Many of you have asked for my opinion about which are the best sewing mannequins, whether it is necessary to buy it or not, what type of mannequin to buy or if only to buy a mannequin bust or a full-length mannequin, whether it is fixed or adjustable, and a thousand more questions.
And I have to say that the doubts when buying a mannequin are logical because the answer to the question requires nuances because what may be a good solution for some dressmakers or sewing workshops may not be so much for others depending on the type of clients you have or the type of work you do and the volume of work you have.
What is the best sewing mannequin ?
In my opinion, the answer to that question is not unique, but depends on the end use that we are going to give it, and this is directly related to our activity in the world of sewing.
If we are going to use it to make custom clothes, then surely it will be convenient for us to have one or two adjustable mannequins, to have a wide range of measurements.
However, if we mainly dedicate ourselves to making clothing alterations or exhibiting models, then a normal mannequin will suffice.
Now it is clear that when you have a mannequin, you save time and make the task of pinning, testing and hemming easier.
Types of sewing mannequins
First, I am going to explain in broad terms what is meant by a sewing mannequin and then go on to detail them type by type.
In general, a mannequin is a three-dimensional model of a person’s torso, whose function is to test clothing. This can be valid for both clothing alterations and custom clothing.
Without a doubt, it is a sewing tool that represents a great help for the dressmaker, designer, or seamstress since in this way it can be visualized in a fairly approximate way, how the garment would be on a person, allowing the necessary corrections to be made.
Sewing mannequins are of two main types: fixed-size mannequins or dress form mannequins, and adjustable-size mannequins.
Dress form mannequins
It is quite common for mannequins to be manufactured according to the average measurements of certain sizes, therefore they have a certain size.
Advantages of this type of mannequin:
- The price: They are usually much cheaper than those with adjustable measures.
- Strength and durability: As they do not have moving parts, they are much more durable, and do not break.
Disadvantages:
- Not flexible
- Very limited range of measurements.
- If we need to make garments regularly, we will be forced to have at least 2-3 mannequins of different sizes and if we make for men and women, this number would double.
Below we show you some dress form mannequins, best valued by customers who have bought them.
Adjustable sewing mannequin
It is a type of mannequin that is built using a system of moving parts at will and that allows us to have a certain range of measurements in it.
For example, we can find them between size ranges as wide as 38-44 or 40-48
Pros :
- In a single sewing mannequin, we have several sizes.
- Flexibility. Many are adjustable in addition to the torso, in height.
Cons :
- Price: They are usually much more expensive mannequins than those of the fixed measurement type.
- Durability: Being composed of moving parts, there is a possibility of failure.
What should I look for when buying a dress form?
As I have indicated before, the answer to this question will ultimately depend on what our most common type of work is.
If we are going to make clothing alterations, probably the best option is to have a pair of mannequins of fixed size.
If what is predominant in our work is tailor-made clothing or clothing design, then the best option will be an adjustable mannequin, even a pair of them to cover the most common range of measurements and to be able to energize a lot our work.
Sometimes, it may even be advisable to have both types of sewing mannequin.
In my opinion, it is not really necessary to have a sophisticated manikin, one of the adjustable type with volume regulation, unless you constantly work on clothing design and many tests are required.
Second-hand sewing mannequins
If you have thought about buying second hand sewing mannequins, my recommendation is to proceed with great caution and verify that everything works correctly several times.
You have to be very cautious, especially if it is adjustable mannequins, which may have slack or some type of breakdown.
It is true that we can save a good amount of money, and that it can be around 50% of its original price, however, there is always the risk that in the end, it will be very expensive.
My recommendation is that if you do not have a lot of experience and you have not had mannequins, it is better not to buy a second-hand mannequin unless someone accompanies you who does and advises you.
Where to buy a sewing mannequin
Once the decision has been made to buy a professional sewing mannequin and we have decided which one we are going to buy, we must know where to buy them.
Buying a mannequin is not as simple as it might seem at first. And it is difficult to find them in physical stores, because the sale of sewing mannequins is not too conventional, and if we go directly to the manufacturers, we will probably find that they ask us for a minimum volume.
The other option is to try to buy them second hand, but especially in the case of adjustable mannequins I do not recommend it, because unless we have experience, we may find ourselves with some unpleasant surprises.
Fortunately, at present, there are a large number of online stores, which make our work much easier, and which send the mannequin to our home or workshop, without moving, at very competitive prices.
I recommend that for ease and security, you buy them online, but that if in a company with guarantees such as amazon, we have guaranteed payment security, speed of delivery, and most importantly if the product does not satisfy you or has a defect, they return your money without asking questions. Also if you are an amazon prime member, in many cases the transport will be free
Review of sewing mannequins
I have classified mannequins, by their characteristics, into those that are fixed-size, and those that are adjustable sewing mannequins.
▲
Analysis of fixed size sewing mannequins
In the following table, you can see the characteristics, prices, and ratings of customers who have purchased this type of mannequin.
In this case, I recommend this mannequin, which although it is fixed in size, is adjustable in height.
In addition, the design of the cover is very beautiful and being very light it does not cost anything to move it. The adjustable part is comfortable to use and is very well finished
Adjustable size sewing mannequins review
In this case, I have selected the following models whose value ranges between approximately 120 and 220 $
![Maniqui Costura Ajustable Azul Marino 8-Partes | Pequeño (S) [Talla EUR 36 a 44]](https://arteycostura.net/wp-content/plugins/aawp/public/image.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9tLm1lZGlhLWFtYXpvbi5jb20vaW1hZ2VzL0kvMjFZRDVxaGhwSkwuanBn)
En calidad de Afiliado de Amazon, obtengo ingresos por las compras adscritas que cumplen los requisitos aplicables.Última actualización el 2022-09-26 / Enlaces de afiliados / Imágenes de la API para Afiliados