Costume tutorial: Padding a mannequin

1) Its quick and easy to use wadding in order to pad a mannequin, however you can achieve a more precise and subtle pad by halving the wadding sheets you're using, especially if they're thick. Padding is used to make the mannequin more realistic to the model you're sewing for. Pin close to the body; the proper way to pad is to pin at first then herringbone stitch the padding afterwards once you're happy with it.
2) Layer up the padding depending on how much you need. 

3) For the waist you can simply wrap wadding around the mannequin to layer it.  

1) For the breast area, use wadding of different sized circles. This will maintain a good shape of a body and stop it from looking boxy. With wadding it's possible to get quite defined and harsh lines, so taking thinner pieces of wadding and using them to blend in the bigger pieces is a good way of creating smoother curves. 

2) In the case of creating fat suits, you would gradually build up the places you would need the extra weight. Rough circular shapes are good for both fat suit padding as well as breast and bum pads; they don't need to be perfect! The most important thing is to measure constantly! Every time a layer is added you will need to check measurements against the models own to ensure you haven't gone over, or if you still need to add more. Always remember to smooth lines as you go too!
Another good tip is to make shapes out of the wadding to match the part of the body you're padding, e.g. ovals for the bum and belly, and circles for the chest etc.

Pleating the padding is an option if you're dealing with a difficult corner, like a shoulder. Underwear like corsets and bras can be out on top of the padding to achieve the shape you want, just remember to re-measure every time! And always remember to use a herringbone stitch to attach layers together; it allows for movement but still keeps the layers flat.