My Evil Twin Brother===tailors form

**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?

**Dixiecat** · 22nd December 12, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by jhockin

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?

Unfortunately, most of my formal learning came from drafting for women which is a topic that has a lot more texts available. The ones I know about will show up on the google search, but I couldn't recommend any of them from personal experience. If you can, taking a course on pattern drafting will be just as beneficial. Even if you can only find pattern drafting course for women's garments, the fundamentals are all the same and can transfer to men's pattern drafting relatively easily.

**Jon Lilley** · 22nd December 12, 10:56 AM

Less than $200.00 US is really a doable thing. Thanks for the info. It's good to know. It would really be nice to have a form to strap a kilt-in-progress to without having to rig something special.

@Beverly; thanks for the info on pattern drafting. I'm still working up the nerve to actually try making myself a vest. Kiltmaking is a snap, but when I look at cutting and piecing fabric, my brain addles. The Kent State School of Fashion offers classes for this, but they run a full semester and nothing is done quickly. There are no week long kiltmaking classes like Braemar. AND, they're VERY expensive!!!

Thanks again for all the information everyone!

**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.

**SomeoneOk** · 7th February 13, 11:55 AM

I'm impressed as well with your vest. I too have been interested in finding a male suit form so that I can hone my skills for bespoke clothing. That form looks great, however, it might not be tall enough for my long torso and 6' 4" height. Also, I have odd measurements, 39" chest, 34-35" waist, and 40.5" hip. I'm an ectomorph. I'm considering making my own and am in the planning stages, but not sure how it will happen with so many things coming up. If it turns out well, I'll post an update here.

I've just ordered tartan for my first kilt, have a pattern for a Charlie jacket and vest as well. I'm hoping to at least have the kilt finished by the middle of March. I'm a little nervous about how that will turn out, but I've been sewing most of my 50 years and am hoping to "make it work"- in the words of Tim Gunn.