Call me!

[msmcknittington]

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*}

Comments

My 2 cents

[sbuchler.livejournal.com]

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

Re: My 2 cents

[msmcknittington.livejournal.com]

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.

Re: My 2 cents

[sbuchler.livejournal.com]

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.