Restoring a Vintage Dress Form: Studio Day with Designer Lucretia*Renee

Welcome to my Dark Fusion Boutique studio located in Portland, Oregon. Today, I will be doing something a little different, I will be re-vamping an old dress form . Join me! ~Lucretia*Renee
LINKS::
darkfusionboutique.etsy.com
darkfusionboutique
Instagram@darkfusionboutique

[@sharilynunthank6874]

Getting ready to re cover one as well, older but not vintage and her original fabric was turning to dust everytime you touched it. Very helpful!!

[@Cass_772]

You did a good job!

[@awreystar]

Nice work, lady! She looks great! 😘

[@larissagoosen4735]

Im using this video as a guide... wish me luck 😂

[@KellyAmandaMuller]

She looks so nice!! So well done. I'm trying to get the guts to reupholster mine (not vintage, but very old), so your honest DIY was super helpful! Thank you and well done again!

[@ericjesse3753]

InstaBlaster...

[@jeangarver1249]

Just restored an old dress form and thank you much so much for your video it was a big help I did not remove the old material, thinking it would help to have the extra padding or seal the cardboard because I didn't have a lot of time but it came out great and your video made it possible!♡

[@ophilianecr]

Just wanted to thank you for this video🖤🖤. Yours is STILL the only video on an adjustable dress form, instead of the traditional static mannequins. I just inherited an adjustable dress form from my late mom, and while it's not "super vintage"; it's from the late 90's. The material is coming off and I've been wondering HOW to repair it. Glue it back? Take it off and reattach new one?🤔 I'm glad to see that it doesn't need to be a "perfect process"; it just has to work for what I need. 😊 I think I'll be adding some foam under the new fabric to shape my body better, using techniques others have shown in some videos. Thanks for this! I hope you upload some new stuff! 🖤💕🖤💕

[@robervar1097]

Fun-tastic! Thanks for making this video , I picked up a 1900s all original thick black cardboard, never had fabric. Its rickety so I'm using your wonderful (diet goth aura) 😁 enthusiasm to get me to start tightening and rebending those adjustable sliding bands inside her . But leaving her as is .Luv to see someone do a 2-3 tone fabric, thanks and God bless

[@pattyw96]

i have a BODY DOUBLE dress form (not vintage) the fabric is apparently put on with maybe a spray adhesive.... well ..the adhesive has "let loose" i need to replace it...and you are right...i found NO videos on how to recover an adjustable dress form....im doing it to use for my sewing ( not just for a prop),,, you gave me a good starting point..so glad to have found you!!!

[@TheVelvetKitten]

I just found her sister over here in California, waiting all abandoned on the street. I couldn't get her in the car fast enough! I love her and am so glad to know she can be reupholstered. Mine looks as bad or worse than yours. I'm still messing with her to see if I can expand her, but I feel as if I need to be careful cause she's a senior citizen (of fashion) …. she is just lovely. You did a great job. Now I know to use pin-able 4 way stretch fabric an clothes pins! You rule.

[@jesusmendoza4823]

Nice video, I just bought an old dress form from a local antique store, and was curious if I could reupholster it. Very helpful

[@MelLiftsAndThrifts]

I'm reupholstering a vintage one from the 30s-40s! I took the gal apart, and used a rust remover to remove all the rust bc nobody wants tetanus ! I also used a polyethruene gloss over each cardboard panel to seal the cardboard since it's ancient LOL. I used a jersey knit, marble print stretch fabric and used contact cement and clips for 10 min each to secure the fabric and glue. My boyfriend is building a wooden base for her where I intend to glue some marble fabric over her. Hoping the dress form will be used to create wedding dresses over but also realizing modern day dress forms have foam material to stick pins through, you cant exactly do that with the vintage ones! so i'll be curious how the pins hold up on her.

[@DarkFusionBoutique]

Wow! You are REALLY doing a good job with restoration!!! I can kinda sorta use pins on mine, but they only hold onto the top fabric I used to apolster her. Glad you were clever and used faster drying glue than I! Good luck with the rest :)

[@mrsducky3428]

At some point, I inherited my great grandmothers dress form. Looks very similar to this one. Just recently reduced my weight enough to start using it, and of course, it needs repair first. The idea of the polyethylene gloss and contact cement gets me to thinking that I might be able to use that to hold headliner in place for that bit of padding needed to hold pins! Thank you!

[@tracyphoenix8]

How well did the contact cement go when you pulled the knit over to the back side of the form and glue with it? Did it hold the pulled knit fabric in place? Did you have to use clamps? I was thinking of using an adhesive spray. I wonder how long cement glue holds. I use adhesive spray for artwork and it's great. The old original fabric on the form held like crazy and it probaby used spray adhesive. Planning on using poly batting over form front for pins. Don't really need to slip edges to the back of the dress form.

[@irenemcwilliams4859]

Can't wait to get to that point! you did a great job. I have acquired a Sally Stitch with the expandable waist section. She is missing 3 of the button covers. Any ideas where I could find some?

[@rebeccaallen421]

Nice video!!! I did see another video which was good too. I think the dress form name is Mildred. She did take her completely apart though. Thanks again

[@MaddnessCreations]

I want to thank you for this video. I bought the same dress form, used for 20dollars cad, but she had seen better days. She has sat in the corner with a sweater on. I had no idea what I was going to do. Until i saw this video. I'm sure this would be easier to do, if i took it apart, but she had rivets, and i just dont want too lol.

[@orangetigerlilylane1111]

found one of these at the goodwill and am going to use your video to help restore her ! About how many yards of fabric did you need for the project ? I need to think of a good name for her. Thanks xoxo

[@dixiepiscitello4477]

Do NOT take it apart!! I just did to clean the fabric on mine (fabric was in AWESOME shape ((he he)). It was such a PIA to try and put it back together. It took 3 of us to do it. Mind you, it might have be easier if I would have labeled the pieces before I took it apart. LMAO. But, it is still is small space to work in and I have small hands and wrists. Yours looks amazing and I am going to tag this video if I should ever have to replace my fabric. Thank You.

[@davestroud1499]

Hi from the UK. My wife watched your video and loved it, she now wants to re-cover her dress form too. She's curious to know what type of material did you finally use (it looks stretchy)? Also how much material did you buy and what type of glue did you use which won't bleed through the material? And yes! You are correct; there doesn't seem to be any other videos about refurbishing dress forms here on KZbin. Kind Regards Jan & Dave.

[@DarkFusionBoutique]

Hello hello! I purchased some sort of medium weight stretch knit that was not 'smooth'. I avoided smooth fabrics because clothes slip right off of smooth dressforms. The knit or rough fabric also doesn't show pin holes. While shopping,, I kept in mind the glue issue, I chose a fabric that would hide glue seeping thru. I mainly applied glue to the edges of the fabrics which were tucked under or adhering to inside of dressform. As far as how much fabric to get?: I bought too much, cant remember how much I purchased but I was able to use the remaining scraps for other projects. I used Tacky Glue, not sure if Tacky Glue is available in the UK. Ok! Thanks for watching, hope I answered your questions, good luck ;)

[@denisekindacraftyo2635]

Thank you. I just found one at the thrift & she also had one too many.

[@sacredrose5477]

My dress form looks the same as the one you removed the fabric from

[@inkcorporate5132]

Hi I found the same dressmaker mannequin as the one you redid. I like to ask you how much fabric you needed to buy to cover her. Plus what type of fabric you used. Was it a stretch knit or....? Thanks

[@amyportofe-fala1878]

I think you might be the only video for recovering dress forms, especially the formed paper mache ones! Searched everywhere and only found tutorials on how to “make” one. This has been helpful because mine is similar to yours. So far, I took the entire thing apart and cleaned the wing nuts and support pieces in Naval Jelly to remove rust. Then buffed them with steel wool. Next, removed all the old fabric and going to take the advise of a person below who coated the paper mache in a water based polyurethane top coat. Planning to use a heavier type fabric similar to Barkcloth, which doesn’t have any stretch, so may need to sew a few darts on the curves. Probably using hot glue for edges because it dries fast and is strong enough to be able to pull the fabric tight to the other side. Is there a way to post photos on here? Would love to see everyone ‘s completed forms!

[@mrsducky3428]

At some point, I inherited my great grandmothers dress form. Looks very similar to this one. Just recently reduced my weight enough to start using it, and of course, it needs repair first. The idea of the polyethylene gloss and contact cement gets me to thinking that I might be able to use that to hold headliner in place for that bit of padding needed to hold pins! Thank you!

[@ChristineBanks-yf9qm]

I recently purchased one the redo. How many yards did it take

[@countcoupblessings979]

If anyone has undone the metal inside done care , cleaning & de- rusting...then put it back together... please let me know . I have one in a storage unit that has been infiltrated with mice . So I'm weighing the pros and cons of the possibility of restoration.

[@altsummoner3630]

e6000

[@jodibrewster6214]

Hi I have a vintage bust and it has been taken apart so I'm looking for instructions how to get it back together. Would you have any suggestion?

[@screaming_creations]

My mother has recently found me a dress form from the same company however a size b. She is definitely in good condition but I'm curious about the mechanisms and the proper way to size her. As much as I wanna keep her original fabric some of the bolts have come loose and need to be reglued too haha.

[@screaming_creations]

Actually no she is Acme brand but the same mechanisms

[@altsummoner3630]

If you need more size than you can actually get then you can buy or make padding for your form

[@Babeangel2737]

I fpund a beautfiul dress form from way back in the day! But, her mechanisms are rusty. Any advice?

[@DarkFusionBoutique]

If WD40 doesn't work, I know there's an automotive product that can help. Know anyone who is a mechanic?!

[@TheVelvetKitten]

That would be rough, if WD40 doesn't work, you can always pad her to make her your size.

[@amyportofe-fala1878]

Soak in Naval (navel) Jelly. Found in hardware department.

[@kimberlygerig9723]

I have a dress form that I am planning on transforming, however. Some of the dials are missing. Do you know where I can find replacement ones? I feel they are out there, but havent been able to find the correct keyword.

[@robervar1097]

I'm sure u solved it by now , but did she talk about (dials ) inside are things like wingnuts , the adjustable screw for height can be many things depending on aesthetics u want on , ( modern dress form , parts , knobs , ) honey comb finial tops . / curtain rod ends can be used for top ,

[@donnacarroll9742]

I bought a vintage dress form I have lost my remote control for my vintage dress form please can anyone tell me we're I can get a remote control to replace my one I lost