Well, Hello Dolly!!

My birthday was in October, and Mr. SDSC was not sure what to get me (fabric vouchers/gift cards, you know, vouchers/gift cards for the names that keep appearing on the credit card!!) and he very kindly signed me up for a course to make my own dress form through our local education board. I was thrilled. I have bogged about some Palmer Pletsch courses that I took last year and earlier this year. I learned so much about my body, what alterations I need to make, that they were worth their weight in gold. The only problem is that I sew on my own - I don't have a sewing buddy/guild/meeting, and Mr. SDSC's sewing assistant capabilities are limited, so the chance to take this course could not be turned down.

The course was this weekend and typically, we had quite the dumping of snow, so I was a little late to class (don't you just hate it when that happens?). Nonetheless, attend I did, and look who came home with me? Ladies and gents, I would like to introduce you to Dolly - isn't she something? If you are in/around Calgary and want to take the course, I can thoroughly recommend it, and the tutor, Michelle is lovely. Hopefully she will now put on more courses for us - boy, we were very enthusiastic!

I have to say that I think she is great. It is really weird to see what others see of me (well OK, usually when other people see me I have clothes on, but you get my drift!!) I can really see my flat butt, and tummy bulge as well as the lack of waist definition and rounded upper back - but we are all about enhancing our attributes and disguising our flaws, right?  Oh, and it looks as though my partner may have cut me a little short on me left shoulder, so I will fix that with the next layer (see below).

I still need to put another 'layer' on her - she has to dry out for a couple of days, and then once she has been completed, she is going to be one very busy lady. I have a few plans for here - she will have a coating of spray foam on the inside to give her more stability, and I will also have her on a stand so that I can hang dresses from her. I am not sure whether I will cover her in a stretch jersey and add bust, waist (if I can find it!), hip CB & CF (etc) lines, or finish off with some decoupage. I rather like these two for inspiration:

Source

Source

I have already had her model a shirt that I made for myself that has an FBA, swayback and rounded neck adjustment, and it fits really well - which is confirmation that she is a good replicant (I love Bladerunner)! As Mr. SDSC says - I can now see what he sees, when I am trying on garments.

Hmmm!  I think I need to reconsider the angle at which I am taking these photos - I look like a linebacker here :)

If you would like to make one yourself, there are some great instructions here,