It Pays To Be An Old Sew-And-Sew

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One advantage of uniform-making is that I'm sometimes able to stack up fabric and cut more than one garment at a time. (This-of courseonly works if no fitting adjustments are to be made. Fortunately, youngsters-pre-teens in particular-are fairly cooperative in this respect.) With uniforms, I can also save time, frequently, by not having to change colors of thread on my machine. However, I do lose some time by having to double-sew all stress points. (Cheerleaders do a lot of leaping, and I don't want anyone to be embarrassed by a seam that gives way at the wrong moment!)

YOU CAN SEW FOR MEN, TOO

When home sewing is mentioned, most people automatically assume that that means making clothes only for women. This needn't be so. If a seamstress is ambitious and doesn't blush easily, she can sew for men, too. Men have articles of clothing that need repairs and alterations, and guys enjoy custom-made clothing every bit as much as gals.

As a matter of policy, I usually ask my male customers' wives to take their measurements for me ... and I require that the wives come with their husbands to all fittings.

THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THE BUSINESS

The most difficult thing you'll have to learn as a sewat-home seamstress is how to say "no". Your continued sanity depends on your willingness to learn this word quickly and dispense it often.

Somebody is always asking for rush work and giving me a tear-jerking reason why I just have to drop everything and make her a dress in 24 hours. Anyone who can't say NO in such a case (and believe me, you'll encounter this situation many times) should at least learn to charge extra for rush jobs. If I decide out of the goodness of my heart (and the softness of my head) to give in to some sad plea and make an outfit in 24 hours, you can bet I charge heavily for it. When I lose a night's sleep, somebody has to pay!

A FRINGE BENEFIT

One fringe benefit of having your own home sewing business is that you pick up quite a bit of free material. Most of my customers buy too much fabric for the garment they want made ... too much, at least, the way I make things. You see, I've learned to place the pattern pieces close enough together so that I'm always left with a big piece of "free" material after cutting out any garment. With these leftover goodies, I'm able to clothe my daughter and myself practically for free.

Odds and ends that are too small to be made into clothes can, of course, be used to make dolls, potholders, appliques, and fabric flowers (either to keep or to give away as gifts). Sometimes-when I feel really creative--I even sew quilts with these leftovers! I've made some very nice clothing out of quilt blocks, too.

And I try not to let my customers see any of the above items ... because every time I do, they immediately want to place orders for similar items!

THE MONETARY (AND OTHER) REWARDS

I've found my home sewing business to be a rewarding undertaking, in more ways than one. I enjoy being able to choose my own hours and set my own wages, and I like being able to watch TV or listen to music while I work. (On nice days, I can sit in the yard and do hand sewing.) And of course I'm able to watch over the children while I sew, which is why I chose to work at home in the first place.

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