Dress Form System, White, XL

BEFORE you ORDER...Remember you are ordering based on the Dressform COVERS, there are 2 in the package. One you cover your Dressform, then Pad it, then place the other cover over that for the Smoothed out version of the DressForm. You can pin into these pads, it isn't a smooth poke, but it is Poke/Pin able. I ordered Large for the Size 18 PGM DressForm. After padding, I thought I needed to wait for another pair of hands to help stretch the second cover over the pads, but stuck with it and did fine, but struggled. LOVE the fact I ordered down for my dressform. Each person has to do what is best for them. I think these are well designed for most body bulges. If you are heavier, then you will need Poofy Dacron, or Poofy Padding to go along with this Dress Form System. I am glad I bought it, and used most of the pieces along with Dacron. (for those that don't know ..Dacron is used in upholstery and stands up or lasts for years) Thin Quilt batting can be used as well, rolled for muffin tops as an example. I also had rubber foam pieces that I used in areas as well. What I wanted was the smoothing factor, and found that these leave it a little more lumpy in some places. That is where the Dacron smoothed it out. Some places the Dacron and the pads were too big and many adjustments had to be made for my Body Double. Finally got it, and love the results. Tips I did to keep it easy later on: I ordered the white covers. 1. Bust: Lengthwise cut 2" Blue Painters tape and mark the Apex's to the shoulders. (It slightly shows thru both of the Covers and is easily visible) My Apex's are different than the Dressform. This will be so much easier when using my Dressform. It also will help with where my bra straps hit on me as well. 2. Waist: Use the lengthwise cut Painters tape to mark your Waist on the Dressform if needed. I had to use a 2nd strip of tape on the first cover so it shows thru the last cover. 3. Hips: Again the painters tape is great. I knew that if I only added the Painters Tape to the final cover that trying clothes on and off the Dressform would disturb the markings. No way around that. Hopefully this information will help others.

I just bought a Dritz dress form and wanted to make it perfect to my body. I did a lot of research and decided on the dress form system. I looked online at how people recommended putting batting and a form fitting tank, and by the time I bought all that plus the inserts for the chest etc, the Dress form system came as an all in one and was actually cheaper at the sale price. The cover was hard to get on, won't lie, but that is what gives the form the perfect fit. I called the company with a question and got the nicest CS rep ever, she gave me tons of good advice, and in fact, could have sold me another form piece I thought I needed in addition to the ones I got, but told me what to do instead with material I had on hand! Who does that for their customers these days? The foam is smooth and well packed and when I was done Becky 2.0 looked just like me! wow, i put on a skirt and top and it was like looking into a headless mirror. The only thing I didn't love was the forms had sticky labels saying what each was, and it came rather easily. I used a sharpie and put the initials on the underneath, so if I ever have to unassemble and reassemble I will know what goes where, but I would imagine the idea is the hips would stay where the hips are, the thighs, stomach etc, and so there wouldn't be a lot of moving the forms around. I really love these and the overknit that smooths and makes my dress form my body. Since I ordered form Amazon I didn't get the fitting kindle book, I bet it would help a lot, but the instructions, though sparse, were fine and easy to follow.

Alright, so this system isn't what a lot of complainers think it is. These pads aren't meant to match your entire size, nor will it "create" a form for you. In other words, if you have a size 4 dress form, and you're a size 14, this WILL NOT work for you! This system is meant to add thickness padding in small increments. From my experience, you can use the pads to increase certain areas of a dress form by about two sizes bigger. Otherwise, you'll more than likely need additional padding to fit your measurements. I don't think this is much of an issue for smaller sizes than plus sizes. So as a plus-sized woman, I highly suggest doing what I will explain below. First off, I'm attaching a photo of the size chart that is on the actual packaging. A lot of questions have been asked about the sizes, so there it is. I bought the size 20 because my dress size ranges from 14-18 depending on the material (and the fact that my measurements are all over the place), and I knew that I'd need a lot of padding around the stomach and hips against the dress form I bought, which is a size 12. I've been losing a lot of weight this passed year (40lbs and counting), hence the smaller dress form. I want to be able to adjust down as I continue to lose weight, and these pads are a wonderful way of doing just that! So for my suggestion towards plus sized women (especially if you're over size 20): get a dress form that closely matches your measurements - more so on the waist and hip size. If you have a larger bust like I do, you'll be better off putting an old bra that still fits onto the form, then stuffing it with paper or polyfill. Don't get an "adjustable" form either, unless it's a high quality, $400+ form. The Singer and Dritz are not worth the $150-200. Now, the only complaint I have are the breast cups. In my honest opinion, these shouldn't even exist in the system. I'm a 40G at 46" around the chest. The breast cups in the XL pack are tiiiiiiiny, and would barely fill a B cup. Instead, you should add more stomach/hip/back fillers. It'll be more worth the money. I ended up using the breast cups on the hips in addition to the hip pads to create fuller 44"-46" hips. I used polyfill to fill up my bra because that's what I had lying around. It works beautifully! I also LOVE the slips that come with this system! The slip I used was the one with the covered neck. It has amazing seams that really help me get a picture of how I'll need to drape my fabrics. I highly recommend using that one!

I've been thinking about building my own dress form (duct tape method) for some time. My measurements are such that no ready-made dress form would be an accurate reflection of me -- to get a bust large enough, the waist would be too large. Plus I have read the reviews that the inexpensive forms by Singer and Dritz are poorly made, and I wasn't about to drop $500 on an professional dress form to support my little hobby, only to have it not match my curves anyway. I came across this product last week and immediately ordered it, thinking that perhaps I could build out an existing form that I have for display - it's one of those heavy-duty cloth-covered forms that look really good in a retail store but aren't adjustable. I got it for free several years ago when a store went out of business, but it's a size 8 and, alas, I am not. I ordered the Large size system. None of the pads are marked, so when the instructions refer to specific pads, you are left to guess which is which, but it's fairly easy to work out after some trial and error. I deviated from the instructions in that I took all the measurements that the instructions recommended on both myself AND my existing mannequin. I think this is an important step, whether you're starting from something that's close to your size or, like me, something that's pretty far off. I also took an under-bust measurement. This is not included in the list but it is a critical fit area for me and, I suspect, other large-busted women with smaller waist, ribcage and shoulder sizes. I'm glad I did both sets of measurements because I was able to see that I very nearly matched the mannequin in the under-bust, over-bust and shoulder areas, but I had a longer waistline and a slightly lower bust point. And of course my waist and hips were larger, and my bust was significantly larger. There weren't enough pads in the kit to make up such a large difference in measurement, but other reviews had stated this and I knew it going in. I started by using strips of fleece to pad out the ribcage-to-waist portion of the mannequin until my underbust and midpoint between there and my waist were exact. It didn't take much. Then I built up the upper bust area until it matched. Once those two areas were good, I started from the top down per the instructions, placing pads on top on the fleece. The pads were really great to create the curves of my body - this would have been very difficult if not impossible to do with fleece or batting. As a very busty person, I had to add additional padding under the bust pads, even after using both sets of filler pads that were included in the kit. In retrospect, I should have used fleece to fill out that area so I could have used the filler pads elsewhere. I gradually worked my way through the first steps of the process, measuring and measuring, padding and padding, as I went. Once the first cover was in place and I had checked all measurements again, I added a good-fitting bra and filled in the cups until the bust measurement were correct. I smoothed other areas that needed it using bits of fleece, then added the second cover. Some reviews wonder why there are two covers. I like having two. The first holds everything in place and you can reach under and shift curves to your liking. The second helps to smooth everything out, and it has princess seams, unlike the first, so it creates additional contours. I'm very happy with the final result. It took me about 2 hours to do the job, but the result is worth it. I can pin into the form and it really is a good replica of my curvy hourglass figure. The plus side is that, as I lose or (God forbid) gain weight, I can readjust the contours of the mannequin simply by removing the covers and repositioning the pads. It might take me another couple of hours, but I won't have to pay for a new mannequin. All in all, I'm very glad I bought this product. It was a huge savings over buying a professional dress form, and was a much better result than a duct-tape form. There was a lot of trial and error, and you need to know where you have fit issues and be sure to take good measurements in those areas. Compare your measurements to your existing dress form before you start, and you should get a much better result faster than if you just start slapping on pads. If you're expecting to just put them on and be done with it, you'll be disappointed. But if you want an easy way to customize a dress form (or the only way to get something that matches your unique curves, as in my case) then I really think you'll be happy with it.

It took some time, about 90 minutes, to take all my measurements and put the pads in the right places but it was well worth the effort. I can now make a toile that will reflect the actual shape of my body and alter my patterns accordingly. Prior to this purchase my dress form was almost completely flat at the back (I have buttocks!) and shoulder blades. I plumped up the décolleté area and voila a dress form that works! No more tops that are too tight or that show bra bulges. No more skirts that cup under my backside. Just a great fit. The directions are easy to read and very simple to follow. Each piece is labeled and the two covers are simple to distinguish as one has princess seams and the other does not. The real work comes from measuring ones body and placing the various pads to fit. The great thing is that if your weight goes up and down like mine does (I tend to put on a it between Thanksgiving and Easter, it comes off in the summer) the pads are easy to remove and reposition. A definite must have for anyone who is serious about sewing perfectly fitting garments. EDIT. I have truthfully reported how well this product works for me, however, I must add that it is designed just to fill out areas on your natural size. By this I mean that if you are a size ten then using these pads to take your dress form to a size sixteen will be very frustrating. Also, this method is not particularly great for my mom who is in her seventies because the body shape changes so much over time. The padding didn't work that well for her rounded shoulders nor around the bust area. The good news is that the company has additional pads available. I did decide, in the end to use the Couture Method of padding for Mum as shown in Claire Schaefer's book Couture Sewing.

I purchased a cheap-o dress form (http://www.joann.com/decorative-burlap-dress form--silver-polka-dot-print/14207997.html) during an epic sale at Joann. She has the typical flat ass of a standardized dress form, but I figured when pairing her with this system I'd spend less and have a more customized form than buying a finicky adjustable form. Hysteria* is a perfectly postured and perky -----35 / 28 / 35.5----- I am a -----32E/DD / 29 / 41----- with, as a good friend once told me, the "ass of a sista". (Two-dimensionally, my hips are only 1" wider than my shoulders; it's all in the boot.) Apologies for the tangent, but I am reminded of a line from the dearly missed show, Coupling, "Having a bottom is living with the enemy. Not only do they spend their lives slowly inflating, they flirt with men while we're looking the other way." Truer words, my friends. Note: For a better visual understanding of [my] bust as "E/DD" sounds porn-star-huge, I am 31.75 underbust, 36.75 bust, 35 overbust. If you're adding 4" to calculate bra size, STOP!! Volume-wise, my "fun bags" would theoretically sit well in a 36C. Of course, the band would ride up from looseness, my straps would repeatedly slip off my shoulders (sans "help" from the fiance), and the underwire would be too wide. And, in case it helps (which is doubtful due to the seemingly random nature of women's sizing), I usually wear an eight in both dresses and pants--though the cut of a brand's pants can make any size ill-fitting on me. The medium worked perfectly. The burlap of the original form actually worked quite well as it kept the foam from slipping when wrestling with the cover (not as bad as some said; the only difficult part was getting over the shoulders) and held the fleece batting by itself! I ended up using all 17 pieces save for two fillers (the kit contains one stomach pad, pairs of shoulder, side back, bust, side hip, upper hip, back hip, & thigh pads, and four filler pads contoured similarly as removable push-up bra pads). Despite using both the upper hip & back hip/buttock along with two filler pads in my coccyx-injury-buffer, the side back as my shoulder blades, and the thigh pads *way* low on the sides of my hips, I used the pads where originally intended. I also added a few flat strips of batting here and there to better define pudge and to pad out to my measurements (most notably in the belly and the front of the ribs). Hysteria is not exactly me (my shoulder blades are slightly less protruding, my bust should be a little wider--probably fixable, and my hips jut in at the front a bit more between belly and thigh--not fixable as I'd be cutting into the fiberglass of the form), but I highly doubt she could be any closer without spending $500++ for a custom form. I only noticed any wonkiness, some of which I've easily fixed already, when hanging my WiP wedding dress (almost done!), which I know fits me *perfectly*--ALWAYS make a muslin/mock-up first! ...then rip the seams apart, re-sew, rip, sew, rip, sew, rinse, repeat. It has been noted before, but I'll repeat: the two-paneled side-seam cover is the first layer when placing the pieces. The princess-lined cover (with a mildly finer knit and turtleneck) goes on top once done adjusting. I did need to stretch the knit to adjust where the princess seams fell, mostly for future use (e.g. bust point, etc.), but that was no biggie. I was hoping the included instructions offered hints or clues using both my and my form's measurements, but I didn't need one in the end. The "chart" many have referred to is just a form for entering my own measurements (i.e. neck, shoulder, over/full(/oddly no under) bust, various vertical points, waist, mid hip, hip, etc.). I would have otherwise included a photo of this magical and helpful chart. Although easily changeable and adjustable, I wouldn't recommend it for frequent changes (i.e. professionals with many clients) as it does take some time to place, measure, eyeball, adjust, rinse, repeat. For an individual who has gained or lost some weight over a year or two, no worries. *Although I originally intended my dress form to remain unnamed, I felt I should name her as I keep referring to her as "her". Amused by another naming her form "Sharona" (i.e. this is "my Sharona" LOL), my form's name rushed to mind when I thought about funny song puns. She after all is named after one of my favorite Muse songs.

I totally love it except I feel like it's missing either upper or lower stomach part, lower back. I don't know if it's just my form but the cover is kind of floating (not filled) on the upper stomach, lower back because of the empty space... (Maybe because I ordered size medium? Was I supposed to order size small?) Also the line in the middle of the neck does not align with the one on the bodice.. I guess I got a defective one? (Please let me know if I can get a replacement of this..) Other than that, it's pretty good. I've already recommended to some of my friends One comment I would recommend is to be clear about the sizing. I have a size 2 dress form but wanted to make it a 6. I wasn't sure if I should buy small or medium. Even on their website it just says "small: bust 30-34, waist 22-25, hips 32-34" The part I don't get is does that mean I should get a size small if my dress form falls into those measurements? I got more confused after reading their measurement description which says "choose a size that you would like your dress form to be when your shape and measurements are duplicated." which doesn't make any sense regarding ppl have all different sizes of dress forms, some have 2, some have 10 and all the other various sizes. It would've been better if you clarified as Ex) Small: adds 2 inches to your form Medium: adds 4 inches to your form ... And so on

Fitting system allows me to customize my dress form. I bought a size 10 dress form. I am a short person with back-neck, etc. of a smaller size, but of a sturdy build. Wanted the option of a smaller form if I lose weight, but the most important is to put the volumes where mine are. As a 60-something person, my volumes are in different places than when I was 20. The foam fitting system allowed me to change the shoulder line, extend the shoulders out a bit, give her a belly, put the bust volumes lower and add booty to my dress form. I've sewn for years and always had to have another person to help me fit, or put things on, pin on myself, and try to figure out how to alter. So much easier on a dress form, plus I can hem skirts and dresses w/o another person. I've lately become interested in re-fashioning clothing. I've found some great things at thrift that can easily be re-made with the help of my customized dress form. It's a great way to learn more about sewing. The clothes are inexpensive, so I can afford to take risks. So very possible with a dress form in my shape so I can see what to alter. I did think about making a duct tape dress form. While I like that idea, having the stuffing stay in the right place and then getting a stand seemed problems. Loving that this fitting system is so permanently flexible - I can move or remove the pads whenever. Other people have said they've had problems w/the cover being tight. I didn't find this a problem. I have a size 10 dress form, and medium pad kit. I wear an 8-10 in ready-to-wear and would be cutting a size 14 in dress patterns. My measurements are close to a size 12 dress form. Until they start 3-d scanning and digitallly printing people at an affordable cost, this is the way to go. It does take being able to look at the form, and look at your own body, and decide how they differ, then placing pads. The assortment of pad is pretty good. I used all the filler pads and most of the others. Another bonus of the padded form is that it's easier to pin into. Comes with 2 covers, so the base cover holds the pads in place, and the over-cover unifies the bumps more and makes it the transitions smoother. Very happy with my purchase. Highly recommend buying a form a size smaller and padding up to get a personal form.

Makes adding size to my model , very easy

Wish there had been 2 sets of bust forms !!! All the other foam pieces are interchangeable but the one set of bust foams is limiting .

Good product. Does the job. Pricey. Arrived quickly.