My recent foray into refashioning clothing got me wondering if it would be any help if I had a dress form. Now, I’m not going to go out and buy one just to find out. I’d seen instructions on making your own out of duct tape on the web, and there was a tutorial in Wendy Bernard’s Custom Knits, too. It looked like too much fun not to try it.

The idea is you put on a sacrificial t-shirt and get a friend to wrap you up in tape. I got Paul to do it for me.

Once a few layers have been applied and some marks to indicate the bust and waist line, etc. your friend cuts it down the back so you can escape. Then you tape it up again, add a base and stuff it with batting.

I took it a step further and got Paul to make this stand for me out of a block of wood and dowel, so I can put a skirt on it and the length will fall about as far from the floor as it would on me. I’m stuffing it with bubble wrap. I’ve run out of bubble wrap with it only half full, however. Unfortunately, while I saved a whole heap over the last year to use while the kitchen renovation was happening, I threw most of it out once we’d unpacked everything.

It’s only a matter of time before Paul’s eBay habit brings more bubble wrap into the house. I just have to be patient…