How to make a Plug Suit Part 1- Mock Up

Yet more boring stuff that no one cares about reading- the meticulous pre-planning behind a costume.

I’m currently making a plug suit for a client, which looks like this:

She lent me the model for reference which is wonderful, nothing better than a mini 3D version of what you want to make.

The client provided me with a duct tape dummy which is vital to making a costume like this. They made it using this guide. Using the dummy I drafted up a pattern in some scrap lycra I had knocking about. It’s a raglan sleeve to reduce restriction on the shoulder and uses a swimsuit line on the legs for the same reason.

It hangs on the back of my workroom door so I can scare myself when I forget it’s not there.

The commissioner lives locally to me so I invited her over to test the fit and draw on all the patterns and seams with a chalk marker.

Any parts that were too large were taken in on the spot with a stapler. I now have something I know fits, and it’s time to start work on the final project!