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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
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From: FrancesM
Date: 03-25-2006, 08:28 PM (1 of 17)
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Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and glad to have found it. I have recently decided to pursue my dream career of a clothing business, but am having some problems. When I was in high school (over 10 years ago), I used to make all my own clothes and people would constantly ask me to make things for them. I used a very old sewing machine that had 3 stitch functions and I only used the straight stitch which was fine for me and my friends, but now I am lost. I know I need to make good quality clothes, so first, do I need a machine and a serger?? I am unsure as to what a serger does. I just bought a machine that has 50 stitch functions and is computerized so it says what foot, etc. to use, but I am really just unsure of where to begin and if all these stitches are really necessary. Any advice anyone may have about equipment, stitching or even starting the business would be immensely appreciated. At this point, I am still unsure about whether I should start with simple clothes items or do a full line (for example, I can make pants for myself because I can just keep putting them on and then adjust them, but I'm not sure about sizing it for others since I haven't been doing it for so many years) 
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User: FrancesM
Member since: 03-25-2006 Total posts: 4 |
From: esrun3
Date: 03-25-2006, 09:03 PM (2 of 17)
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Welcome to SWN. I would suggest checking with where you bought your machine to see if they offer classes on it so you can learn what all those stitches do. The majority of them are probably decorative stitches, so whether you need them or not depends on what and how you like to sew. As for a serger, if you are sewing for yourself you probably don't really need one, however, if you are trying to start a business I would lean toward getting one. They sew knits well as well as finishing seams so the outfit looks more professional. I prefer to sew my knits on a serger as opposed to a regular machine-it doesn't stretch the knits out like other machines can. I'm sure others will be along with their opinions and ideas too! Good luck and welcome aboard! Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: FrancesM
Date: 03-25-2006, 09:17 PM (3 of 17)
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Thank you for your advice. I actually opted to buy a $200 computerized machine from a department store to start with, so unfortunately I cannot get lessons. I was looking at my local sewing store and I decided that may be better than spending $500 on a non-computerized one. Once I really get going, I was planning on investing the money on a good quality computerized machine and I can give this current one to my mother. |
User: FrancesM
Member since: 03-25-2006 Total posts: 4 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 03-25-2006, 09:38 PM (4 of 17)
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If you want to know what a serger can do, look at your readymade clothes. It sews and edges the seams at the same time, it also will double stitch your hems (great for knits.) Sergers come in many models. 3-10 spools. Depending on what you want or need to do. My serger sits in the closet. (till I can get up enough energy to use it. ( I hate threading the thing.) But I LOVE all the new machines....the multiple stitches. Decorative or not. They're a far cry from my grandmothers machine I learned on, a black and gold singer (not a treadle, but not far from it.). I'd just tell you to get some cheap fabric and start relearning. Find some classes. (usually dealers have classes, but YOU may have to pay for them, if you didn't buy your machine at their store....my dealer is reasonable with her prices on classes...$15. for one. Sometimes you can find people, if you live in a big town that teach. Adult classes in sewing in your town ???) I think sewing is like riding a bike, once you know how and you leave it for awhile, it comes back as soon as you start a project. I have no advice about business. I can't take orders from people. (never could...) You might try the Business Forum in here... Things you can sell depend on where you live and the people who live there. Ask businesses in your area.... Have fun...it's not worth doing if it's not fun for you to do..... Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: karen v
Date: 03-25-2006, 09:50 PM (5 of 17)
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Hi. are you starting a custom dressmaking business or are you going to manufacture a line of clothing? If the latter, you ought to visit www.fashion-incubator.com. It's a veritable hotbed of resources for the designer/entrepeneur of sewn products. I'm not affiliated, but the zipper tutorials on there were amazing and she (Kathleen Fasanella) has a book called "The Entrepeneurs Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing". I'm saving up for it. There is also a Canadian Fashion Incubator site-- The Toronto Fashion Incubator at www.fashionincubator.com. If you are going to be a custom dressmaker, then there's another book by Karen Howland called "Unit Pricing for Dressmaking" that may be helpful. HTH Karen V all art is lies that help us see the truth
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User: karen v
Member since: 03-12-2006 Total posts: 31 |
From: swartzrn
Date: 03-25-2006, 10:22 PM (6 of 17)
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I don't personally "own" a serger although I have borrowed my mother's indefinately. I really like it but am still getting used to it and haven't used it tremendously. My SIL has one and she uses hers alot. She just made a duvet cover and said she really used it with that and enjoyed it. I think I haven't used it alot b/c I just haven't had the time to sit down and play around with it. I have been trying to serge some strips of fabric for an Easter basket I'm making (or hoping to make) for the baby. She may end up with a storebought one but I'm still trying!! I haven't done alot of clothes except jumpers for my daughter and have stuck w/bags and some baby slings. I haven't made anything for myself yet at all. Good luck with your business!! It sounds exciting! Julie
"To see the future, look into a child's eyes." |
User: swartzrn
Member since: 02-17-2006 Total posts: 436 
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From: paroper
Date: 03-26-2006, 07:34 AM (7 of 17)
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If you are going to be sewing for people you'll find that many people will expect you to serge some of their seams. I never serged off my seams for people but I finished everything with a serger. The only seams I serged off were the ones that would be clipped anyway...and those are usually high stress seams so serging is very good. It is difficult to start sewing for others when you havne't been sewing for a while. You'll find that you are a little rusty, no matter how good you were. Take a little time to get your accuracy back. You don't want to ruin your reputation before you get started. Many of the people who come to you will do so because either they can't find what they are wanting (often that requires some creativity on your part) or they are hard to fit. Many more hard to fit people will be at your door than you realize. Many of my weddings had problems like very large girls and very small girls and patterns that didn't have the range to fit all of the wedding party...which meant a lot of pattern enlarging. I would buy good quality gingham and muslin by the bolt to use for fitting basic bodices (and other problem areas)...usually I just made up from the shoulders to just past the hipline...if I anticipated real problems I did the sleeves too. Pants can be a headache. I did a lot of alterations on pants but was never asked to make all that many for the public. Mostly I was asked to make brides maid dresses, (church dresses and suits), mother of the bride things, square dance togs (usually men's shirts and women's skirts and blouses), cheer, choir, pom, and color guard uniforms. Then I would get a few vests, some home dec (from bedspreads to curtains to drape, valances and pillows.) I did some finishing of needlepoint and cross stitch in pilliows and home accessories. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: LadySloPokes
Date: 03-26-2006, 10:40 AM (8 of 17)
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I'm an advanced beginner at sewing-like you I learned in school, but much longer ago than you. I think it's very exciting that you want to pursue your dream of a sewing business. I dont' have any experience in this area, but I thought that maybe if you could make friends with one or more of the authorized sewing dealers in your area, they might be able to give you some leads, or even referrals, for sewing work to get you started. This would require very little capital investment on your part to get going, and it might also give you an idea of what kind of demand there might be for your services. My Singer dealer does a lot of her own display works (embroidery, sewing, quilting) but told me that if I wanted to make some $$, she would put a few of my creations up for sale on consignment when I felt comfortable about the quality of my work. It's a start (not wanting my own business per sey, but any $$ made certainly would help pay for my "hobby"!). As someone else also stated, there are forums and topics here that deal with businesses in sewing and quilting. You might find some really good advice and direction in them. Good Luck, and keep us posted!! Welcome to our little world! Cookie 
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198 
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From: bunzino
Date: 03-26-2006, 04:33 PM (9 of 17)
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Whoa rusty!! You're putting the cart before the horse -- big time. I know you're probably all excited about the business idea, but you need to get your skill level to advanced before you can start sewing for others. Folks can be really finicky and it's tricky. Great advice so far. Take classes and more classes. Make all kinds of garments and home dec and embroidery or special stitches. Figure out what you like doing best and what you gravitate towards. Then, you can begin your business with those items and expand. It will happen, you just have to get your training secure. Think of it as going back to college -- well, maybe not  nancy |
User: bunzino
Member since: 08-16-2002 Total posts: 119 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-26-2006, 04:37 PM (10 of 17)
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Bunizo...going back to college? Does that mean that she gets to wear mini skirts, wild bell bottoms, peasant blouses, funky jewlry and moccasins? Whoa, like cool, man. (It's all in style again too!)
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: FrancesM
Date: 03-26-2006, 05:56 PM (11 of 17)
Thank you all for your advice, it is greatly appreciated and I'm so glad that I posted here. I think I am going to have to take classes somewhere, but I am trying to make some things here on my own first to see how much help I need. Unfortunately, I live on an island, so the options for where to go to re-learn are pretty limited. There are a few sewing store that I could probably get some classes on sewing, but in terms of actually putting designs into a finished product, I have only found 1 private college here that costs 11,000, so...not an option. I should have done it years ago I guess, it seemed so much easier back then, but I guess when you're 17 everything seems easy  I do plan on selling on consignment in stores around town once I get started, and I had thought about on the internet as well. But first-practice, practice, practice! |
User: FrancesM
Member since: 03-25-2006 Total posts: 4 |
From: Sancin
Date: 03-26-2006, 07:28 PM (12 of 17)
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Francis If you can't/won't go back to school, I would take all the suggestions here and suggest a mentor. Do you know a person who sews very well, for self and others, and you admire their work? Perhaps they may give you some private lessons (some people don't like to teach formalized classes) or allow you to watch them. Maybe such a person would be an older person who is in business but wants to cut back. Worth a try anyway. Pam, I hated bellbottoms the first time around and hate them even more now. I didn't realize mini skirts had ever gone out of style! Remember the 'bubble' party dresses. I had a beautiful silk one for a high school prom. Recently I was shopping in a department in a store near an escaltor. As a woman rode up the escaltor in a mini bubble dress people were stopping to stare. The clerk made some comment about the length of the dress and I commented that I hated bubbles the first time around and they look worse now!! *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: paroper
Date: 03-26-2006, 07:56 PM (13 of 17)
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Frances, a word of caution. Things are a little different than they were even a few years ago. Copywrite issues have come into play. Although patterns have always been copywritten, there is a lot of attention to those issues and anything that you sell needs to be original. Even when you purchase fabrics, you need to look for copywrites. There are differences in embroidery as to what can be sold and can't and it varies from company to company, and my assumption is that it may be the same with fabrics but things like Disney fabrics and super hero fabrics cannot be made into something and resold (probably the same with college and pro sports fabrics). You'll also find copywrites on many name brand fabrics. Look for those on the selvages of the fabric. One thing that is really cool is that many fabrics have color plates down the side that show the colors used in the fabric. They are ordered by from highest to lowest. This is something that is becoming more prominent and makes it easier to match fabrics/thread. Although you cannot resell the copywritten fabrics, or things made from patterns, you can assemble them if they are brought to you. You are simply selling a service that way. This type of home business (which is the way I did things) falls under a totally different category tax wise and even zoning is different for this type of service, at least that is true in the US. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 03-26-2006, 10:33 PM (14 of 17)
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More and more people are ending up in lawsuits, heavy fines, etc. theses days for trying to sell items at craft fairs, flea markets, on e-bay, etc. that are made out of copyrighted fabrics, expecially colleges and pro-sports fabrics. So beware. It may end up costing more in the long run than you could ever make. Not only can they sue you, your equipment, etc. can be confiscated. If you are using embroidery designs, they can take your machines as well as your computer. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: FrancesM
Date: 03-26-2006, 11:13 PM (15 of 17)
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Finding a mentor is a great idea. I could ask around and see if anyone I know knows someone (I moved here last year from back East so I don't know too many people here). Wow, I didn't realize that fabrics were copywritten (aside from Disney, etc.). Does that mean I could use a generic stretch fabric but not Lycra? Also, what are college and pro-sports fabrics? |
User: FrancesM
Member since: 03-25-2006 Total posts: 4 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-27-2006, 04:27 AM (16 of 17)
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Check the bolt. I think that lycra would be fine. Team fabrics have the names of pro teams on them. They can be purchased for almost every sport and are very popular.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: swartzrn
Date: 03-27-2006, 12:40 PM (17 of 17)
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Bell Bottoms and mini skirts?? I still like them!! hahahahahahaha! Well, not as much bell bottoms. Isn't it funny how those things we thought were dead ugly just a few years ago and can't believe we ever worse them are now back into style? I laugh b/c some of the styles I remember from the 80's are back and my 15 yr old is wearing them--however just a few years ago she would've turned up her nose at some of them! I think classes would be a great idea. I have thought about doing the sewing class that our Hancock's fabric store offers. I have read alot and learned alot by just watching my mom or browsing around the internet and have a couple of friends who have been sewing for years so they have helped me but I would really like some "formal" training for some of the little things that help "polish" an item. Julie
"To see the future, look into a child's eyes." |
User: swartzrn
Member since: 02-17-2006 Total posts: 436
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