Found a weird hack for draping tricky fabrics on a dress form

I was struggling with a slippery silk charmeuse for a client's gown last month. The fabric kept sliding off my dress form no matter how many pins I used. Out of desperation I tried stretching a cheap knit jersey cover over the form first. The silk grabbed onto it like magic and stayed put through the whole draping process. Saved me at least 2 hours of frustration on that project. Has anyone else tried layering fabrics like this or have a different trick for slippery materials?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_robin1mo ago

Nah I gotta disagree with this one. The jersey cover trick sounds like it would work but honestly it just adds another layer of bulk and potential slippage. I've been burned by cheap knit covers that start bunching up under the draping. For slippery silks I just use a spray baste or a light mist of water on the form itself. That surface tack holds the fabric down without any extra fabric getting in the way. Plus you don't risk the jersey shifting and messing up your grainlines. Just my two cents though, whatever works for your project.

jake_walker1mo ago

Wait, wait - you actually spray water on your dress form? Like a mister bottle or something? I mean, no disrespect @the_robin, but I've had water leave weird hard water spots on lighter colored silks that took forever to steam out. And spray baste always made me nervous about residue getting into the fabric. I guess if you've got a setup that works for you, more power to you, but I'd be scared stiff watching water touch a fresh cut of charmeuse.