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- From: lfabans@adobe.com
- Newsgroups: alt.sewing,rec.crafts.textiles.sewing,rec.crafts.textiles.quilting,rec.crafts.textiles.misc,news.answers,alt.answers,rec.answers
- Subject: Textiles FAQ Part 2 of 2
- Supersedes: <sewing2_886698166@adobe.com>
- Followup-To: rec.crafts.textiles.misc
- Date: 27 Mar 1998 13:02:50 -0800
- Organization: Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA
- Lines: 761
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu
- Distribution: world
- Expires: 30 May 1998 21:02:42 GMT
- Message-ID: <sewing2_891032562@adobe.com>
- Reply-To: lfabans@adobe.com
- NNTP-Posting-Host: yorgi.corp.adobe.com
- Summary: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions in the rec.crafts.textiles and
- alt.sewing newsgroups. Includes charters of the groups, lists of
- sources, info on quiling groups and info on natural fabrics.
- Keywords: FAQ, textiles, sewing, outdoor, crafts, quilt
- Posting-Frequency: 6 weeks
- Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu alt.sewing:54050 rec.crafts.textiles.sewing:36488 rec.crafts.textiles.quilting:71931 rec.crafts.textiles.misc:7619 news.answers:126930 alt.answers:33205 rec.answers:39091
-
- Archive-name: crafts/textiles/faq/part2
- Last-modified: 23 Oct 1997
-
- Part 2 of 2 of the Textiles FAQ
-
- (c) All the material in these faqs are copyrighted by the owner
- of the FAQs (which may change). Free use is encouraged. These
- FAQs are not to be reused for profit. This copyright must be
- kept with the FAQ used in it's entirety.
-
-
- Questions addressed:
-
- 5) What are the best periodicals and sources for Heirloom Sewing (also known
- as French Hand Sewing) projects?
- 6) Where can I get natural fabrics by mail order?
- 7) I've just been given my Great Grandmother's sewing machine.
- Can anyone help me fix it or restore it?
- 8) Where can I hook up with people to exchange quilt blocks?
- 9) How do I hem jeans?
- 10) What are available for children's sewing? (ie patterns, fabric, etc)
- 11) What are the various patterns available? (paper, computer, services, other)
- 12) What are the best scissors? What are the rotary cutters? What
- are the electric cutters?
- 13) What are Dress Forms and how do I get them?
- 14) Where can I get an up to date copy of this FAQ?
-
-
- 5) What are the best periodicals and sources for Heirloom Sewing (also known
- as French Hand Sewing) projects?
-
- Heirloom sewing beganas an attempt to recreate some antique clothing, usually
- the white dresses with lace inserts all over the place. There are many new
- patterns available. You use fine, lightweight fabrics like cotton voile or
- batiste, silk, or the "baby" wale corduroy. You add ruffles made from fine
- imported French laces, and maybe a touch of delicate hand embroidery. Bullion
- knot roses and shadow embroidery are very popular. About half the patterns
- have smocking on them, usually on the yoke of a dress.
-
- It helps to have a good sewing machine, that can handle delicate fabrics and
- do some fancy stitching. Originally heirloom sewing was all done by hand (e.g.
- French Hand Sewing) but there are several books out now on how to do it by
- machine. Using a machine is a slow process, but it is faster than doing the
- work by hand.
-
- Periodicals Recommended:
- Sew Beautiful
- Subscription Dept. 518
- Madison St.
- Huntsville, AL 35801-4286
- (205)-533-9586
-
- Creative Sewing
- Box 99
- Lookout Mountain, TN 37350
- 1-800-443-3127
-
- Both of these publications cover heirloom sewing, and also include other types
- of sewing techniques. Lots of how-to articles and inspirational photos. Both
- also include one or more free patterns bound into each issue. The Singer
- Reference Library book _Decorative Machine Sewing_ includes a section on
- Heirloom Sewing.
-
-
- Mail Order Sources for Fabrics, Laces and Supplies:
-
- The Unique Needle
- 539 Blossom Way
- Hayward, CA 94541
- 415-727-9130
- Rumor has it she has a mailing list.
-
- Sweet Child of Mine or Sweet Child of Mine
- 139 East Fremont Avenue 3720 Miramesa Ct. Bldg 116
- Sunnyvale, CA 94087 Santa Clara, CA 95051
- 408-720-8426
- Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed from 11-4:30; Sat. 12:30-3:30 pm
-
- Home-Sew
- P.O. Box 4099
- Bethlehem, PA 18018-0099
- carries some inexpensive entredeux and embroideries. Might be good for
- practice for someone who is just embarking on heirloom sewing.
-
-
- Nancy's Notions (address above) sells entredeux.
- Carolea's is a well known place in Sunnyvale, California, but the laces
- and entredeux there can be a bit more expensive than mail order
- sources.
-
- For patterns for clothing for the American Dolls from the Pleasant Company:
- Fancywork and Fashion
- 4728 Dodge Street
- Duluth, MN 55804
- (218) 525-2442
- $2 for catalog
-
- A nice nightgown pattern called "Julie's Gown" is available from:
- Susan Oliver
- A Work of Heart Studio
- P.O. Box 1477
- Nevada City, CA 95959
- (916) 265-4433
-
- Also check some of the speciality pattern companies such as Campbells (see the
- FAQ on historical costuming).
-
-
- 6) Where can I get natural fabrics by mail order?
-
- Sewing Sampler Productions
- PO Box 39
- Springfield, MN 56087
- (800) 772-5011 or (507) 723-5011
- Retail and mail order. $3.50 UPS shipping charge (USA) per order.
-
- Regular line of Cotton Club interlock and French Terry (100% Cotton) with
- matching ribbing. Excellent quality; seems to equal Hanna quality. Interlock
- and French Terry are $9 yd (1992); supplex is 5.50/yd. They carry Oshkosh and
- Healthtex fabrics as well as notions like snaps, collars and woven patches.
-
- Three catalogs (basics, fashion fabrics, kids). Two swatching services for $10
- each. Several newsletters also. Please mention me (Grace Sylvan, Lewiston
- Drive, San Jose, CA) if you decide to subscribe to the swatching service (and
- I get a small credit, thanks to you, and you get wonderful swatches delivered
- to your door).
-
-
- Sew Natural Fabrics by Mail
- 521 N. Essex Drive
- Lexington Park, MD 20653-1652
- (800) 368-0126
- (310) 863-5952
-
- They provide regular mailings of catelogs. To subscribe, send $2.
- NOTE: I just got off the phone with Pam (the owner) who will be sending
- yours truly (the faq-keeper) a sample catelog! I'll update this when I
- receive it.
-
-
- Cotton Express
- P.O. Box 221
- Apex, NC 27502
- (919) 387-1650
-
- I have ordered from Cotton Express a couple of times. Their fabrics
- are nearly exclusively 100% cotton (*always prewash* -- I do it 2 or 3
- times), and after I sent for samples and then made one purchase they
- continue to send me samples on a regular basis. They have interlocks,
- lingerie jerseys, polo jerseys, cotton mesh, French terry ($6.50/yd
- last mailing), fleece (100% cotton!), corduroy. Ribbings are of
- cotton/lycra and cotton/poly. If you see something you like, order it
- right away -- their stocks are not huge.
-
-
- The Sewing Room
- 320 Harmon Drive
- Lubbock, TX 79416
- 1-800-275-3822
-
- I recently sent for their swatch set. They have OshKosh and Healthtex
- fabrics, and they suggest coordinating fabrics and ribbings available
- from them. Interlocks (50/50) are 7.25/yard, OshKosh print corduroy
- is $7.95/yard. 100% cotton interlock is $7.25/yard. These are
- examples from the swatch set I just received. They have sale items in the
- back, about 15% off.
-
-
-
- 7) I've just been given my Great Grandmother's sewing machine. Can anyone
- help me fix it or restore it?
-
- > Gosh, the machine I have must be about 60 years old. It's a
- > treadle machine that has been motorized. I do not know if I
- > want to remove the motor or not. Also, the veneer on the
- > cabinet is in pretty bad shape. I'm going to have it replaced.
- > Do you have any suggestions?
-
- Well, first of all, anything you do to the machine lessens its
- value as an antique (so I was told) so the first thing to do is
- to decide whether you want the antique value of the machine or
- just a really nice, spiffy looking treadle.
-
- In my case I wanted a really nice, spiffy looking treadle that
- could double as my everyday sewing cabinet and also be a nice
- showpiece. I don't care about the supposed antique value. My
- Grandmother had abused her treadle and it had been stored for 40
- years in my Dad's workshop so you can imagine what it looked
- like! Gouged, paint-splattered cabinet, dust everywhere, rusted
- grill work and the head was covered in black grime.
-
- The first thing I did was take lots of photos of it from all
- angles so I would know how to put it back together after taking
- it apart. Next I took it apart. Then I used very mild paint
- stripper (3M special gel-type) to remove the varnish from the
- cabinet pieces and the paint from the iron grill work.
-
- I should state right now that you should TEST ALL CHEMICAL YOU
- PLAN TO USE ON THE MACHINE IN AN INCONSPICUOUS PLACE FIRST!! The
- paints and varnishes of yesteryear are quite different from those
- that exist today. Often today's stuff is far too strong for
- those old finishes to handle.
-
- After removing all the paint, I washed the whole thing off with a
- water-dishsoap mixture and rinsed it all thoroughly. Then I
- dried everything and let the grill work ``age'' for a few days
- (lets the iron ``set'' properly). Then I spray painted the iron
- work with a rust protector followed by a black acrylic gloss. I
- then sanded the cabinet and ``varnished'' it with a cherry wood
- urethane.
-
- I should mention that most veneers in those days were cherry wood
- veneers, whereas most today are of oak. Cherry wood is very
- expensive these days so you might have problems replacing the
- veneer. I filled in small holes with wood filler and large ones
- with a combination of glue, wood chips and wood pieces and sanded
- carefully.
-
- Now for the machine head: I should put in here that whatever you
- do, DON'T clean the machine head with alcohol!!!! The old paints
- and varnishes that were used at that time are very sensitive to
- alcohols and such. DON'T USE THEM TO CLEAN YOUR MACHINE!!!
-
- I used wd-40 to work through the top layers of grime. Boy was I
- surprised to find gorgeous gold decals of phoenix's rising from
- the ashes and such. I VERY GENTLY scrubbed away the rest of the
- grime using water and dishwashing soap. I let the whole thing
- dry for two days and then covered the head (brushed on) with
- several coats of future floor polish. Then I oiled the heck out
- of the insides using sewing machine oil.
-
- Voila! A mear 4 months later (and I thought it was going to be a
- weekend project! :-) it looks gorgeous! Of course the antique
- lovers are horrified but I'm very, very happy with the project.
-
- Now, if you want to keep the antique value of your machine you
- are going to have to take a different tact: immediately go to
- the library and get as many books as you can on restoring
- antiques. Talk to antique dealers. Etc. This is what I did at
- first and is what helped me decide that keeping the antique
- ``value'' was too much work and bother. It can be very rewarding
- for the right person and the right project, but it just wasn't
- for me.
-
- Singer Service Centers actually still do repair and restore
- antique machines -- the _real_ service centers (the ones run by
- Singer, not the ones running in back of a sewing store) have to
- service and repair all machines made by Singer, not just the
- current batch.
-
- As for whether or not to remove the motor: most early treadles
- were indeed ``motorized'' aftermarket. That's how the first
- machines were ``upgraded'' so the owners didn't have to go out
- and buy one of the ``new'' motorized ones and junk their old
- machine. You'll have to look at the job very carefully as
- removing the motor and restoring the machine back to its
- treadle state might not be as easy as you think. That's where
- pictures and information about the original machine would help.
-
- > Are there any books on this stuff? My treadle doesn't have a
- > manual. Is there anything I can do?
-
- Singer Company itself can get you a copy of the original manual
- if you know the model number. Not a catch 22 like you think; a
- call to your local Singer Service Center and a brief description
- of the machine results in a model # in most cases (for example,
- the woman in charge asked what kind of bobbin my machine used and
- how it loaded (front or side of machine) and from that said ``oh,
- you have a #128 vibrating shuttle model.'' The charge for an
- owner's manual is generally around $4. Singer can be reached at
- 1-901-365-6613 to get the number of the offical service center
- nearest you. (In Canada call (514) 359-2000.)
-
- You can also look in the library for books about old sewing
- machines. There's a book available through the Santa Clara
- County Library (Cupertino branch) called _Machine Sewing_ by the
- Singer Sewing Machine Co. and published in 1923 and updated to
- contain all Singer machines through 1938. It tells you
- everything you'd ever want to know about those machines and their
- attachments. Get it on interlibrary loan if you're interested.
- (Santa Clara County library system, Cupertino branch, Card
- catalogue # 646.21 SINGER)
-
-
- 8) Where can I hook up with people to exchange quilt blocks?
-
- Read rec.crafts.textiles.quilting. They regularly have quilt block exchanges
- as well as numerous tips on how to make the perfect blocks.
-
-
- 9) How do I hem jeans?
- (thanks to Ingrid Verbree-Barnes)
- (1) A good needle is important. Some people even suggested needles
- which are made specially for jeans and denim. The size in No. 16.
-
- (2) Flatten the humps with a hammer before you begin to sew.
-
- (3) Prepare the hem differently. The three suggestions given for
- this approach were: (i) Trim excess fabric away from the humps,
- (ii) sew seam tape (or bias tape) onto the hem edge and fold this
- under instead of denim, (iii) cover the raw edge with "Seams Great"
- (a tricot nylon cut into thin strips) and complete the hem.
-
- (4) Get a tool which raises the presser foot to the height of the hump
- created by the seam. Some suggested tools were: (i) a jean-a-ma-jig,
- (ii) a jumper humper, (iii) a freebie from Nancy Zeiman of Oxmoor House
- called a plastic point turner, (iv) cardboard, wood, plastic or folded
- fabric placed under the presser foot.
-
- 10) What are available for children's sewing (ie patterns, fabrics, etc)?
-
- Fabric:
-
- Sewbaby!
- Box 11693
- Champaign, IL 61826
- cfnb@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (Noel Brodsky)
- - $2 catalog refundable with first order. Buy four, get fifth one free.
- Includes apparel, home decor, stuffed toys, nursing garment, and children's
- accessories. Now featuring children's fabric! They stock hard to find
- stretch terry and K.P. Kids fabric. Check out the homepage at
- http://www.sewbaby.com
-
- Dimples
- 914 Southwind CT
- Collinsville IL 62234
- (618) 345-3326
- email - DimplesFab@aol.com
-
- For $5.00 people can receive their catalog and swatches 4-6 times a year.
- They offer Healthex and Osh-Kosh fabrics.
-
- Zoodads - Simply Kidz Fabric
- 1086 Willett Avenue
- East Providence, RI 02915
- (401) 437-2470
-
-
- Sewing Instruction:
-
- Sewing Prose
- Carol Hawkey
- cdhawkey@internetmci.com
- 1-800-729-7182
- http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Dell/3793
-
-
- 11) What are the various patterns available? (paper, computer, services, other)
-
- Paper
- -----
- Obibirim Fashions by Akweley
- Box 44211
- Philadelphia, PA 19144
- - Offers patterns for traditional African clothing. Designed by Akweley
- Ishangi. Reflect West African heritage and culture. Styles for men, women,
- and children. For color brochure, send SASE size 10
-
- Vogue Patterns
- Altoona, PA 16603
- 1-800-766-3619
- Approx $14 for 6 issues; each issue includes a 2-for-the-price-of-1 pattern
- coupon (plus $2 for shipping and handling)
-
-
- Butterick Patterns
- PO Box 569
- Altoona, PA 16603
- 1-800-766-3619
- URL appears to be coming soon.
- Approx $9 for 4 issues; each issue includes a 2-for-the-price-of-1 pattern
- coupon (plus $2 for shipping and handling)
-
-
- McCalls Patterns
- PO Box 3325
- Manhattan, KS 66502-9917
- 1-800-782-0323
- http://www.mccall.com
- Approx $10 for 4 issues; each issues includes a free pattern coupon ($1.50 for
- shipping and handling).
-
-
- Kwik Sew
- 1-612 521-7651
-
-
-
- New Look
- 1-616-683-4100
- http://www.simplicitypatt.com
-
-
- Neue Mode Patterns
- Sullivans (USA) Inc.
- 224 William St.
- Bensenville, IL 60106.
- Orders: 800-862-8586
- - A pattern company similar to Burda. Can be hard to find in U.S.
- sewing stores. For the name of the retailer nearest you, or a free
- mini-catalog if no retailer is near by (1995 entire catalog costs $10),
- write to the above address.
-
-
- Folkwear Patterns
- Taunton Press
- 63 South Main Street
- Box 355
- Newtown, CT 06470-9959
- 1-800-888-8286
- (203) 426-8171 (front desk: ask for ordering or subscription;
- for problems ask for customer service)
- FAX: 203-270-9373
- - $2 for a Folkwear catalog.
-
-
- Stretch and Sew
- 285 Lawrence Street
- Eugene, Oregon
- Phone: (503) 465-4801
- For a free Home Catalog call 800-547-7717, e-mail stretch@rio.com
- or FAX 503-465-8983
- http://www.stretch-and-sew.com/
-
-
- Simplicity
- 1-616-683-4100
- http://www.simplicitypatt.com
- (this URL also has links to New Look and Style)
-
-
-
- Computer
- --------
-
- First, check out this cool web site: http://www.hk.super.net/~rlowe/sew.html
- (thanks, Raymond!)
-
- Symmatry:
- Created by Wild Ginger. This is the closest thing to what they use in industry.
- It's highly recommended by professional pattern makers. Right now, it's only
- available for Windows. However, the owner prefers Macs and runs Symmatry on
- his Power Mac.
-
- Wild Ginger Software, Inc.
- 394 Dover Glen Drive
- Antioch, TN 37013
-
- This is right outside Nashville for those of you wanting to know. Also,
- the local number given for us is no longer correct...it is now:
-
- (615) 360-7526 voice
- (615) 399-2103 fax
-
- However, the toll free number, e-mail and website addresses were
- correct:
-
- (888) 929-9453 toll free
- info@wild-ginger.com
- www.wild-ginger.com
-
-
-
-
- Fittingly Sew:
-
- >> Here is the official note regarding copyrights from the owner.
- From: A. Bartley <72133.3102@CompuServe.COM>
- Bartley Software Inc. has ceased to operate. However, the corporation
- has not been dissolved yet. It is still a legal entity and still owns
- the copyright on Fittingly Sew (R).
-
- A number of organizations have indicated interest in taking over
- Fittingly Sew. When that happens, the new owner will take
- ownership of the copyright.
-
- So the answer is -- it is illegal to copy Fittingly Sew.
-
-
-
- Dress Shop:
-
-
- Personal Patterns by WaterFountain Software:
- 13 E.17 St. 3rd fl
- New York NY 10003
- phone: 1-800-605-7460
- fax: 1-212-929-1025
- http://tribeca.ios.com/~wfsinc
- wfsinc@tribeca.ios.com
-
-
- Services
- --------
-
- Unique Patterns Design Limited
- 1-800-543-i-sew
- http://www.nstn.ca/import/unique/index.html
- - I saw their advertisment in a sewnews. I received information
- that they are now allowing the seamstresses to measure themselves.
- To sign up is about $35US. I received a video and a binder with
- a number of patterns in it. I'll count & give more details. They
- are the basic patterns (skirts, slacks, tunics, jackets) for women.
- The patterns also contain information such as which body shape
- it's recommended for. You order a pattern from this catelog. It
- gets printed on their 72" plotter and mailed to you. So, in theory,
- it's pre-altered for you. I got myself measured and I bought three
- patterns. I was impressed with the quality of the paper...it's the
- nice, solid stuff. The shirt I made cut out easily and was sewn
- together quickly (it was a simple color blocked tank top). I felt
- the instructions were to the point and very clear. And it fit!!
- More when I make the skirt and pants.
-
-
- Creating Your Own
- ------------------
-
- BonFit
- 1-800-258-0555
- - Note: This is what I, the faqkeeper, own & use & I love it.
- A plastic generic pattern piece that can be adjusted in just
- about every direction. There are four kits that can be ordered
- for women's sizes: skirts, pants, shirt, advanced shirt (extra
- collars & templates for princess seaming). What you do is figure
- out what you want to create (ie a pencil skirt with kick pleat
- and patch pockets), measure yourself, add in the ease that you want,
- dial in the information onto the BonFit patterner piece, place
- it on the cloth, trace, double check the measurements to verify
- that it matches your body, make any adjustments, cut the fabric.
- It's not recommended for beginning sewers. You need to have a
- good idea of how to put together garments as there are no cookbook
- directions for garment construction. You can mail Bonfitter@aol.com
- to get a sample newsletter that she maintains.
-
-
- SureFit
- - I'm not really sure what this is for & would love to have someone
- write me up a paragraph description
- But here's what I have from cutting & pasting comments:
- I too use the Sure Fit Pattern system (and have all 4 sets). I have used
- them all and frankly don't know what I would do without them. Making
- costumes for many different sized men and women would be impossible for
- me to do without this basic tool. I have never found a person that the
- pattern didn't cover. I still buy patterns, but I first use the Sure Fit
- pattern to make a sloper for that person, then add the bought pattern
- details to it. I've gotten very good at cutting and pasting!
-
- On the down side, it has taken some experience to get really good at using
- Sure Fit. For one, I have learned to take more measurements than it asks
- for, since not all people are shaped and proportioned the same way (for
- example, I take an upper arm width measurement to make sure the pattern
- has enough ease ever since I got burned once).
-
- The address for Sure-Fit is:
- Sure-Fit Designs
- P.O. Box 5567
- Eugene, Oregon 97405
- (503)344-0422
-
- Glenda Sparling is the lady who designed the system and will give you
- support as you learn how to use it.
-
-
-
- Cut To Fit: How to Make Clothes that Fit
- I got the author Karen Howland to write a blurb for me:
- From: KKHowland@aol.com
- After many frustrating experiences trying to fit commercial patterns to my
- clients, I found a much easier way to fit: make the pattern to fit in the
- first place. This is easier than it sounds, and is really rather fun.
-
- Patternmaking begins with a sloper, a basic fitting pattern that includes
- wearing ease. The sloper represents the needed fit. By designing from this
- sloper, the fit is built into the pattern.
-
- Cut to the Fit explains in a step-by-step format how to draft skirt, bodice,
- and sleeve slopers. Drafting pants is also covered.
-
- To make the math of patternmaking easier, I also have a 30" metal ruler that
- includes a half scale and a quarter scale. No dividing numbers necessary.
-
- Cut to the Fit costs $39.99 plus 4.00 shipping. The ruler is $14.99 plus
- $3.00 shipping when ordered separately, but the book and ruler together are
- $49.99 plus 6.00 postage. Illinois residents please add sales tax to the
- before shipping price. Send check or money order to:
-
- Kensinger Press
- 1316 W. Pine St
- Chillicothe IL 61523
- 888-683-2032
- Alternate # 309-274-4160
- Accepts MasterCard or Visa
-
-
-
-
-
- 12) What are the best scissors? What are the rotary cutters? What
- are the electric cutters?
-
- Best Scissors
- -------------
- The best are really what works for you. Some commonly used scissors are
- gingher, fiskars, and
-
- Electric Cutters
- ----------------
- Sew-Rite Pro Cut
- - Electric rotery cutter that is cordless. Built in blade sharpener.
- Tacony corporation. No review available. They claim that they're
- available at ClothWorld, Fabric Centers of America, House of Fabrics
- and Northwest Fabrics. Price seems to vary. One ad was 99.95. One
- ad was $89 postpaid at Maryland Sewing Machine Center; 6280
- Branch Ave; Camp Springs, MD 20748 (301-899-7200)
-
-
-
- 13) What are Dress Forms and how do I get them?
-
- There are three ways to go about getting a dress form. The first way
- is to check out your local thrift store, a garage sale, flea market,
- or ads in the paper. This is a great way to save money and see if you
- like it well enough. A good friend of mine found one that was almost
- her body measurements for $25 at a garage sale. She didn't need it to
- be exact for this level of her sewing.
-
- Here are some tips on second-hand dress forms: Inspect it carefully,
- inside and out. Test the dials/screws and make sure they turn well.
- They may have gotten rusty, but as long as they are not completely worn
- out, they can be cleaned up and used. Do make sure that it will fit you.
- If you are very large or very small, crank out the dials to the maximum
- and minimum settings and measure the dress form against your form. If
- the fabric covering is ripped and/or stained, just cover the whole thing
- with a thin, snug t-shirt once you've set it to your measurments (this
- will also cover up the dials or the seams between panels).
-
- I think $30 (and under) is a fair price for a used dress form in good
- condition. Anything over $50 is highly suspect, since that is 1/2 the
- price of a decent new one and you might as well save up the money if
- you're that close. Unique and/or vintage dress forms could cost quite a
- bit more, but then, you might not want to use it as a dress form.
- (Thanks to Trystan for the tips on this!)
-
-
- The second way is to make one. There have been articles printed in Threads
- on how to use tape to create a basic form. Local shops and local
- American Sewing Guilds may offer classes. There is one mail order
- kit for creating your own foam dress form. I don't have it with me
- at work, but will type it in to this area when I remember.
-
-
- The final way is to order from a company. There are two types: adjustible
- and non-adjustible. The adjustible is usually made of plastic plates
- with foam on them that can be moved around via dials. The non-adjustible
- is a large foam "body" that gets formed to your figure by means of a
- muslin shell that you fit to yourself and then zip onto the form. I've
- heard that the adjustible can be flimsy. And I've heard that the non-adjustible
- is not very flexible when going through changes (i.e. when gravity starts
- to work).
-
- I sent off a request for information from Dress Rite Forms of Chicago. I
- was impressed with their brochure, but haven't ordered one yet. Personally,
- I would go for a non adjustible and then just add extra pads as needed.
- There is a company out there that sells foam pads for those special places.
-
- Update: Yours Truly was given a Uniquely You for Christmas from Santa Husband.
- I haven't received it yet, but will update this more with my trials and
- tribulations of creating the cover. We stood in line at New York Fabrics
- for 90 minutes because they were having 30% off everything for 3 hours
- only and the forms were on sale for 99. So we were out the door for $75
- (that includes our local sales tax).
-
- I know dress forms exist for men, but haven't really found any information
- on them. Also, I haven't found information on pants forms.
-
- Another tip from a helpful reader:
- If you buy a dress form, it's usually expensive enough that you
- don't want to have to buy another one if you gain 10 pounds (or lose 10
- pounds), and very few women are proportioned exactly as the dress forms
- are. Using towels, pins and a tape measure, pad the dressform with rolled
- towels until it was exactly the right size and evened out. It's a long,
- painful process, but it's worth it.
-
- Another tip from a helpful reader:
- Stuff bras and then position as needed.
-
- NEW: For those who want to make their own dress form from duct tape, check
- out this URL:
-
- http://www2.netcom.com/~leahna/DuctTapeDouble.html
-
-
-
-
- 14) Where can I get an up to date copy of this FAQ?
-
- There are three textile related FAQs that I maintain. The first concentrates
- on general sewing questions and supply information and restoring antique sewing
- machines. The second list concentrates on costuming and historical clothing.
- The third posting contains a list of books that cover sewing, fitting and
- pattern drafting.
-
- Do check out: http://www.softworld.com/sewing/sewdir.htm
- as it has a great number of resources as well as pointers to
- other FAQs.
-
- When looking for a FAQ list, first do the obvious and check the relevant
- newsgroup for articles with "FAQ" in the subject line. If you don't know how
- to check articles marked as read, your sysadmin can tell you. Next, try the
- group news.answers since this FAQ is crossposted there. Again, your sysadmin
- can tell you the commands to use in searching.
-
- If you cannot find the FAQ on your system, you can retrieve a copy from
- Jonathan Kamen's archive of periodic postings. For general instructions on
- the server, send email containing the commands "help" and "send index" (no
- quotes, separate lines) to
- mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu
- For a list of all periodic postings that are archives in news.answers, email
- the command "send usenet/news.answers/index" to the server.
-
- via anonymous FTP:
- Periodic postings including FAQs are archived at "rtfm.mit.edu" in the
- directory "/pub/usenet". The textile FAQs are:
- /pub/usenet/news.answers/crafts/textiles/faq/part1
- /pub/usenet/news.answers/crafts/textiles/faq/part2
- /pub/usenet/news.answers/crafts/historical-costuming
- /pub/usenet/news.answers/crafts/textiles/books/part1
- /pub/usenet/news.answers/crafts/textiles/books/part2
- /pub/usenet/news.answers/crafts/textiles/books/part3
-
- via email server:
- The address of the server is mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu. To retrieve files,
- send email to the server with a blank subject and one or more of these lines
- in the body:
- send usenet/news.answers/crafts/textiles/faq/part1
- send usenet/news.answers/crafts/textiles/faq/part2
- send usenet/news.answers/crafts/historical-costuming
- send usenet/news.answers/crafts/textiles/books/part1
- send usenet/news.answers/crafts/textiles/books/part2
- send usenet/news.answers/crafts/textiles/books/part3
-
-
- via FidoNet:
- If you're on FidoNet, you can get the FAQs from Needles_Threads.
- Just send a message to the Moderator, and she will see to it you
- get a copy.
-
- via WWW:
- Check out:
- http://www.jcave.com/~dybitter/faqs.html
-
- End of Part 2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- /\ /\ | lfabans@adobe.com (Lara Fabans)
- . . |--------------------------------------------------------------
- = = | Adobe Systems Publishing Division
- v |
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- - Lara Fabans - Adobe FrameMaker UNIX Platform QA 408-536-6610
-