When making or altering clothes, a sewing dummy is a must-have accessory. While a simple pattern may be sufficient for the construction of some clothes, the Sewing Dummy (also known as a Mannequin and Seamstress Bust) can be invaluable as you advance in your sewing skills. In the end, whether you’re looking for a mannequin to snap photos, or make apparel for business or pleasure, your needs and budget will determine which bust you wind up purchasing.
What is a Sewing Mannequin (Dress From)
To accurately collect measurements, fine-tune your pattern, and make alterations or tweaks to clothing while using a sewing machine or serger, a designer will need a dummy with a bust that mimics a human’s dimensions. When you want to make something from scratch, you need a sewing dummy.
There is a wide range of mannequins for tailoring – sometimes called Dress Forms, or sewing mannequins/dummies, but they all mean the same thing. They typically feature a foam layer that makes it simple to secure your fabric pieces in place with pins while you make alterations. While most mannequins merely feature a bust, tailoring mannequins typically have the option of attaching limbs and altering torso width.
Here’s our roundup of some of the best sewing mannequins for pros and hobbyists. Plus, a guide on how to choose your next dress form.
Adjustoform Sew Simple 8 Part Adjustable Mannequin
Among the several available adjustable dressforms, the Adjustoform is a top seller. This model is not only highly adaptable, but it also provides accurate measurements for creating garments in sizes S (10-18), and M (16 – 22). This bust’s 12 wheels allow you to quickly and precisely tailor the mannequin to your body’s proportions.
You may pin your sewing patterns, fabrics, or outfits with ease thanks to the foam-padded fabric exterior. Easily adjust the form to your height with the help of the adjustable height feature. You can’t go wrong with the Adjustoform sewing mannequin if you’re on a tight budget. Although it’s labelled as a “beginner” dress form, it certainly has a premium feel and features.
- Available in two model sizes S & M
- You may customise your fit around the bust, waist, hips, and neck with 12 separate settings.
- Adjustable height stand
- Durable and vibrant Poppy Red Nylon fabric
- 2-year guarantee
Prym Prymadonna Dress Form Dummy
The Prymadonna is an adjustable sewing mannequin that comes in a variety of sizes, making it perfect for both experienced and novice sewers. This figure features 12 separate buttons that allow you to customise its fit at the chest, waist, hips, and even the neck for a more comfortable fit and more visually pleasing neckline. All these areas can be tweaked independently of one another for finer control.
This model features an adjustable foot for use with children of varying ages. This bust has a foam-reinforced nylon cover, making it ideal for pinning and marking before you begin sewing. The skirt rounder and built-in pin holder on this model are extra time savers. After reading this, you should have a good idea of why the Prymadonna sewing mannequin is such a good purchase for quickly and easily realising your own designs.
- Available in S (UK 10 – 16), M (UK 16 – 20), L (UK 20 – 24)
- 13 individual adjustments control the bust, hips, and neck
- Adjustable height and rotation stand
- A nip-fastening straightener for skirts
- Built-in holder for pinning
- 4 sturdy plastic feet for support
Adjustoform Lady Valet Mannequin
The Adjustoform Lady Valet bust is an eight-piece, height- and width-adjustable sewing mannequin with 12 adjustment knobs. It can be customised to fit your exact chest, waist, neck, and hip measurements. Featuring a polycotton exterior and a foam interior, this design comes in two sizes (38/44 and 44/50), allowing you to pin fabrics and patterns with ease as your imagination runs wild.
The Adjustoform mannequin dummy’s natural wood neck strap and foot support give it a strong sophisticated design that will complement the decor of your sewing space while giving exceptional stability when working.
- Premium wood finish
- You may customise your fit around the bust, waist, hips, and neck with 12 separate settings.
- Superb steadiness
Types of Dress Form Dummy
As with the vast majority of sewing supplies, there is a wide variety of sewing dummies available. There are primarily three varieties of sewing mannequins, each suitable for use by novices and experts alike.
Fixed Mannequin
You can’t go wrong with these stationary sewing mannequins if you need a low-priced mannequin with fairly conventional specifications or if you plan on using it for product photography. All of the measurements for a tailoring dummy are set at the factory; you can’t make any adjustments.
In order to facilitate pinning on all sides, they are typically constructed from plastic and coated in a linen or jersey fabric. Be mindful of proportions when shopping for a fixed-seam breast; some models include unattainable measurements.
There are a few key points:
- Ideal for hanging or photographing
- Swelling to unnatural heights
- Reasonable Costs
Adjustable Sewing Mannequin
Adjustable sewing mannequins have mechanisms that allow the different components of the mannequin (bust, neck, hips, chest, height, etc.) to be moved farther or closer to accommodate a variety of clothing sizes. These mannequins for sewing are a bit more costly than the traditional static displays. However, they allow you to accurately duplicate a variety of body types and may be tailored to your specifications in order to achieve your ideal look.
Plastic tailor busts with wheels make it simple to relocate as needed. The models and their adjusting mechanisms make them more delicate, though. If you expand a given area, you may find that the empty space between the panels makes it difficult to pin your fabrics in the right places.
Adjustable sewing mannequins offer:
- proportions that can be changed at will
- Useful for tailoring custom items at home and accommodating a range of sizes
- Substantial cost savings while still maintaining the same level of lightweightness
Professional Sewing Mannequin
The highest-end versions of these sewing mannequins can cost over £1,000, but it’s not necessary to spend this much for home projects as cheaper models do the same job.
Those who work in the fashion industry, particularly in tailoring, fashion design, design studios, or who want to start their own clothing lines would find them very useful. The materials used in the construction of these professional mannequins for the sewing industry are of a higher quality and yield more strength.
They come in a variety of sizes and forms, too, but lack the flexibility of buttons for fine-tuning. Many tailoring mannequins feature drop shoulders and an adjustable height, making draping and collecting measurements a breeze.
- Body-hugging, height-adjustable, and shoulder-detachable waistband
- Designed for experienced or expert sewers
- High-quality deluxe components
Criteria for Buying a Mannequin for Sewing
There are a wide variety of mannequin models available, each with its own set of distinguishing features. You should get the model that meets your needs, whether in terms of price or the type of stitching you plan to do. Dressmaking and tailoring mannequins vary primarily in terms of their presentation, size, shape, construction, and cost.
Adjustable Setting
Adjustable dressmaker busts are a must-have when working with clients of varying sizes. These models allow for a variety of alterations, including increased or decreased bust size and altered body circumference. In addition, they can be helpful if you have a history of rapid weight gain and loss.
These dress forms allow you to make alterations around the bust, waist, hips, and neck by means of buttons or dials. These movable regions can function independently of one another to provide a higher degree of personalization. The better your sewing mannequin’s range of adjustments, the more likely you are to be able to accurately replicate specific morphologies.
Dummy Body Shape
Because every person has a different age, gender, and physical build, it’s important that your mannequin may be customised to fit your specific demands (man, woman or child). In order to work on the figure in a comfortable and safe manner, height adjustment can be crucial.
When searching for a designer bust, size is just as important as form. Taking your measurements will help you discover the perfect tailoring mannequin to showcase your unique shape. If you need to make clothes for many different people’s sizes, think about using a basic pattern.
To accommodate a range of garment sizes, mannequins are typically sold in multiple sizes (Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large). Since sizes vary by manufacturer, you should always check their sizing chart instead of going by your bust measurement.
When in doubt, choose the smaller of the two sizes offered by the model. You can always add more padding to get the ideal shape if you have to keep adjusting the sizes to fit the measurements.
Build Materials
Dressmaker busts are typically fabricated from plaster, polystyrene, foam, or plastic so that pins can be readily inserted and removed. The use of pins is possible with these materials without risking permanent injury to the bust. Some designs additionally feature a replaceable or washable lining, which is convenient for those who frequently use chalks or pens.
Stand feet
The foot of the sewing dummy should be carefully considered because it ensures steady support for professional results. This has three, four, or five legs, depending on the design, and may also include little wheels for portability. The durability, quality, weight, and cost of a sewing mannequin can all be affected by the material used for the bust support foot.
Pinning
In order to facilitate the pinning process, some sewing mannequins are constructed differently. Models with a thin foam layer can only be pinned at an angle, whereas those with a thicker and firmer layer can be pinned in all directions. It’s true that these mannequins are more expensive, but their durability and ability to support heavier textiles make them worthwhile.
Price Range
The cost of a mannequin can range from £100, depending on the quality of the materials used and the number of attainable modifications. Price disparities across models might be substantial, so it’s important to shop around and compare offerings before making a final selection.
With that said, a reputable mannequin for around £200 would be ideal for a home sewing setup.
Verify your measurements against the size chart instead of relying on the sizing of a dressmaker’s model.
Adding more foam or padding to a sewing dummy is a simple way to make it a more suitable size. Since the opposite is impossible, a more compact form factor is preferable.
Sewing for a wide range of body types requires a tailor’s bust that can be adjusted to fit a variety of pads, each of which can be used to replicate a specific morphotype.
