Mannequin Arms

by Gretchen Weaver

Mannequin arms can be very useful.  Commercially available arms are expensive and they are not flexible.  How about making your own?  I did and find them to be an indispensable sewing aid.  They can be taken on and off the mannequin easily.  Use fork pins to attach them.  My mannequin is not a fancy one and does not even match my body shape.  But I can place garments on my mannequin with these arms and get better results with sleeves and shoulders.  Remember this area is the hangar of our body!

I got the mannequin arm pattern online for free.  The pattern download and excellent instructions are on Mary Funt’s website.  I have taken classes from Mary.  She is an excellent teacher and is recognized nationally by her peers.  She is a member of ASDP – Association of Sewing and Design Professionals.  Mary has won their national garment competition before.  This garment was previously pictured in Threads magazine.  In subsequent years, Mary helped judge this contest.

Her website is cloningcouture.com.  Click on the tab “Patterns and Tips”.  The arms are not difficult to make and are so much easier than the alternative –  balancing the shoulder/sleeve on a ham in a ham holder.

I brought these arms to one of our ASG meetings for “Sew and Tell”.  It was the proudest accomplishment of my month!

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