This is downloadable PDF sewing pattern for a DIY miniature stuffed dress form / mannequin. Three sizes are included: small (1/4 scale), medium (1/3 scale), and large (1/2 scale).
You can use one of these adorable dress forms to display necklaces on your dresser or decorate your sewing room. Patternmaking or fashion design students can also use this mini dress form for flat patternmaking or draping practice.
The dress form is sewn from interfaced fabric, then stuffed, so it is soft and you can pin into it. It has an internal fabric support piece to help it hold its shape and a built-in tube so the dress form can slip over the end of a dowel. The base and armholes are stabilized with cardboard.
You can make a cardboard dress form stand using the included pattern or you can make a stand of your own design.
I recommend this pattern for intermediate level sewers. You should be able to sew an accurate 1/4" seam allowance on small curvy pieces. The instructions are very detailed and include photographs of each step.
The size large stuffed dress form is about the same size as the paper/paper mache half-scale dress form I also sell a pattern for. The free dress patterns I have designed (https://growyourownclothes.com/free-half-scale-patterns) will fit the large stuffed dress form. The half-scale sloper/block patterns I'm selling were designed for the paper dress form, and while they can be used with the large stuffed dress form, they will need some alterations to fit perfectly.
Since several people have asked if my miniature dress form patterns can be used to make life-sized dress forms, I included in the instructions the changes you would need to make to sew up the size large printed at 200%. I haven't actually sewn up a life-size version of this pattern, but I think it should work.
Approximate Finished Measurements:
* Small (quarter scale): Total height: 7 1/4" (18.4 cm), Bust: 9 1/8" (23.3 cm), Waist: 6 1/2" (16.5 cm), Hip: 9 1/4" (23.5 cm), Nape to waist: 4" (10.2 cm)
* Medium (one third scale): Total height: 9 3/4" (24.6 cm), Bust: 12 1/4" (31 cm), Waist: 8 5/8" (22 cm), Hip: 12 3/8" (31.3 cm), Nape to waist: 5 3/8" (13.7 cm)
* Large (half scale): Total height: 14 1/2" (36.8 cm), Bust: 18 1/4" (46.5 cm), Waist: 13" (33 cm), Hip: 18 1/2" (47 cm), Nape to waist: 8 1/8" (20.5 cm)
Supplies and Materials:
* 1/4 yard (.25 m) to 1/2 yard (.5 m) non-stretch woven fabric
* 5/8 yard (.6 m) to 1 1/4 yard (1.1 m) lightweight fusible interfacing
* Stuffing material such as polyester fiberfill
* Scrap of fleece or batting
* Two sheets letter or A4 size card stock (heavy paper) or a manila folder
* Scissors for cutting paper and cardboard
* Small razor knife
* Metric ruler
* Fabric glue or craft glue that is flexible when dry
* Tape
* Double sided tape
* Glue stick
* Small scrap of paperboard
* Corrugated cardboard
* All the usual sewing equipment and supplies - sewing machine, pressing equipment, thread, sewing scissors, needles, pins, etc.
* 1/4" (5 mm) to 3/4" (20 mm) diameter dowel, depending on which size dress form you are making.
Optional supplies:
* Quarter inch presser foot
* Mini Iron
* For the optional cardboard stand, you will need corrugated cardboard, something like pebbles or sand for weight, and box sealing tape. You will probably also want something to decorate the stand with such as colored paper, contact paper, fabric, or lace.
I also have a similar stuffed dress form pattern, the Stuffed Fabric Half-Scale Dress Form Pattern (https://www.etsy.com/listing/478702305/stuffed-fabric-half-scale-dress-form). Here are the main differences between the two stuffed patterns:
* This Mini Stuffed Dress Form Pattern comes in half-scale, one-third scale, and quarter scale. The Stuffed Fabric Half-Scale Dress Form Pattern only comes in one half-scale size.
* The half-scale sloper/block patterns fit the Stuffed Fabric Half-Scale Dress Form Pattern better.
* The construction of this dress form is more complex. There is an internal support piece to keep the shape of the profile and a built in tube to hold the dowel in place. In the Stuffed Fabric Half-Scale Dress Form Pattern the dowel or vase is simply held in place by stuffing and a roll of fabric around the dowel. The Mini Stuffed forms have a cardboard reinforced base, while the Stuffed Fabric Half-Scale Dress Form is drawn closed at the bottom with a drawstring.
* The shapes are a little different. The Stuffed Fabric Half-Scale Dress Form has less bust definition and the body is thicker front to back due to the lack of profile support. Compare the pattern listing photographs to see the differences in shape.