Calling all thrifty girls

Just to let you know...

I have been lusting after a dressform since Caroline showed us hers back in January, and Jeanie B revealed that her friend's son (not her son's friend - I think I mistakenly bestowed a third child on her) found a pristine one and passed it on to her - in fact you can see it modelling a rather gorgeous wrap top on her blog right now. 

My lovely parents and brother - mwah, mwah - are sending me some spondulicks for the birthday and I decided that it would be well-spent on a dressform.  Ok, might be better spent on the overdraft but that's not how birthday presents work, ok?  Shamelessly benefitting from Caroline's research, I decided to check out the site she ordered hers from, and found this offer - £99 which seems like a pretty good deal as I think it's the same model that's for sale at John Lewis for £185. This is a Mother's Day special, so it may be withdrawn very shortly, so get on over there!

Don't get me wrong, I love John Lewis - particularly as it's one of the last places you can buy paper patterns in London.  And in my second thrifty tip of the day, Simplicity patterns are 50% off there, and at Peter Jones at the moment.  Go and stock up.

In an earlier attempt to be thrifty, I got a dressform from Freecycle back in the summer. But the whole idea about making a stand for her just wasn't working - plus to be fair, the actual body was knackered.  So I tried.  And now I'm going to be lying in wait for the postman.

* * * * *

As Ann kindly pointed out,  there is of course the option of making your own form.  Which would be infinitely thriftier - have you guessed that my definition of 'thrifty' is somewhat elastic?) -  but as I "justified" to Ann, there are a number of reasons that it would not be a good idea for me:

1. You need a second person ideally, to help wrap you and I can't imagine subjecting any of my friends to taping me up (dammit, where's a husband when you need one?!)
   
2. You need to stand for a long time and with my "foot issues" I can't do that,  so I'd be cranky too
   
3. I decided to go for something that I liked the look of, as well as being a practical thing and the duct tape dollies are just so ugly and
   
4. I already completely failed to find something that could be a stand for Hilary so I despaired of getting one for this. 
   

Even though a custom-fit form would be amazing, I'm not sure I can cope with that reality right now.  Instead I'm going to pretend that I have a perfectly smooth albeit well padded figure - oh, and no head and one tripod leg then too I guess.... um...

Comments

[lazylol]

Hope the postman arrives soon! I have a dressform which cost me more than yours and it has a rubbish plastic stand which I have broken. I have only had it a couple of years at the most. The one you are getting looks much better quality.

[Julie]

OOOh I have always admired dressforms but being a crappy seamstress have never been able to justify getting one. They're just nice things to have - enjoy yours when she arrives.

[ann cruzen]

Heres a site you might want to check out if you are feeling especially crafty :)
http://www.leanna.com/DuctTapeDouble/