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 This is a Mother's Day special, so it may be withdrawn very shortly, so get on over there!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:
- 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?!)
- You need to stand
for a long time and with my "foot issues" I can't do that, so I'd be
cranky too
- 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
- 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...
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.
Posted by: lazylol | Sunday, 18 March 2007 at 17:38
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.
Posted by: Julie | Sunday, 18 March 2007 at 22:50
Heres a site you might want to check out if you are feeling especially crafty :)
http://www.leanna.com/DuctTapeDouble/
Posted by: ann cruzen | Monday, 19 March 2007 at 05:27