Sew What’s Up Presents
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
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: kylefty
Date: 01-30-2007, 09:10 AM (1 of 9)
|
Does anyone have any experience sewing for plus size customers? I am still looking for my niche. I see a need but not sure if there is a market. I see many problems with plus size children (my gd being one) and the rtw being different styles than for "regular" sizes. I know I would have to study up on fitting. Any advice, opinions, ect. Thanks. Kathy |
User: kylefty
Member since: 01-02-2003 Total posts: 33 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-30-2007, 09:38 AM (2 of 9)
|
If you set up a sewing business believe me, many of your customers will be plus size women. You end up with all kinds of problem fittings....women with dowagers hump, a shoulder or hip too high, sway back, etc. Most people who want general sewing have problems finding what they want. You see, by the time you buy your fabric you really aren't saving that much money, that is, if you buy fabric that is quality. Then, when you pay someone to make it for you the price goes up further. So why do you want to pay someone to sew for you? You can't find the range of sizes or fit in the garments that you prefer is usually the answer. About the only place that you can save money by hiring it done is in the area of evening and bridal wear. Most of the time though, my customers who were brides' maids came because they couldn't find the range of sizes in the chosen pattern or couldn't find their color or fabric (a few came to save money). If you go into the large size sewing business be sure that you have a few good fitting books on hand. You'll need them. Where you have 3 different body times for general fitting, when it comes to plus size fitting, you find complications added to those 3 body types. It is amazing that you seldom find two large women with exactly the same fitting problems. 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: kylefty
Date: 01-30-2007, 12:28 PM (3 of 9)
| WHOA!!! That was a lot that I didn't think about. Thanks so much for bringing it all to light. |
User: kylefty
Member since: 01-02-2003 Total posts: 33 |
From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 02-03-2007, 12:12 PM (4 of 9)
|
Yes, you can have lots of fitting problems with plus sized ladies. But then again, you can have lots of fitting problems with smaller sized ladies, too. Paroper said it right -- bone up on the most common fitting problems and go from there. She seemed to be saying that people won't use your service much because it is more costly to have something custom made than it is to buy RTW. Well, she's right there, too. But if someone has a boatload of fitting problems that even alterations can't correct, then I would think custom made clothing is the avenue a customer would want to take. I would think that a plus sized lady would be happy to pay for a custom made garment that would last for several seasons and would actually fit her. I am a plus sized lady and that's the way I manage my wardrobe. I usually tell my plus sized customers that I have probably the worst fitting problems of all time, so they shouldn't be afraid to have me make something for them. If I can make a pattern work for me, I can make one work for them. As for patterns, try Connie Crawford's line of patterns. They are fitted on real plus sized ladies and take into account many fitting problems. I don't happen to have her site at my finger tips at the moment (shame on me!), but you can google her site. NAYY, of course. |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-03-2007, 01:05 PM (5 of 9)
|
There are great fitting books out there which specialize in unusual fitting problems. I don't want to discourage you, you just need to be aware what you will find when you start sewing for "special" sizes. When I opened my business I was told to specialize. I didn't do that, primarily because I think I am ADHD and like to sew lots of different types of things...also I live in the country and didn't know what kind of business I could expect. I got plenty of business once my name was "out". If I had lived in town it would have almost certainly been necessary to specialize. My hat is off to you. I hope you enjoy working with/for others. I had a less than a handful of problem customers and I had hundreds of otheres who were wonderful, many of whom were repeat customers who sent referrals. It can be a lot of fun and a worthwhile challenge!
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: material_pakrat
Date: 02-04-2007, 04:30 PM (6 of 9)
|
As a plus size myself, I find the biggest issue even with purchased patterns is that they are just scaled up versions of a size 14. And most of the time they even scale up the length, with isn't always needed. So the biggest thing is to make sure you know how to make all of the basic alterations to fit most plus size issues. I have been sewing for myself for about 5 years, and I am only just managing to find how to fit pants to a sway back, small waist, big hipped bubble-butt. Hehe - you can say that about yourself, but not about customers. I have found for some reason (maybe it's the scale) that I have much more success in altering kids patterns. But there are so many fitting issue for kids these days that might be your niche. Make your own selection of off-the-rack kids wear, and do variations depending on your market - slim, extra wide, short, long etc. Just my own two children fall into different categories which are near impossible to fnd store clothes - son has a barrel waist and chest, and is in adult size waist and shirts, and daughter is in a size two waist/hips but needs a size 5 for length. There are a lot of fantastic sites on the internet to help you fit clothes too. I cant find the link at the moment, but the one I found best was a University site, and showed you what to measure, and how to cut/slash patterns to make them fit. Good luck, and let us know how you go. Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-04-2007, 04:48 PM (7 of 9)
|
THe University of New Mexico has a number of great publications on sewing....everything from how to clean/adjust your machine, fitting, measuring, you name it!
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: kylefty
Date: 02-05-2007, 10:01 AM (8 of 9)
|
I also am a plus size. Long story but I wasn't a plus size 5 years ago and have been in denial as far as clothes go. My SIL gave me a pattern and once my measurements were taken I was 3 very different sizes. I was just on the Univ. site in an article about the sewing room (gotten to from this board). I will search for it and try the fitting articles. I am finding that I may not be ready for a sewing business just yet but I tell myself that the more I sew the more I learn. Sewing for my children and grandchildren, I thought I knew stuff until I started getting into stuff and now I have learned that there is a lot of stuff to learn. So, "learning" here I come. Thanks everybody!!!!! |
User: kylefty
Member since: 01-02-2003 Total posts: 33 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-05-2007, 10:17 AM (9 of 9)
|
If you are going to be sewing out of your home and have the public in there are some fundimental things you need to think about when setting up your business. First, set your machines up so that you can have access to the family. Demands from your business will require many hours at the sewing machine. Although it is nice to have your room isolated so you can work, it is a good idea not to isolate yourself so much that you can't participate with your family. I was sewing when my family was young so my sewing set up was about 1/3 of our 20X20 living room, nearest the front hall. The major thing you need to consider is how much access you want your clients to have to your home. Many of your customers will be strangers. Not only do you not necessarily want to have strangers directly in your home, you may not want them to disrupt family activities. You will need a private place for their fittings and you'll want to have mirrors where they can see at all angles. The area needs to be clean and although you'll want it to be pretty, you won't want to put anything of value in the room that you couldn't live without. Things get broken, and other things can happen. You'll need good lighting. They'll need a place to hang clothing and a chair is nice for you and for them. In my small house I could lock the front door which was solid and I could close the blinds. I added mirrors to the back of the doors and each wall so that I had mirrors on 4 sides. I had a wooden shelf with pegs that I used for hanging clothing. The fitting/front hall area was 7X5. I had a chair and a small table in the room. It worked very well and limited access to my home as in some cases I could pretty much isolate my customers to my front hall. One of my good friends had a back poarch area off of her kitchen. All of her sewing was done there. I do not know where she did her fitting. When customers came to her sewing room, they came to the back of the house. With today's sewing rooms having so much expensive equipment, you have to decide if you want your customers to know that you are sewing on a $7000 machine, a $3000 serger and have computers and other equipment in your sewing area. 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 |
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-21366.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft