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Kat Klebenow
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Blog: Kat Makes

Adventures in Obsession

insta-snip-dress-form.jpeg

Project Wedding Dress, Chapter 3: Padding my Dress Form

November 13, 2017

It's not that the dress form is a required tool for all sewing, but for this project, and my process, having one will shave hours - probably days - off the time it takes to create. That, and a dress form is a uniquely suitable place to store a wedding dress safely, leading up to its debut.

At home, my dress form (Lucille, an adjustable form originally purchased and used by my great grandmother) was responsible for the creation of three prom dresses before I had any drafting skills at all, along with countless draped projects with varying degrees of success. It's hard to ship a mannequin halfway across the world though, so now I've got Pearl.

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When I received her, the adjustable part of her pole was seized with rust - nothing a little elbow grease and a lot of WD-40 couldn't fix! Pearl is another adjustable dress form, this time made of fiberglass with a knit fabric cover. In most cases, if you're looking, it's best to get a non-adjustable dress form just a bit smaller than your measurements, but I'm so small that non-adjustable forms are nearly all my size or larger, whereas most standard adjustable forms will size down well enough to work. Especially the vintage ones.

But - for draping a close-fitting dress, Pearl's not going to work for me unless she's shaped exactly like me, and in her original form she's really, really not.

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Shaping can be done with batting, fabric scraps, or anything with a bit of depth so that you can sculpt curves where curves are necessary. My parents gave me a set of Fabulous Fit foam pads for Christmas years and years ago, so I'm using those as a jumping off point. There's a lot of information available on padding out a dress form online ( this article is good but the dried bean idea is weird, this is very thorough, this one is A+ if you're into lists, the list goes on. If you're going to pad an existing form, one might say there are a lot of ways to do it, but the principal is always gonna be pretty much the same). I don't think having another voice is ever a bad thing though, so this week's Wedding Dress progress video is all about my variation of the process of padding out my dress form in preparation for draping!

The Fabulous Fit system (the foam pads and covers I used in my video) is available here.

The nice thing about having Pearl all sized and ready to go is that it's a solid jumping off point for quite a few steps in this process. Now that Pearl's ready, I can drape my pattern, mock it up, fit it, and create pattern pieces. Once that's done, I'll work on my complete mockup while simultaneously using the pattern pieces to design and begin the bodice beading (after I build my slate frame, of course). When my hands need a break from the beads, I can switch back and drape the bodice for the reception dress.... goodness it seems like a lot of work when it's all in sentences like this, doesn't it?!

In Project Wedding Dress Tags pad a dress form, dressmaking, dress form padding, fabulous fit form, handmade wedding dress, me made wedding dress, making my wedding dress, vlog post, video blog, wedding, diy wedding
← Ginger Jeans, Number Six.The Monthly Draft 3: How Do You Even Sleeve? →
Hi! I'm Kat, I don't have any cats, and this is organized chaos. If you'd like to chat about catlessness, sewing, knitting, or other forms of world domination, I'd love to hear from you!  katherine.klebenow@gmail.com

Hi! I'm Kat, I don't have any cats, and this is organized chaos. If you'd like to chat about catlessness, sewing, knitting, or other forms of world domination, I'd love to hear from you!

katherine.klebenow@gmail.com

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Featured
We're Married, and I'm Back!
Feb 19, 2019
We're Married, and I'm Back!
Feb 19, 2019

Guess who’s MARRIED! That’s right! I promise there are more photos coming, but in the meantime, here’s an update!

Feb 19, 2019
Handmade Wedding Dress Chapter 7: Tambour Beading (again)
Dec 10, 2018
Handmade Wedding Dress Chapter 7: Tambour Beading (again)
Dec 10, 2018

Tambour Progress again! Here’s the second half of my tambour beading update, with lots and lots of shiny photos! The wedding dress is coming along nicely if I do say so myself!

Dec 10, 2018
Handmade Wedding Dress Chapter 6: Starting the Tambour Beading
Dec 3, 2018
Handmade Wedding Dress Chapter 6: Starting the Tambour Beading
Dec 3, 2018

This week, I’ve finally taken First Stitch on my wedding dress! This installment is all about designing the embroidery, setting up my slate frame, and the very first stitches on my wedding dress.

Dec 3, 2018
Handmade Wedding Dress Chapter 5: Something's Gotta Give
Nov 29, 2018
Handmade Wedding Dress Chapter 5: Something's Gotta Give
Nov 29, 2018

This post has been a long time coming: It’s Project Wedding Dress update time! Sit down, brew up some tea, and enjoy the ride! Today’s post covers my Wedding Dress radio silence as of late, along with the drafting of the bodice pattern and building my slate frame.

Nov 29, 2018
Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps - a Photo Tutorial and group project
Nov 20, 2018
Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps - a Photo Tutorial and group project
Nov 20, 2018

This week, a photo tutorial guide to making reusable beeswax food wraps to cut down on your cling film usage! (Plus, tips for making them as a group - just in time for christmas gift giving!)

Nov 20, 2018
Hand Dyed Merino Maxi Beach Dress
Oct 29, 2018
Hand Dyed Merino Maxi Beach Dress
Oct 29, 2018

This week, I’m all about a summer woolen wardrobe! I know it sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out: Once you go merino you’ll never go back - regardless of the time of year! Check out this merino beach dress I made and dyed for a vacation and have ended up falling in love with.

Oct 29, 2018
The Hot Pink Faux Fur Vintage Style Coat
Oct 23, 2018
The Hot Pink Faux Fur Vintage Style Coat
Oct 23, 2018

In which our blogger impersonates Macklemore and debuts a project equal parts absurd and amazing - the self drafted, hand tailored, hot pink faux fur coat.

Oct 23, 2018
The Improv Canvas Backpack
Oct 16, 2018
The Improv Canvas Backpack
Oct 16, 2018

In which our blogger finally gets ‘round to a (Very Belated) post about a canvas backpack. The leather, the hardware, the trials and tribulations of pre-vacation sewing.

Oct 16, 2018
Self Drafted Linen Trousers
Oct 8, 2018
Self Drafted Linen Trousers
Oct 8, 2018

In which our blogger starts catching up: A pair of self drafted linen pants (that were a very successful tester), a discussion on the cost of making your own clothes, and some semi-rushed afternoon photos courtesy of daylight savings.

Oct 8, 2018
Things, Stuff, and Catching Up.
Sep 17, 2018
Things, Stuff, and Catching Up.
Sep 17, 2018

It’s life update time! I’ve got a whole pile of half-finished things to tell you about, and we’ve got a bit of a change coming up with the blog. I’ve been spending more time with the wedding dress, and things are finally coming together!

Sep 17, 2018

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Instagram

Guess what?! I blogged a thing! It’s been AAAAAAGES since the last post and friends, we were due. Couplea sneaky wedding pics, some sandy, salty vacation selfies (as you do) and some cool notes on the wedding labels I keep forgetting to tell you about! They were provided by @dutchlabelshop without the expectation of a post, but honestly I dunno what it is about weddings that puts me on High Cheese Alert... the sappier the better, and wedding date labels SO fit that bill. Anyways, there’s a link in my bio to the post and the code to get 15% off some cheesy (or not... cheese is optional) labels of your own is ‘katklebenow15’ 😘

Meanwhile, I am fighting with some compatibility/update issues that are keeping me from posting more photos but I will overcome that!! Stay tuned! This is my bridal @helens__closet #sukikimono with fabric from @thefabricshopotara 💕
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#weddingphotos #handmadewedding #weddinglabels #diywedding #sewcialists #imakemyownclothes #isew #sewistsofinstagram #makersgonnamake #memadeeveryday #sewnz #slowsewing #aucklandsews #handmadewardrobe #sewingaddict #sewistsofinstagram #modernmaker #instasew #sewingproject #handmadewardrobe #sewingblogger
I feel a bit like I’m still on vacation because my parents are still in the country for the rest of this weekend. It’s been a great excuse to run around and see so many beautiful parts of NZ again that I haven’t seen since I first arrived. Not so much sewing happening lately, but here’s a me-made outfit in the wild! @wearethefabricstore linen shorts and silk top, with swimsuit underneath - all self drafted.
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📷 @jonokwaters - #instagramhusband AND irl husband 🥰

#memade #sewcialists #patterndrafting #imakemyownclothes #makersgonnamake #instasew #nzmustdo #zmsummer #coromandel #sewingtall #sewistsofinstagram #memadeootd #ootd #sewingblogger #imakemyownclothes #sewingaddict #sewingblog #sewnz #aucklandsews #diyaddict #isew #handmadewardrobe
This weekend, on a day with perfect weather in a forest with birds and trees and the sound of ocean nearby, I finally got to marry my best friend. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, @jonokwaters ❤️
We’re off on a small adventure at the moment but I promise this tease of a photo won’t be the last one you see. (Also, Thank you @wojciechbarczuk for literally EVERYTHING including taking this picture 😘)
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#married #wedding #handmadewedding #imakemyownclothes #sewingaddict #diyweddingdress #sewcialists #isew #sewistsofinstagram #instasew #dressmaker #newzealand #zmsummer #jonandkatgethitched #mrandmrs #makeitsewcial #makersgonnamake #sewnz #couture #sewfrosting #sewingblogger #handmadeweddingdress #diywedding #patterndrafting #tambourembroidery
The day is January 27th, 2019: it’s about 1:30 in the afternoon. Six days before the wedding. The dress, dear reader, is finished. I have a lot of feelings, and a lot of them are really quite contradictory (joy, sadness, pride, loneliness, smugness,  satisfaction, anxiousness). May this be the last wedding dress I ever make for myself, but may it also not be the last one I make at all. Thank you to everyone who followed along in my stories- who sent me cheerful messages and indulged my desire to talk endlessly about this project. I can only hope you learned as much as I did, and had half as much fun.

Meanwhile, there are many DIYs left on my list! (PS: labels are from @dutchlabelshop - I keep forgetting to tell you- you can get 15% off your own labels with code ‘katklebenow15’ on their website ❤️)
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#pinkweddingdress #couturedress #beadwork #dressmaker #isew #idiy #sewingaddict #sewcialists #imakemyownclothes #makeitsewcial #couture #diyfashion #slowfashion #diywedding #engaged #sewnz #sewistsofinstagram #instasew #handmade #gettingmarried #tambourembroidery #tambourbeading #lunevilleembroidery #weddingdress #sewingblogger #jonandkatgethitched #sewfrosting
All my wedding prep (one week today!!) has me missing out on some very cool sewing challenges of late, but this one - #brightsewing - specifically allows previous makes! May you never tire of seeing pictures of her royal highness #thepinkthing because I’ll never tire of posting them 😎
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Self drafted faux fur coat, fully hand tailored with liberty silk lining 😍 - made in.. July 2018? I think?
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@pinkcoatclub @theunfinishedseamstress 
#sewcialists #sewnz #imakemyownclothes #makersgonnamake #pinkhair #handmadewardrobe #imakemyownclothes #makeitsewcial #instasew #sewingaddict #isew #patterndrafting #aucklandsews #sewingtall #tailoring #sewingblogger #modernmaker #makersofinstagram #weddingplanning #sewersofinstagram #sewfrosting #imakemyownclothes #fashionblogger #ootd
It’s shameless selfie time because NEW HAIR! 😂👰🏼💍 I can confirm that it matches my flower crown as brilliantly as it matches my favorite shirt 🥰. I still have a few Wedding DIY’s left with 10 days to go, but it wouldn’t be me if there wasn’t a bit of crunch time crafting, would it? .
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#jonandkatgethitched #handmadewardrobe #selfie #weddingprep #sewcialists #makersgonnamake #urbangarden #macrameplanthanger #patterndrafting #almostmarried #diywedding #handmadewedding #instasew #sewistsofinstagram #dressmaker #makeitsewcial #engaged #weddingplanning #sewnz
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