Duct Tape Dummy Tutorial - Tumblr Posts

My sister helped me get my duct tape dummy done this weekend! This is a great low cost alternative to sewing dummies you find for $100 or more, especially for plus size people like me.

This is something I don’t think a lot of people know about so I’ll make this my official first tutorial even though I know nobody reads this. But that’s ok.

Supplies needed: An old t-shirt Lots of duct tape (I needed almost 3 rolls, but my rolls were kind of small and I’m kind of big) Lots of pillow batting (I bought 4 cheap pillows from Wal-Mart and cut them open, costed me about $12) Scissors (duh) A pole (I used an old paint roller pole I bought at Lowe’s for like $3) A Christmas tree stand (I unfortunately had to buy this before Christmas so it was $8. You might find one on sale after Christmas or check thrift stores and yard sales) A friend Optional, 2 cans of expanding foam and something to use as a drop cloth or tarp if the foam is used indoors

Total cost, about $35. Way cheaper than a traditional sewing dummy.

Total time spent actually working on the dummy, approximately 4 hours.

I do not have process pictures for this, but I really don’t think they’re necessary to understand each step.

Tutorial:

Step 1) Pick out a friend to help you! This is definitely a two person job.

2) Pick out an old, fairly form fitting t-shirt that you don’t mind never seeing again. I suggest one that covers most of your upper arms if you want your dummy to have accurate representation of your shoulders.

3) Put on old t-shirt and have friend place strips of the duct tape on the shirt. Cover the whole thing. Get under your arms. Around your collar. Make sure they do atleast 2 full layers to make it stiff enough.

4) Have friend cut you out of the duct tape shirt. Cut along your spine. They may need to pull the shirt off of you from the front. I couldn’t move my arms enough to pull it off myself.

5) Tape up the cut seam and neck area. Do not overlap or it won’t be accurate.

6) Optional, place dummy upside down on your drop cloth and place pole in center. Spray one can of expanding foam around the pole and shoulder area. Follow your foam’s directions for cure time. Allow the foam to fully cure before proceeding to step 7. Leave your dummy upside down with support for the pole so it doesn’t slip out of place and allow foam to cure. If you choose not to use expanding foam, proceed immediately to this next step.

7) Fill with pillow batting. Stuff it full. You want your dummy to be kind of stiff, not fluffy like a pillow. I used 4 full pillows to get it full enough.

8) If it’s not already in place, place your pole in the center of your dummy now.

9) I used one of the cut open pillow cases to cover the open bottom of the shirt. Again, do not overlap. Using more duct tape to cover this area is also an option, I just found it easier to use the scrap fabric since the area that needed covered was so big.

10) Optional, use the second can of expanding foam to fill in the arms. Since it expands, be careful how much you use here. I filled the arms about halfway with pillow batting before spraying in the foam. Again, allow the foam to fully cure before proceeding to step 11.

11) Place stand on end of pole and stand upright.

You now have a fully functional dress form for a fraction of the cost and a little time!