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I found a women's large column skirt at my local thrift that was the perfect candidate for this project. The material was a stretchy, heavyweight jersey. The length was perfect for covering up my form - and it was the off white I was looking for! You could easily buy yardage to do this project too. Fortunately I stumbled upon the perfect fabric and I love upcycling clothes into something useful!
Materials:
Heavyweight knit yardage (I used a column jersey skirt)
Matching Thread
Contrasting Color Thread for basting
Pins
Fabric Marker
Elastic
Bra cups or an old bra
Here's my original form with the brown cover it came with. It's not the prettiest color for showing off clothes, but I'm going to change that.
First, I padded it with bra cups I pinned on. I decided to switch over to a bra instead. Either one could work. Later, down the road, I started padding the dress form for certain projects, that'll be a whole separate tutorial!
Place your skirt over the dress form wrong side out. Pin all around the sides up to the neck. As you're pinning around the bust area, create a single fold to make a dart. Hold material tight as you're pinning around the form, it will all fall into place until you're done pinning.
Here's my original form with the brown cover it came with. It's not the prettiest color for showing off clothes, but I'm going to change that.
First, I padded it with bra cups I pinned on. I decided to switch over to a bra instead. Either one could work. Later, down the road, I started padding the dress form for certain projects, that'll be a whole separate tutorial!
Place your skirt over the dress form wrong side out. Pin all around the sides up to the neck. As you're pinning around the bust area, create a single fold to make a dart. Hold material tight as you're pinning around the form, it will all fall into place until you're done pinning.
Continue pinning until you reach the neck and stop.
While the pins are still in, baste where the pins are with a contrasting color thread Remove the pins.
Remove the cover from the dress form and stitch over your basting stitches using a wide zigzag stitch. Be sure not to sew on your basting stitches. It will help using a wide stitch so your basting stitches can easily be removed. Remove basting stitches with your seam ripper. Place cover back on your dress form to check the fit.
Now is the time to close the back vent. Remove the cover from the dress form, baste and stitch the back vent with a zigzag stitch.
Remove basting stitches from back vent.
Trim excess fabric from the bottom to the top of the neck. Leave approximately 1/2" of material from the stitching line.
I kept the tag for sentimental reasons. M.J. Carroll was the brand sold at Winkleman's which was my favorite store in the 90's at my local mall. It was sad seeing it close. I loved their clothes and that logo!
Now for the neck area! With your fabric marker, mark the edge of the neckline all the way around.
Trim excess fabric around neckline as shown. I left approximately 1" of material past the marking line. I left a little extra just in case I needed it.
With all the material left over, I had plenty to make a cover for the top of the neck. I cut a piece and placed it over the neck. Place pins all around the edge. My form is styrofoam based, so I could push the pins in all the way. I pinned directly on top of the marking line underneath so I can mark a new stitch line on the top piece. I marked a line right where each pin is. Baste fabric together on those lines. You can baste the fabric as it sits on the dress form. Gently prick the fabric and the needle will catch both pieces. Remove pins and cover from dress form.
Stitch over basting stitches using a wide zigzag stitch. Remove basting stitches.
Hem the bottom with a zigzag stitch, feed elastic through the hem using safety pin attached to one end of the elastic. I kept a hole open at the hem. I placed the cover on my dress form, drew in the elastic, tied it in a bow and tucked it underneath. This way, you can untie the elastic if you have to remove the cover.
Finished! 😊👗✂
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! I welcome and enjoy reading your comments. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Diana
While the pins are still in, baste where the pins are with a contrasting color thread Remove the pins.
 |
| Front of cover stitched |
 |
| Back of cover stitched |
Remove the cover from the dress form and stitch over your basting stitches using a wide zigzag stitch. Be sure not to sew on your basting stitches. It will help using a wide stitch so your basting stitches can easily be removed. Remove basting stitches with your seam ripper. Place cover back on your dress form to check the fit.
Now is the time to close the back vent. Remove the cover from the dress form, baste and stitch the back vent with a zigzag stitch.
Remove basting stitches from back vent.
Trim excess fabric from the bottom to the top of the neck. Leave approximately 1/2" of material from the stitching line.
I kept the tag for sentimental reasons. M.J. Carroll was the brand sold at Winkleman's which was my favorite store in the 90's at my local mall. It was sad seeing it close. I loved their clothes and that logo!
Now for the neck area! With your fabric marker, mark the edge of the neckline all the way around.
Trim excess fabric around neckline as shown. I left approximately 1" of material past the marking line. I left a little extra just in case I needed it.
With all the material left over, I had plenty to make a cover for the top of the neck. I cut a piece and placed it over the neck. Place pins all around the edge. My form is styrofoam based, so I could push the pins in all the way. I pinned directly on top of the marking line underneath so I can mark a new stitch line on the top piece. I marked a line right where each pin is. Baste fabric together on those lines. You can baste the fabric as it sits on the dress form. Gently prick the fabric and the needle will catch both pieces. Remove pins and cover from dress form.
Stitch over basting stitches using a wide zigzag stitch. Remove basting stitches.
Hem the bottom with a zigzag stitch, feed elastic through the hem using safety pin attached to one end of the elastic. I kept a hole open at the hem. I placed the cover on my dress form, drew in the elastic, tied it in a bow and tucked it underneath. This way, you can untie the elastic if you have to remove the cover.
Finished! 😊👗✂
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! I welcome and enjoy reading your comments. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Diana
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