My Mimiqin and Me

Whether you’re using a commercial pattern as is or adapting one to suit your needs, drafting your own block or designing something else entirely from scratch, fitting an untested pattern on your own body can often be a long and painstaking process.

A large portion of the multitude of photos in my image library are dedicated to fitting. When I set out to create a new garment, I usually start by making a sample, trying it on, and photographing it from every angle to evaluate the fit. I’ll then probably make a few small adjustments, put the sample back on, take another round of photos, and reassess. This cycle can repeat many times for a single design, and, as you might imagine, it can be rather tedious.

Naturally, helping others with their fitting is a much simpler process: I can make adjustments directly on their body, pinning and tweaking the fabric in situ. And so, for years now, I’ve been on a quest to create a body double for my sewing studio. I’ve tried adjustable store-bought dress forms, and even teamed up with a friend to experiment with DIY versions, wrapping ourselves in tape and all sorts of materials. I’m sure many of you have seen (or attempted!) some version of this process yourselves.

More recently I made a custom mannequin using a pretty good online dress-form pattern generator from Bootstrap Fashions. With a bit of personalization, this one ended up being closest to my actual body shape and size.

However, I found that there was still a gap in my requirements for a truly useful fitting tool.

When it comes to fitting, it seems that one thing is undeniable: the neck and shoulders are the most critical areas for fitting tops and dresses, while the shape and dimensions of the crotch curve are essential for fitting pants.

These areas can be especially challenging to perfect, not only because they’re hard to see and adjust on your own body (unless you have eyes in the back of your head and remarkably flexible arms), but also because many of us have significant asymmetries.

A few months ago, I finally took the plunge and booked an appointment with Jaire and Mia at  from Mimiquins. I’d admired their work for a long time - the way they thoughtfully scan and replicate every kind of body with such care and accuracy. No judgment, no body deemed too “irregular” - just genuine kindness, body positivity, and respect in every Mimimiquin they create.

They did the scans, walked me through my questions and preferences, and began the process of crafting a fully customized mannequin. A few weeks later they shared the initial scans along with proposed adjustments for my review. After several more weeks and plenty of expert guidance and patience, we finalized the shape.

Adjusted scans for assessment

Then, at long last, my custom mannequin was complete! I still can't believe that I now actually have one of these amazing tools in my possession, I feel thoroughly spoilt. I cannot thank the team at Mimiquins enough!

Recently, Alexandra Morgan of In-House Patterns launched a new course called The Art of Balance. In it, she demonstrates how to apply balance lines to your custom dress form to make it an even more functional and effective fitting tool for you. This new knowledge has been incredibly valuable to me, and I'm in the process of applying this fitting grid to my Mimi (I’ll be sharing more soon).

And I’m especially excited to start developing and testing entirely new designs, without all the constant dressing and undressing! I'll keep you posted.

Until next time,

Caroline