here! It seems Staples doesn't have the paper packaging tape anymore : ( And I don't know where else to look. Any suggestionts? OR can you send me a roll or two? : )

what if you dont have a christmas tree stand available?please help ^^

just did this last night - used one and a half rolls of duct tape. big rolls.  cost about £3 per roll so £6 total.  Don't know how much that is in dollars but about 6 euros.

Does anyone know how many rolls of tape it uses?

Does anyone know how much this will cost?

I made one today! I am making my first dress, and I thought I would try this, and give my daughter a break from having to be on call for sizing. The bonus is no child abuse phone calls for using my daughter as a pin cushion

They sell IV poles (the things with wheels they use in hospitals to hold IV bags up) here for .65. way easier than branch wrapping!
http://www.jrsmedical.com/INFUSION-IV_SUPPLIES/IV_POLES/ISG10170/product.aspx?pn=ISG10170-0&medical

I have been looking for a body form that is something like my body. I bought one years ago but it didn't really go small enough and it was too long. It near on impossible to buy one with the correct length measurements. I think I'll try this

Great idea on the body form.  We (my Mom and I) decided to try this idea. We really enjoyed the video, a great idea!   Caitriona age 7.

careful about adding spray foam and then laying it down! http://nohippiesinalabama.blogspot.com/2010/01/home-made-dress-form.html

amazing! lol i have been wanting one but the cheapes i found was still wayyy to much!! and making it my size is even better!!! thank you

do you know a way how to sew a cover for the dress form? I bought linen fabric and already sewed a cover for the neck but I don't know how to do the rest of the body in a nice way...

Sweet! you saved us over 0 bucks!

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO BUY THIS TAPE!

This is good, but I have the person wear their usual bra.  That gives the true fit and look of their body, for wearing clothes.  Bras change the bust quite a bit.

The only place I could find the right packing tape was staples. I think they were /roll!

Wow, I really want to try this now!

Hi Ok the water activative packing tape I looked at all the craft stores here where Lived is there anything eles that I can use besides ducktape?I just really like the way the body form looks with the water active tape looks smooter!!but Any Ideas DIY'erz

love threadbanger!

So I finally tried this.  I am a very very curvy girl on the bottom half and found that cutting the strips in half lenthwise was totally necessary to maintain the proper contour.

Why does the model have to go braless? I know that personally, nothing fits the same bra-on as bra-off. Is there some special reason?

I did this with duct tape a couple of years ago and I recycled my plastic grocery bags to stuff it. It worked well, but you need a lot!

I tried this with my daughter. It was fun and hard to explain to friends why you are duct taping your child. But I love it. You guys rock.

No disrespect guys, but both these methods seem to be kinda disposable and flimsy. 
I read an old article (on the net of course!) about another method which might be more practical, it's cheap but sadly doesn't use all recycled materials. 
Get a mate to wrap you from neck to bum in toilet paper. Then get them to do the same with wide masking tape in 3 layers or so. Slit up the back and take it off. Tape up the slit, neck and arm holes and the base of the torso good n proper.
Paint with shellac and leave for 3 days, then do it again.
After that, take the inner tube from a roll of fabric and cut a hole in the bottom. Fill the torso with expandy foam and quickly put in the inner tube. Make sure its straight!
Fill the inner tube with expandy foam for good measure.
Take a big, wide plastic plantpot and cut a hole in the bottom the same size as the inner tube. Turn the whole thing upside down and ask someone to hold the plantpot. Put some rocks in the bottom, and whack a bit of expandy foam in it - but don't fill it up and don't get it on your mitts!!
Anyway, going to try this out tomorrow so I'll let you know how it goes.

omg am totaly making this its soooooo coool

Hi, I live in a small town and I cant find the tape anywhere does anyone who where I might be able to order it online? My post office doesn't even have it! thankx

I can't wait to make one of these.  I just tried to make what should have been an AWESOME looking skirt, and second time around...still no worky.  It would have helped ALOT to have a body form!

Three days ago I said I needed a form but they are not cheap and I am not rich.  This rocks!  Thanks!

I would stick to duct tape for your form, if it were to ever get wet for whatever reason the paper tape would begin to warp. Also paper tape has a tendency to separate over time. And if you plan on pinning onto your form paper tape would wear more  quickly then duct tape would.

You guys rock. I can't wait to make a dress form!

I love it!

this looks like a cool project that i cant wait to do!

expandable foam works great!

i love it
i dont think i
have any1 willing to
go topless and wearing a 
trashbag

hahaha

love you guys!

What I am doing for a stand since I do ALOT of draped flowy dresses I am attaching a hanger to the neck of the form just like you would put a hanger on a tee shirt. Tape it in and voila you have a hanging dress form

i would find the an old upright fan on craigslist or something and just use the base of it as the base of the form. you can typically remove the top 'fan' portion and what's left is a sturdy lightweight stand.

where can u get this stuff i went to staples and asked the emplyees there and they r like water packing tape whats that? and they didnt have it.... anyone else have this problem?

thank you sooo much, i'm completely broke and this is worth taking the time out to make. Thank you soooo much, A-MAZE-ING!!

I LUV YOUS!!!! MARRY ME!

i seriously just was talking to people about needing a dress form. and then i decide to check in on threadbanger, and of course you guys have it as a project. all i can say is threadbanger, you complete me.

I'm so excited about this project.  Looking forward to doing this very soon!

cant wait to make!
you could also make a bottom half too.
for the feet you can buy wooden shoe inserts.

coundn't you use an old hatrack instead of a tree and stand?

AMAZING!! i've wanted one of these since I was young...I hated being my moms pin-cushion for projects and i live to make things...so i wanted one for my self. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Thanks for the tut.  I am a plus size girl and can never find a form in my size.  I'm going to make one this weekend.

I have always wanted to have one of these. But I couldn't afford cz it was expensive. this way its affordable and I still get to have my own to make dresses or any patterns I need. Thank you thread bangers.

i love it !!! i made one out of duct tape for my daughter

This was a very good project. I intend on doing it. One question, do you where a bra when making the body form? I don't remember if you said to or not.

i wish i would have seen this sooner i could have been using a dress form i thought it would cost to much thanks for your program i have been learning a lot because im a beginner

That was such a great help, Thank you guys!!!!!!!!!

At some point will you do some episodes on either "Japanese street fashion", or some "Gothic lolita"(or the other lolita styles too)Please!!! pretty please!!!

thank you so much for this Im to broke to buy a mannequin....lol

thank you so much!!!!!!!
Been looking for some thing like this for AGES :)

this is such an awesome site!! I love it! I was thinking about springing for a mannequin, but now I will make one!

I did like it

this is freaking amazing!

awesome tutorial, fun project and cheap. thanks so much :)

If you can't find a stand, you can also making a hanging form.  It's a little less stable, but all you need is an old bendable coathanger.  Before you stuff your form, bend the ends of a plastic or wire coathanger just enough so that it'll fit inside the form's shoulders then place it inside with the hook sticking out the top.  Tape over the neck hole and stuff as usual.  You can now hang your dress form anywhere!

This is awesome! I should try this one day =D Once I'm not so lazy and actually make clothes and such XD

I love you threadbanger! I found you randomly looking at pirate costues, and have loved you ever since!

Thank you so much!! This info was a great help! :)

U GUYS ROCK!!!!!!

THNX 4 MAKING OUR WORLD SUCH A BETTER PLACE 2 LIVE......EVERY ENTRY HELPS 100'S OF OTHER PEOPLE

BUT I WAS WONDERING IF U COULD ADD EVEN MORE GUY-FRIENDLY STUFF....LIKE MAYBE "DIY CARGO PANTS" OR DIY WALLETS, SUMTHING LIKE THAT???

I just accidently found this web site..it's really great..terrific tutorials and great, easy ideas for recycled plastic and other materials..great site.
thanks.

I love this idea, I do have a question, approx how many rolls of tape is used?

Please please please create a tutorial on how to make a cover for a dress form! Particularly, how to make a knitted cover like the pink one featured on the mannequin in the steampunk episode.

Meravigliosa idea! Grazie per questo bellissimo tutorial.
Ciao dall'Italia

This is a great idea, as industrial dress forms are expensive, and as you make the form to your own body shape, you will be able to make clothes that suit your body type. I would have added nylon boneing in horizontal strips, like the waist, hips and vertical straight under the bust and back, to be more stronger.

can you use pins on this type of bodyform when it's ready or is it too hard, and will it go bad after some use when you stick the pins in always at the same spots (like center waist or shoulders etc.)? I have made a duct tape bodyform once on my own which was insanely difficult (a friend is definately needed here!) and I didn't finish it since it didn't really work out. But I have a big roll of paper tape so I could definately try this one out with a friend! The biggest problem I had with the duct tape bodyform (excluding the friend factor) was to get the tape to stay close to my figure on places like the cheast area since I have a rather large bosom and I would like to avoid the monoboob look. Any tips?

I don't know how I missed this, but I am back on track:  I'm making one this week, so I can use it instead of the crazy mannequin in my living room.

this is... yep definatly the coolest thing ive ever seen. im  making one today!!!

Enjoyed your presentation on body forms. I will plan to make one just like it to use as I sew garments. Am an American Sewing Guild member in Mpl/St.Paul. Saw an advertisement of threadbanger.com on ch.4 this past week.Took this information to a neighborhood group and several others had learned of your website. Good show old chaps!

I can't wait to make it this weekend!,though my cousin has a lot in the chest area so that might take longer than expected

I LOVED this! Now I don't have to go out and spend money on an expensive form!! I was excited to see a way to make one!! THANKS!!!

THANKS!  I have always wanted a dress form-body form and after 44 years of sewing I can have my own without paying hundreds of dollars.  You ROCK..  LJ

i wanted to make this body form but i went to staples and they didn't have water-activating tape!! the only thing they had was paper packaging tape with the stick already on it? would that work out the same or not?

That is just so awesome. Congrats on the CBS spot guys!

I just discovered you guys by accident...while surfing the net looking at stuff I want to make.  You guys are AWESOME!!!  I caught your show on CBS and CONGRATS!!! You have made the big time!  Keep up the good work.  

Funny thing too, I was just making a dress-maker dummy and I caught the video by accident!  How cool is THAT??!!!  I just love synchronicity!

Awesome trendy talent SEW show!

thank you sooo much for this. i love make funky clothes for my daughter, the cost of forms for a growning  body is just crazy. the form will help me for those late night inspirations and end the temptaion to wake her to try things on!!!! i am going to try freecycle for the tree stand....

this is awsome i cant wait to get started makeing this....if tried to use friends or famaily to size clothes on them but its always a challenge since we are not the same sizes thanks guys

This is awesome! I am definitely making one to replace my masking tape version which is a little stretched and always makes my pins sticky!

I tried this before and couldn't figure out why the ends of the strips kept curling up.  Now I know that the strips were too wet. Thanks for your help!

I love this tutorial! But I was wondering if you could use that dress form to show me a few simple semi-formal dress ideas.

I just saw your website on the news and OMG!!! I just last week said that I wanted a dress form. Can you guess what I am doing this weekend? Thanks  Diane

WOW!! Thats is such a great idea yo guys! I was just turned on to you guys on a previous tutorial and that project came out great as well. I'm forever a fan!
Keep up the good work guys, and good luck to you!

God Bless!

I love how you guys have an "ask and you shall receive" philosophy when it comes to tutorials. I needed this so badly! Fun rainy afternoon project. 

P.s. I dig that christmas tree stand. Solid. Festive. Nice.

Great tutorial!  I've learned to pattern two different ways, but I like draping so much better, so this is perfect.  And I was highly entertained by the Piccolo pinups in the IndyMogul shop. ^_^

I love you Erik.

that is awesome but i have fashion a idea but how could i get the word out?

Do you think it would be ok to lacquer it when finished?  It looks so cool already, but a nice shiny coat could possibly make it look even better and perhaps make it last longer as well.

Thank you again Corinne and Rob!  Luv u guys!  The packing tape is a better alternative to the duct tape body form.  Pinning into duct tape makes the pins sticky (at least mine get that way) from pinning into the form, while the adhesive from the packing tape "dries".  Also, if the form needs refreshed from use, you just need a little water and a few strips of tape.  Keep up the great work!

What an excellent tutorial!  Not only can I now design my clothes on something other than my own body, but my stand will fit my body better than any shop bought body form.

Is there a tutorial out there for head forms?  Like for hats and wigs?  Would it be this straight forward?

Thanks you so much! I've got a body form, but the stand is broken, and I can't use it properly. Now I know what to do!

I love everything you doi corinne!

did she really say boob area? LoL. Breast area would be more proper.

Great episode, guys! I love the idea of using this instead of duct tape. I have an antique dress form I use, but it's built differently than I am (think victorian lady shaped), and I've been thinking about making a different one. This will come in handy!! Thank you for all your hard work to put another fantastic episode together. :)

a christmas tree holder! that would work great. my form is made out of duct tape with a hanger out the top. i shall have to do some surgery but it might still work.

I love this idea a whole lot more than the duct tape idea. Thanks so much I will have to try it...

i am gonna make one roght now. :)

omg most helpful tutorial EVER!!!

I made one a while ago and used my favorite bra beneath.  I highly recommend using a bra because if you're like me, your breasts are half a foot higher as soon as you put the bra on, so anything you draped or fit on the form wouldn't fit right when you wore it if you hadn't used a bra.  The difference in fit with different bras will be closer than without a bra.  That being said, you have to be really careful not to cut your bra.  If I remember correctly, the Threads magazine tutorial I used had you first wrap yourself in plastic wrap, then put on an expendable old T-shirt.  As long as you cut between the T-shirt and the plastic wrap, you wouldn't cut your bra off.

lol did ROB get a haircut??

Already made myself a bodyform with the duct tape method, but I now want to try this way! haha. I guess a small reason is because no matter what I said, my partner kept making the bust area too tight so now it looks like I want down a bra size in my bodyform ;_; (oh yeah.. that wasn't too much information..)

I was mentioned in an epissode *blushes*

Love the paper tape idea. What keeps the form from wiggelin around on the tree? should I just pack the scraps in really hard? I have a dead fan stand that I want to repurpose for my form, (height adjustable!)I'm also on the lookout for a high neck leotard, to make it more pin-able, and cute!

The show was brilliant, thank you.  You guys really do read our requests, WOW! My kids are trippin' that you said my name on this weeks episode. LOL  This is a much better constructed dress form and I love the stand, too. I'm making one of these for each of my adult kids now, no more whining from them. Keep up the good work Rob and Corinne.

Nice!  Thank you!  I hope I can get around to doing this sometime soon.  I also hope I can find an xmas tree stand in April. =/

this is the best idea ever!!!
i have been trying to buy one but now i can make one and for waaayyyy cheaper! 
thanx guys you rock

Yay for diy dressforms... I love my duct tape one so much that I named it Duckilyn, I couldn't imagine making a replacement. 

But the Christmas tree idea is awesome, I'll need to get working on that so mine doesn't sit on the floor all the time

noop. nyc.... it was like around 20 something street and 3rd

Much love, you two are grrrreat!!!

this is soo freaking cool!!! but i dont have a friend to wrap me :(

THREADBANGER HELP! ok
im not that deaspre..but i cant spell so deal with it... ok i go to a convention and i need a bag..ones thats awesome like a desiner bag but on the cheap... not a jean bag not a recyle bag for gerocerys... but a nice sorta not reall large but ok sized bags... i you could do a tutorial that WOULD BE AMAZING!!!!1 i can't read I'd rather watch I'm a visual persone....and before 3weeks would be AWeSOME ok just thought I'd ask...ps i love you SHoWS TS AMAZING!

This is so so so great!!! I've been meaning to look back in the archives for the body form tut, but I like this one a lot better! Yey! 
Super fun episode, I loved Corrine's crooning, and the bloopers at the end made me all happy inside! Love you guy!! 

Another nice thing about the paper tape version over the duct tape version is that you can pin through the paper tape. You still have to have fairly stout pins, meaning it's not as easy as pinning to a commercial pin-able dress form, but it's WAY more affordable.

Awesome! Ok, so I wasnt imagining seeing a duct tape form episode, lol. Now I am relieved I was like,"Woah! Deja Vu! I must be halucinating!"  What a relief.

the tutorials just keep getting better and better!! Keep it up!!!

Awsome episode guys! this one was even longer and I loved it!
The stuffing of the bust form was awsome...I saw you guys used plastic bags too...great! I have tons! lol
thanks for the inspo always guys!


Corrine I love your hair down...hot hot hot! :)

oh i LOVED this episode!!

I hate my duct tape mannequin with a passion, it just sits in the corner of my room... sagging...  i don't know what i'll do about a pole, since i don't have a christmas tree... but i'll figure something out!!

plus i giggled when corinne said Boob...

Wraagh comment got eaten...

Great tutorial! I like this better than the ducttape option because recyclableness is always a plus! :)

I would have thought that wearing a bra during the process would be necessary, because don't you want the shape to be the same as when you wear clothes? Though I suppose different bras have slightly different shapes, so maybe toplessness is the best option...

And Corinne, I love the necklace you're wearing in this vid!!

I made one of these before, but had just thrown out all my scraps, so I went to the grocery store and hijacked the plastic bag recycle bin for stuffing. It worked really well! thanks for the info on the stand!

i love this! i made a duct tape one and it uh... didn't turn out so well. whoo! gonna go make one now! love you guys!

another awesome episode!!  I needed to make another one anyway and I love how this one looks.  keepem comin' guys.

I love this idea! I would of never thought that you could do this? I love to make more clothing for myself if I had the right form. Now with your tips and tricks I could make my own! YOU GUYS ROCK!

This is so awesome! I can't wait to et started one this, I've been needing a form so bad. Alterations are a bit tricky when you are your own form. :/

thanks so much! 

"the boob area!"

I stuffed mine with plastic bags.  Made way for more space in the pantry, and I can use my fabric scraps for fiber art!

My body form is of duct tape and while it's pretty darn accurate to my form it's not the prettiest, was thinking about covering it up in stretchy fabric ("upholstery" if you will).  I just sealed the whole thing up without a stand - Probably could bust through the whole thing if I secure a blade on the end of a stick and "drill" through the bottom, pull the stick back out, remove the blade, and throw a thicker stick back in.

I think I'd rather paint my stick than cover it in fabric, ever since I saw Jane Schouten's studio photo with her little hot pink tree branch:

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/atlitw/2179083908/in/set-72157603470409476/

The xmas tree stand is a fabulous idea.

Thanks for this body form tutorial!

Nice, keep it coming!!!
i thought the bloopery(is that a word?)part at the very end was funny!!

Duct tape smells?

The irony of it all is that I just bought some Duct tape to start on the Duct tape body form.  Oh well, I don't mind the smell of it.  This episode did solve my stand dilemma.  Thanks for another great episode!

the form looks great! You could have a sewing party and make these for a group of friends and then make stuff on them the next party. Guarantees TWO parties worth of fun!