Comments on: Pearls of Wisdom for Lone Seamstresses

By: Karen Lorraine

Karen Lorraine — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 10:46:34 +0000

Excellent article. I am a lone seamstress too. Facebook does help, as does forums like this, but it is still hard being a lone seamstress. I agree – just take some action. Sometimes I photograph each step, partly to keep reminding myself I am getting somewhere (as well as for other reasons). Sometimes projects can be so big too. I often get very stressed near the end, ‘cos so many hours have gone into them and I don’t want to blunder at that stage, but I too don’t aim for perfection. You can only do your best with what you have (including time and energy). Best wishes everyone.

By: Val LaBore

Val LaBore — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 17:15:56 +0000

My only suggestion for a lone seamstress is that a proper sized dressform is your BFF. I have a foam one that had a completely mastectomy as those were only my husband’s fantasy. I’m able to corset it with both my Victorian and Edwardian corsets, but not Regency. It helps so much getting the fit *pretty* close, then do the final fittings on myself. The shoulders are broad tho and I’m not, so there’s that. But at least you can stand back and look at it, and take photos which seem to show up boo boos better than my eyes sometimes.
Val

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 20:27:34 +0000

I have a dress form. She was cheap, on sale and not nearly big enough on any mearement. She’s now padded out to my measurements and, thanks to sheet foam and a shell I had fitted by the alterations lady 40 miles away, she squishes appropriately. I put the proper foundation garments on her, whether modern or historical and go from there. It’s usually close.

But, I have to agree. A trained husband is a Wonder. Of course most of the events we attend are related to his hobby, so helping me is kind of his “bribe” to get me to go sit in the heat. I hate heat, and bugs…..grass, trees, wind, the outdoors. Gah, hand me my allergy meds, parasol and fan.

By: LadyD

LadyD — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 15:36:43 +0000

I made myself a paper ‘dress form’ with a little help from a friend (she made mine and I’ll make hers in exchange). And its making fitting so much easier, and hemming less of a…hit n miss event. Oh, those wonkey hems. *shakes head*
I’m happy if the fit is comfy…rather than ‘fitted’ to the nth degree.

By: Jennifer Rosbrugh

Jennifer Rosbrugh — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:21:52 +0000

In reply to Auntie Nan. Welcome to our joyful community Nancy! So glad you are laughing 'cause we love to have fun here! :-)

By: Auntie Nan

Auntie Nan — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:42:01 +0000

In reply to melody.

I’m a newbie on this site — very helpful! And I have to say anything that makes me fall off my office chair laughing here at work gets my vote as a great blog! 55 gallon drum! Yep, that would DEFINITELY cover the fitting expertise I’ve managed to master, working on my ancient mannequin. (She might have been appropriate for me, had I EVER had a real bosom, and if I could possibly attain my post-pubescent rear end…)
Thanks, guys!
Nancy

By: Suzi

Suzi — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:44:15 +0000

I’m lucky in that I have a DH who has learned to fit bodices on me. However, if he was busy, I would always fit with a centre front seam, whether or not the design called for it. I have often fitted customers that way too. A mirror is a lovesome thing, and if you are fitting someone else, face them to the mirror, then look over their shoulder – you see what they see! (I use a long mirror BTW.)

By: Jennifer Rosbrugh

Jennifer Rosbrugh — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:55:58 +0000

In reply to Annabel Mallia. Thanks for the feedback!