Nov 10 2008
Importance of Mock-Ups
Hi all! I started a new costume this weekend, and I’m very 
happy I decided to start it with a mock-up rather than going straight into the real thing. It’s a very unique outfit, and I’ve been thinking about it for quite a while. I finished the mock-up, which was all sewn by hand and using almost the same exact fabric that the real thing will, so I got a really nice idea of what it would all feel like.
What is a mock-up? It’s really simple actually! A mock-up is what you call a “test-piece”, or when you take either the same, similar, or scrap fabric to test out a pattern and see if it would work for what you’ve drafted or altered. It’s a checking device really, and you can tell here that I made some mistakes in mine, so the mock-up helps me to not have these errors on the real thing! 
I’m really pleased with the pattern that I drafted out for it, and so far even the mock-up looks pretty good. However, it really is a good thing I decided to make the mock-up, and I’ll tell you why.
Though the fabric choice was really good, and I love the feel of it, you can see pretty well through it here. I didn’t take the time to put on beige undies, but even if I did I’m pretty sure you could see through a bit. Also, I realized that the manner I sewed the sleeve was slightly off. I LOVE the way the pouf on top came out, but I need to lengthen the bottom for when I put the elastic on so there’s more of a “pouf” there too. I also was able to mark on the right leg (you can see the blue mark?) where the belts will go when I do those on the final copy. Finally, you can tell if you compare reference to photograph that the second seam on the torso, the one that looks like piping, under the bust comes down a bit low. That entire bump bit is low, and you can see the arrows I drew to mark where I need to raise it.
Overall, I’m really pleased that I did this and I can see where I will have plausible issues. Yes, it used up some fabric I could’ve used for another project, but I feel like doing this has saved me from having to scrap the entire thing later on for the sake of making a brand new one over again anyway.
Happy stitching!
looking at this costume should you chose to remake it could i suggest using a pattern for a plain gypsy top and then remaking the yellow jumpsuit idea in a firmer fabric to go over the top and eyeletting the frount and feeding through thread so you obtain a corset effect.
I lovedyour Harley Quinn pattern. Im going to give the cuffs a go. any recomendations for attaching the applique diamonds to the jump suit would be much appriacted.
THanks and happy sewing,
Hardly Quinn
Thanks Hardly
I appreciate the input ^^ But the point of a mock-up, again, is to figure out what I’ve done wrong with pattern drafting and modification, so I can fix it on the final version. Since the majority of this pattern is self-drafted (and cheaper!) I’m keeping away from using commercial patterns. ^^ Thank you though!
As for attaching the diamonds, I’ll make a post about it.
Thank you!