Dress hemming

Barbara wanted 2" off her dress. She left it for me and voila! 

Tina's on Madison

This is the greatest fabric store and so is Tina.  I got an awesome stretch denim, and fabric for a top.  She also threw in some of the textured fabric because she thought I would have fun with it.

I think it will be pants and a jacket and maybe a skirt.

Why I am not sewing tonight . . .

8 pm start time.  Agg.  But it is worth it for a true Dawg.  Like me. 

dress style I want to make

I was on jury duty today. I did not get to sit but I did get a 2 hour lunch so I went to the library and got a book about fashion. I found these "utility dresses" from the 1940's.  I love them.  I want to make one or some for the spring and summer. 

jumpsuit for wedding

This is a jumpsuit I am hemming for a client for a wedding in Chicago. She is super cute and super small. She is going to wear it with boots or with flats or maybe sneakers sometimes. She will look awesome.

I will get a picture of her in it. I have hemmed 3 pairs of pants and altered a skirt for her before.

Getting ready to work

Coffee is necessary.

Shipping finished order

This is the doll and camel I fixed. My clients lives in Pouslbo and sent them to me.  They are on their way back to her, heads and hair attached.

My real job

I have a full time job as a pattern maker at an apparel company where we make custom medical garments. I make the patterns and they are cut and sewn on site by a team of sewers.  Not high fashion but it is fun and allows me time to do my own business on the side.

suit alterations

Shortened sleeve - but there was a placket, with buttons and a lining.  Blind hem on pants and took in at waist.  Altering ready made suits is hard, especially sleeves

Challenging pattern work

This client wants to put something in to production. She has a proto that needs work and a pattern that has nothing on it.  I actually don't think the pattern matches the proto. So I am now figuring out how to re-create her proto and make it work. 
This is why folks should always hire real pattern makers who will leave them with good patterns and tech packs.

wedding skirt for snowy wedding

Kind of ironic that I am doing this right now. My client is a beautiful tall young lady who is getting married at a ski resort, on skis soon. She has white ski pants, a white sweater and wanted a white skirt to wear. So she bought 3 dresses. We picked one that fit best then I it was up to me. I cut the bodice off (and dealt with the boning), finished the edge and made sure the zipper was good. Then I had to make a casing and I put some drawstring elastic in. I was worried she would need that to hold the dress up in case the removal of the bodice would cause issues.
We fit it last night. Awesome. Now I am going to do some final stitching and deliver. She has promised me wedding photos.

still in one piece

after first cutting and finishing

drawstring elastic inserted

snow day activities

Snow days are useful if you have a ton of sewing to do. This is a jacket I am making a pattern for a client who wants to duplicate a jacket she saw a photo of. It is hard because the inspiration is of mystery fabric and on a perfect body and probably photo shopped. 

Camel worth saving

I thought this was just a "regular" repair. But it was hard!  I had to re-stuff it completely then try to sew it together from the outside.  Unlike apparel fixes, I could not turn it inside out, sew it then turn it right side out.  But I did it!

After I finished my client told me why it was so important. She had been a soldier in Afghanistan and it was something she kept with her when she was there. She brought it home and her little boys snuggle with it now.  

What seemed simple . . .

This is a heriloom doll (made by my client's grandmother) what was mistaken for a toy by their dog. Part of her face and scalp were totally gone. I thought I put some muslin in as a new base and go from there but the original fabric was so old and fragile, it was almost like I was weakening when I pierced it with a needle.
So, I had to use the fabric that was there and sew it back together. Then I mushed her head around to try to re-shape it. Then I put the  hair back in a way that hopefully hid the repairs.