The Sewing Place

Tools of the Trade => Dress Forms => Topic started by: WendyW on May 20, 2019, 17:08:00 PM

Title: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: WendyW on May 20, 2019, 17:08:00 PM
Meet Matilda! She came home from my inlaw's house this weekend. When my hubby was a teen, he used her to hold his ROTC uniform, and in his memory she was never used to fit any garment. His mother hated sewing, though she had a machine, and surely was taught to sew as a girl. When I explained that she was adjustable to size and I wanted her, he was surprised. I don't know that I can make her fit me. She's currently much smaller than I am, and was built for a much smaller population. It's entirely possible that attempts at adjustment will cause her to fall apart. At the very least she will be an interesting and decorative addition to my sewing room.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47839429532_1697e10056.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2fTpzGy)Matilda (https://flic.kr/p/2fTpzGy) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: Marniesews on May 20, 2019, 18:54:51 PM
My mum had something similar but I was so freaked out as a teen by the lumpy bumpy vision of me when she put the jersey cover over it that I didn't claim it when she was clearing out decades ago.

I'm sure she appreciates your thoughtful addition of a head.  0_0
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: WendyW on May 20, 2019, 19:28:59 PM
I believe the head was added by my husband to he'd have a place to put his hat with the uniform. I've been thinking about if I want to add a face and wig.
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: Surest1tch on May 20, 2019, 19:36:47 PM
Oh my, I used to have one just like that minus the head, I loaned it to a friend who was involved in putting some sort of costume display on at the local church. It never found its way back to me  :'(
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: Efemera on May 20, 2019, 19:54:50 PM
I have one the same...you put it on and stretch out the wires and mould it around yourself.Mine was tiny but it stretched enough..I’m size 18/20.
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: WendyW on May 20, 2019, 20:29:27 PM
I stretched out just the bottom this morning to make sure it would stretch far enough, and just finished stretching the whole thing.  It does fit around me, and now I just need to line up help to fit her to me.
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: CCL on May 20, 2019, 21:30:22 PM
I am so envious!  My grandmother had one and I always wished it had made its way to me.   Wonder if anyone makes something similar these days.
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: BrendaP on May 20, 2019, 22:18:52 PM
You can always pad out a dummy to make it bigger - though you would of course loose much of Matilda's charm if you did that.
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: Elnnina on May 21, 2019, 11:08:00 AM
I used to have one of those many years ago and ironically I named her Matilda as well.  Sadly the wire dress dummy is long gone, my neighbour saw this and asked if she could have this and used it to put over her salad growing bed.  My current dress stand is still called Matilda - do not know why I chose this name, but it has just stuck.  Enjoy creating with your Matilda.
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: Surest1tch on May 21, 2019, 17:39:37 PM
I am so envious!  My grandmother had one and I always wished it had made its way to me.   Wonder if anyone makes something similar these days.

Sadly they don't, I've tried to find another one for years, even 2nd hand on ebay etc
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: Sewcycle on June 25, 2019, 15:27:45 PM
Thanks for showing it. I saw one in a charity shop and really couldn’t work out how you got it to fit your measurements. The moulding idea seems spot on. Wish I’d looked at it more closely now!
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: Efemera on June 25, 2019, 16:58:58 PM
When I put mine on I got DH to stretch and mould it round my bumps! I don’t use it for the finer fitting adjustments but it gives a good idea of general fit and stuff just lives on it till it’s finished.
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: Sewbee on June 26, 2019, 07:25:40 AM
I have one the same...you put it on and stretch out the wires and mould it around yourself.Mine was tiny but it stretched enough..I’m size 18/20.

I wonder if you can still buy these. I haven’t seen these in shops or online but they look perfect. Simply mould around your body and cover.
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: Lizzy777 on June 26, 2019, 09:29:49 AM
I saw a second hand one on sale yesterday,  around £106, plus £60 something for postage to UK. It's in the US.

Anyone want the link? ;)



Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: Missie on June 26, 2019, 11:18:59 AM
I'm sure she appreciates your thoughtful addition of a head.  0_0

I'm finding the head a tad freaky!

She looks like some early automaton
Title: Re: This lovely lady entered my home this weekend
Post by: WendyW on June 26, 2019, 16:10:55 PM
I'm finding the head a tad freaky!

She looks like some early automaton

 0_0 0_0

I think without the head she just looks WRONG. Maybe I should let my 3yo granddaughter draw her a face!