Creating a Duct Tape Body Double

Before Zoe returned to Santa Cruz, we spent several hours wrapping her in duct tape to create a DIY dress form.   There are many step-by-step tutorials and videos online about how to do this.  I used the instructions from Thread's book, "Fitting for Every Figure."

Before you start, you have to tape a strip of cardboard or oaktag down the model's back.  When the wrapping is done and its time to remove the form, you cut along and through this strip.  Over the cardboard strip, your victom, er, model, puts on a long disposable T-Shirt, which will remain permanently inside the finished form.

You begin by doing a kind of Cross-Your-Heart with tape across the bust area.  Then you start to methodically encircle the model with varying strips of duct tape.

 The first layer is horizontal, second is vertical, and the final third layer wraps horizontal again.  

First Layer of Wrapping Accomplished

The book said it takes about $15 for supplies and 2 hours to do.  My experience was more like $25 and 3 hours, as we ran out of duct tape between the 2nd of 3 layers and had to send out for more tape during lunch.

Lunch Break between layers 2 and 3 

The book suggested using a decorative duct tape for the final layer, but we went with the industrial look.  

3rd Layer Done

After finishing the 3rd round of wrapping, I cut down the cardboard strip in back and removed the form from her body.

Zoe and her double before stuffing 

After we set Zoe free, I taped the form back together, reinforced the boobs with foam shoulder pads, stuffed the form with fiberfill, and plugged the bottom with fiber-core board.   

Fully Stuffed Clone

If I ever make another one,  I will:

1)  Start with a thinner T-Shirt - ours was very thick and

2) Make sure we have enough supplies!  

I hope the form proves useful as I sew without my live model.  It certainly is cheaper than buying and customizing a decent quality dress form, which can easily run into the $350-$400 dollar range!