My Evil Twin Brother===tailors form

**brewerpaul** · 15th December 12, 07:28 PM

Just a short post and a few photos of my evil twin brother. Depends on what you watch or where you are from it could be "the evil twin" or from Family Guy "The evil monkey in my closet" or from music "He aint heavy he's my brother" . What it boils down to was finding a way to tailor the clothing items I'm making better than pinning a bunch of pins into myself in front of the mirror. In my recent DIY thread on my first two waist coats I realized they looked nice but as always could be more tailored than a stock pattern. This would require either Jennifer constantly pinning and sizing my items on me or my solving the issue by obtaining a tailors form or a male dummy ( I know ladies thats a statement of the obvious). Well I know without some form of a male form I would be making things look ok but not great. Shopping around the net I found very few male forms and most being very expensive. I ran across a Dritz male form that fits the bill and my pocket book. I know if I ever was real serious about making clothing for others Id spend big bucks but for the items I make myself and family this thing will work. So without further ado I introduce my evil twin brother.

Dritz adjustable male form

This thing adjust in about a dozen ways from height to neck to chest, waist and hips. I figure in time it will help when I make my own kilts but for now it works great with shirts, jackets and vests.

Dummy with vest on inside out

With the adjustable features I can size the shoulders, chest and waist all different. My dad has narrow size large shoulders but a larger than large to XL waist . This is the waistcoat I am working on for him.

Shees Im glad I dont have all these pins in me anymore......

Finished product sized to his torso and shoulders.

Dummies backside and the vest

and one final shot of my faithful Dressmaker circa 50's

When I start my kilt jackets this week I know my dummy will really come in handy. Time will tell how sturdy it is but for the price (140.00$ shipped free) It will pay for itself. Most likely will be set up for me and stay that way for a long time. I just hope I can keep him out of my good scotch.

**Cygnus** · 15th December 12, 07:45 PM

I just purchased cloth for my first jacket project (and the first real sewing project I've done since the last sewing class I took a dozen or so years ago). If I don't make a complete mess of it and still feel the need to keep going, I may also invest in a "twin".

Thanks for the tip!

**usonian** · 15th December 12, 09:27 PM

Thanks for the photos! I should really start saving up for one of these... I'm starting to get more adventurous with sewing/tailoring and it would definitely be a lot easier than the "try to put on without jabbing myself, try to look at my own back in the mirror" game. I see they're available on Amazon!

**Dixiecat** · 15th December 12, 09:28 PM

As someone in 'the business', I must chime in here and say, that if you're at the point in your sewing 'hobby' to use a dress form, you're at the point to learn pattern drafting. If there's one skill that can take your sewing up leaps and bounds, it's learning the real basics.

Lovely work on the waistcoat!

**madmacs** · 15th December 12, 11:56 PM

You didn't go with the DIY version using cling film and duct tape???

Have to agree though, looks like a nice waistcoat

**Kiltboy** · 16th December 12, 07:24 AM

I'm so jealous. I had no idea Dritz made an affordable adjustable male form. After much internet searching, and finding static forms, I gave up and made my own form. Yes, out of duct tape and many other household items. Your vest looks wonderful. And I'm sure you have found that the form makes tailoring oh so much easier. I see a custom tailored jacket in your future....

**jhockin** · 16th December 12, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Dixiecat

As someone in 'the business', I must chime in here and say, that if you're at the point in your sewing 'hobby' to use a dress form, you're at the point to learn pattern drafting. If there's one skill that can take your sewing up leaps and bounds, it's learning the real basics.

Could you recommend some texts, suitable for beginner, thumb-fingered males?

**Dixiecat** · 16th December 12, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by jhockin

Could you recommend some texts, suitable for beginner, thumb-fingered males?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=pattern+drafting+for+men

**jhockin** · 16th December 12, 10:12 PM

OK Beverly,

.. i guess i sort of asked for that

, but I was actually thinking more along the lines of specific texts that you could recommend, from personal experience?

**brewerpaul** · 17th December 12, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by Dixiecat

As someone in 'the business', I must chime in here and say, that if you're at the point in your sewing 'hobby' to use a dress form, you're at the point to learn pattern drafting. If there's one skill that can take your sewing up leaps and bounds, it's learning the real basics.

Lovely work on the waistcoat!

Thank you. All in time as this is a learning process I just started this past year. Besides the mandatory apron, baggy flannel pants and some surgical hats I wear ive only made three vests and one running kilt. Ill look into the pattern drafting as my skills develop. I did send the vest to my dad and he said it fit perfect. This was a pattern I used for myself and modified to fit the measurements my sister sent me. He 84 so not as tall or broad shoulder as he was when young. I used the initial 46 cut I had for myself and cut down the upper area to 42 leaving the lower portion to fit his mid torso. This brought the shoulders in for his 17 inch shoulder to shoulder measure and kept the torso at a 40 inch waist measure. It also shortened it up a bit as he isnt as tall as I am. Seems to work and if this is the first steps to pattern drafting then Ill continue on. Thanks for all the encouraging words from everyone here.