msmcknittington | Call me!

I really want to order my dressmaker's dummy. I'm prepared; I have the funds. I finally got a newsletter from All Brands, and I'm ready to use my discount code. Five dollars off! That's like a quarter of the shipping charges.

But Uniquely You won't return my phone calls, and apparently they don't have a website. I called them on Thursday before noon and left a message on their answering machine, thinking they'd call me back on Monday. Only they didn't. So I called again on Tuesday. Still no response. People, this is no way to run a business. Seriously, phone calls should be returned within two days.

Since I'd like to have my dummy before May, so I can set the skirt of my kirtle on it and think of a clever name for her, I'm turning to my friends list to figure out what size I should pick. I know at least a couple of you have Uniquely You dummies.

So the sitch is this: I'm between sizes on the chart at All Brands. My hips currently measure 41 inches, which tells me to select a size Medium form, but my bust measurement is 43 inches, which pushes me up a form size. Unfortunately, my waist measurement is currently 31 inches, and that's too small for a Medium-Large sized form.

Apart from the challenge of being shaped like an egg-timer, I also need to consider corsetry, since I'd like to use this for historic costuming, too. My Tudorbethan stuff take about an inch off my waist, but my Victorian corset (which languishes as muslin), gives me a waist measurement of 27 inches, no problem. I could get smaller, but it laces closed at this point. Should I just write off being able to match my corseted measurements with a Uniquely You dummy and just keep my duct tape double around for that?

Right now, I think I'll order a Medium dummy with a size 9 cover. Does that sound like the best choice to everyone? Am I overthinking this?

_{P.S. tattycat I've named the icon I'm using with this post "Hoof Hearted." *immature giggle storm*}

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If you get the larger size (which is what I did) it will have NO ablity to squish down, 'cause you will have "used up" all the squish getting it down to your size.

Don't know what problems will result from getting the smaller size - I am contemplating that one m'self :-S

That's what I've heard. I believe someone (Semptress?) described corseting a Uniquely form as taking extreme persuasion.

I'm not really sure I agree with selecting a form based on hip size, since nothing I sew is really dependent on fitting nicely through the hips. I don't like form-fitting skirts, and once you've got a bumroll or bustle in place, it doesn't really matter what your hip measure is. I'd rather select a form based on shoulder shape and measurement.

Yep, "extreme persuasion" is a very apt descritpion! It took 2 people to manhandle the zipper on mine closed - and even with that, it was not easy.

I'm pretty tiny, and I got the smallest size which I had to squish *all* the way down for my back and waist, which totally sucked and took me months of procrastination. but my hips and butt are normal sized, which wound up being bigger than the size small. so I stuffed that with batting, which works reasonably well, since that's not an area that gets squished in any of the clothing I make.

in summary? I'd recommend you go smaller because it's easier to pad up than squish down.

I think that's the way I'm going to go, especially since this summer is probably going to result in some weight loss, now that winter's over and it's not dangerous to go outside anymore.

When I bought mine I was between sizes and at the store they told me to buy the bigger size because it "Squishes" down a lot. It seemed to work though I haven't sewn things on it yet to see if they fit correctly.

I'm think I'm going with the smaller size, on the theory that I'm more likely to get smaller in the future than larger. I'd have to gain a sizeable amount of weight before the larger size had as much usefulness as the smaller one.

I have no idea. I hate when they only give you medium or large... like people can fit in one.

My grandmother has one where you dial the size. It has a spring of five inches so you can alter it per project depending. She sews for multiple people sometimes so she needed flexibility.

I would go with the waist and maybe pad the other parts with batting and cover with muslin to compensate...

I decided against a dialed form because they don't handle extreme differences between bust/hip and waist measurements very well. I think the number that most people found it stopped being useful was a difference of about 8 inches, and my difference is more like 13 inches.

Also, the Uniquely You form is cheaper and has better reviews. So score!

Edited 2008-04-03 18:56 (UTC)

Thank you for telling me (well, us) that! I'm not really a sewer YET but the dial-a-form seemed really cool. My hip to waist ratio is a difference of 14" though. Glad to have not wasted my money yet.

(8 inches? That's IT? I mean, it's not like 8 inches is small :: snerk snerk ::, but a LOT of women have a bigger difference than that).

Yeah, I thought it was kind of poorly thought out, as well. I think I first read about it in the comments section on Joann.com. From what I read about dials popping off, springs wearing out, and difficulty in getting it to remotely resemble a human form, I decided my money was better spent on a UY form.

I'd definitely go with the smaller, as many have already said. Always MUCH easier to pad up. My costume shop days have many, many memories of padding up dummies. (Oooh, that's another detail I need to stick in my theatre book. Thanks!)

Good luck! That sounds like an exciting purchase.

I ordered it last night -- Medium, size 9 cover. I think I got a little adrenaline rush as I clicked "complete". I'm so excited!

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