How to Make a Mannequin

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: July 14, 2024 Approved

Ever needed a mannequin for your latest sewing project? Real mannequins can be expensive, and even the fancy, adjustable ones aren't guaranteed to be an exact body double for you. Luckily, it is both easy and cheap to make a mannequin at home. Best of all, you can be sure that the mannequin will be an exact replica of your body. This means that any garments you sew on the mannequin will fit you like a glove!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Making the Body

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1
Put on an old, fitted shirt you don't mind ruining. Make sure that the shirt conforms to your torso without too many wrinkles. Also, make sure that the shirt comes down to your hips. Don't wear a baggy t-shirt as it will create too much bulk.^{[1]
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- You won't be able to salvage this shirt. You will cover it with tape an cut it up.
2
Cover your neck and collar area with plastic wrap. Tear off a sheet of plastic wrap and fold it until it's the same height as your neck. Gently wrap it around your neck. Tuck the two ends under the front color of your shirt so that no skin is showing. You will eventually be taping up your neck as well, so you need to protect the delicate skin there.^{[2]
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- If you don't have plastic wrap, you can use paper towels instead.^{[3]
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3
Wrap a strip of duct tape around your torso, just under you breasts. Make sure that you wrap it firmly so that it conforms to your figure, but not so tightly that you can't breathe.^{[4]
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- If you are male, wrap the tape just under your pecks.
- You will need to have someone help you during this step, and for the rest of the steps in this part.
Lay down one piece of tape so that it goes from your left shoulder down to the underside of your right breast. Lay down a second piece of tape so that it goes from your right shoulder down to the underside of your left breast. You should be left with an X-shape, with the center being between your breasts.^{[5]
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5
Continue adding tape across the shoulders, breast, and back area. Lay down a strip of tape across your left shoulder. Bring one end down across your left breast towards the horizontal strip of tape. Bring the other end down across your back. Continue adding strips of tape until you reach the edge of your shoulder.^{[6]
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- Overlap each piece of tape by ½-inch (1.27 centimeters).
- Repeat this step for the right shoulder and breast.
Tear off smaller strips of tape. Lift up your arms, and lay them down across your ribcage horizontally. Be sure to cover the gape between your armpit and the horizontal strip of tape. Again, overlap the strips by ½-inch (1.27 centimeters).
You should now have a V-shaped gape on your chest and back. Tear off more strips of tape, and lay them across your back and chest. If you have a low-cut shirt, make sure that your chest is covered by plastic wrap or paper towel.^{[7]
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Wrap 1 to 2 strips of tape loosely around your neck.^{[8]
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Keep wrapping the tape in rows, overlapping each one by about ½-inch (1.27 centimeters). Stop when you reach the bottom hem of your shirt.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Stuffing the Body

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Have a person you trust help you cut down the back of your duct tape shirt, from bottom to top. Make sure that they cut through the duct tape, shirt, and plastic wrap layers.^{[9]
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You should now have a body-double made out of duct tape. If anything became dented on the mannequin during this step, such as a breast, use your fingers to gently push it back out.
Place the cut ends together so that they match up. Cover them with a strip of duct tape to seal the gap.^{[10]
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Research source} For extra security, apply tape to both the inside and outside of the shirt.
4
Touch up the top and bottom edges, if desired. Take a look at the top and bottom edges of the mannequin. If you are happy with them, leave them be. If they look ragged or jagged, touch them up with more tape.
- Consider cutting the top edge of the neck down at a slight, downward angle to mimic a real mannequin. Make sure that you still have some neck left, however!
If you need to, cover the neck hole with a few strips of duct tape so that the stuffing doesn't come out the other end. Keep stuffing until the mannequin feels full and firm. You will need about two bags of polyester stuffing.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Finishing the Mannequin

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Stand the mannequin upright on a sheet of cardboard of foam board. Trace around the mannequin using a marker. This will eventually make the bottom of your mannequin.
Make sure that you cut just inside the lines that you drew. Make your cuts smooth and precise.
Turn the mannequin upside down. Set the cardboard base into the bottom of the mannequin. Fold short pieces of duct tape over the edges of the cardboard onto the bottom edge of the mannequin. If you want to, you can cover the entire bottom of the cardboard with more duct tape so that it matches the rest of your mannequin.^{[11]
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Trace the neck opening onto a sheet of cardboard. Cut the circle out. Set it down on top of the neck. Secure it with strips of tape, all the way around. Cover the top of the cardboard with more tape, if desired.
5
Secure the foam base to a metal stand. Choose a sturdy, metal stand, such as a lamp post. Trace the top of the metal stand against the bottom of the mannequin. Cut the hole out, then set the mannequin on top of the stand. Seal the seam between the edges of the hole and the stand with hot glue.^{[12]
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- For extra security, use epoxy or an industrial-strength glue instead.
- If you are using a lamp post, make sure that you cut away any wires so that you are just left with the metal stand.
The easiest way to do this would be to find another fitted shirt, and place it over the mannequin. You can also sew a fitted, corset-like cover for it using cotton or jersey fabric.^{[13]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Do you leave the clothes inside the tape?

Bea23249

Community Answer

Yes, you do. So, be sure to use clothes that you never wear, or that you don't like. Make sure they still fit you though, otherwise, you might end up with a mannequin that is three sizes smaller than what you wanted!

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You can use this method to make "casts" of your arms and legs using leggings and long gloves, or long sleeved shirts.

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You can use any color of duct tape. For a more interesting mannequin, consider using patterned duct tape.

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