Author Topic: Turning down business  (Read 1538 times)

oogyda

Re: Turning down business
« Reply #15 on: December 10, 2019, 01:48:08 pm »
I understand her wishes.  I have had a few garments that I've made into other things simply because the fabric is that remarkable.  But, those were my own things done for my own use that I approached with the attitude of "Even if it doesn't work out, at least I tried."

I don't think I'd even contemplate doing attempting it for someone else. 
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BeagleMommy

Re: Turning down business
« Reply #16 on: December 10, 2019, 02:47:12 pm »
I would just keep telling her:  "I have told you several times that I am not qualified to do this work.  I would not want to damage your garment because I lack the skills to do what you want.  I recommend XYZ company to do this type of work."
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TootsNYC

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Re: Turning down business
« Reply #17 on: December 10, 2019, 04:11:36 pm »
you might get her to let go of her dream if you offer her copious sympathy, and admire the garment with her, etc. And then delivery the "no" again.

It's what I did when my kids wanted a toy. I'd admire it with them, and acknowledge their yearning, and maybe even yearn a little alongside them. And then say, with a markedly regretful tone, that we couldn't buy it today.
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Hanna

Re: Turning down business
« Reply #18 on: December 10, 2019, 05:38:48 pm »
How about you act a bit crazy and yell, “I’m a seamstress, not a magician!” I’m picturing you doing this in some kind of man’s 50’s Brooklyn accent while waving your hands around and muttering to yourself.
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Rose Red

Re: Turning down business
« Reply #19 on: December 10, 2019, 06:11:01 pm »
The thing is, what she wants may very well be possible if she contact the person the OP recommended. I don't know why she's resisting and would rather pin her hopes on someone who says they don't have the skills.

VorFemme

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Re: Turning down business
« Reply #20 on: December 10, 2019, 07:03:28 pm »
As an intermediate level sewer, I have learned that it is not possible to take clothes down more than two sizes because the grain lines get distorted, even it you were to completely take every piece of fabric apart & recut it, you're going to have to TILT the pattern pieces to get them to fit inside the old garment pieces...tilting means that things will hang oddly...and that doesn't look good.  Sometimes creases, pleats, darts, and other old seams will continue to show - which doesn't look good.  If you want clothes to look good after loosing a lot of weight - celebrate by buying a whole new wardrobe - making the old one over to fit the new you is going to make you look odd, not good.  The fabric won't be as sturdy, it may be faded in the wrong places after moving the seams & such around, and it's going to look ridiculous to those who know what custom clothes look like and strange to those who just know what clothes look like...they may not be able to tell why...  But it's not worth the money that it would cost to do that kind of work on used clothing.  It might be worth it to wear your grandmother's wedding dress - but that's about the only time I'd even think to try... 
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Hanna

Re: Turning down business
« Reply #21 on: December 10, 2019, 07:14:30 pm »
The thing is, what she wants may very well be possible if she contact the person the OP recommended. I don't know why she's resisting and would rather pin her hopes on someone who says they don't have the skills.
I suspect anything is possible but the cut-in pockets sound like they would really present a problem.
I’m picturing them falling in a funny spot, lower on the body than would look normal and maybe even wrapped around the back. I don’t sew but I watch my Mom do it!

Winterlight

Re: Turning down business
« Reply #22 on: December 10, 2019, 11:18:49 pm »
Here's a link with double and single breasted jackets. As you can see, the entire front of the jacket is different. Pockets wouldn't fit in the same place, especially if you're cutting it down from a coat. Depending on whether she wants a short or long jacket, pockets might not even be possible, moved or not. The lapel won't look like it does now, and she wants to keep that.

Rose Red

Re: Turning down business
« Reply #23 on: December 10, 2019, 11:36:39 pm »
Still, she would be better off getting an expert opinion on whether or not it can be done. An expert can explain clearly and may be able to provide options. I can understand if the OP doesn't feel comfortable explaining because it's not her area of expertise.

Aleko

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Re: Turning down business
« Reply #24 on: December 11, 2019, 01:43:45 am »
How about saying 'I honestly wouldn't attempt anything that radical on a jacket of my own, so I certainly couldn't undertake it on a garment belonging to a customer'? That might help convey to her that you're not just being difficult, or don't 'feel like' taking on the job.
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Hanna

Re: Turning down business
« Reply #25 on: December 11, 2019, 04:59:55 am »
Here's a link with double and single breasted jackets. As you can see, the entire front of the jacket is different. Pockets wouldn't fit in the same place, especially if you're cutting it down from a coat. Depending on whether she wants a short or long jacket, pockets might not even be possible, moved or not. The lapel won't look like it does now, and she wants to keep that.
Can cut in pockets be “moved”? Wouldn’t you have a big seam where the pockets previously existed?

Dazi

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Re: Turning down business
« Reply #26 on: December 11, 2019, 05:53:28 am »
Here's a link with double and single breasted jackets. As you can see, the entire front of the jacket is different. Pockets wouldn't fit in the same place, especially if you're cutting it down from a coat. Depending on whether she wants a short or long jacket, pockets might not even be possible, moved or not. The lapel won't look like it does now, and she wants to keep that.
Can cut in pockets be “moved”? Wouldn’t you have a big seam where the pockets previously existed?

Sometimes, but it'd be a nightmare of a job. My mom does seamstress work on the side and can construct garments from scratch with no pattern, but I'm telling y'all she'd laugh herself silly at the request and tell the person to buy a new coat. She's done some pretty insane cosplay ensembles for people, so she's got the skills.


DCGirl

Re: Turning down business
« Reply #27 on: December 11, 2019, 04:16:00 pm »
I showed the description of the work your customer wants done to my sister, who runs an alteration shop and does do custom work (she does a lot of work for re-enactors, for example, and she's made a few wedding dresses), and she said she would turn down the work for the reasons VorFemme cited.  She did say that she once took apart a very nice kilt that no longer fit and was able to make another garment from it (another style of skirt), but there are yards of fabric in a kilt to work with. 
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Soop

Re: Turning down business
« Reply #28 on: December 12, 2019, 07:42:34 am »
I showed the description of the work your customer wants done to my sister, who runs an alteration shop and does do custom work (she does a lot of work for re-enactors, for example, and she's made a few wedding dresses), and she said she would turn down the work for the reasons VorFemme cited.  She did say that she once took apart a very nice kilt that no longer fit and was able to make another garment from it (another style of skirt), but there are yards of fabric in a kilt to work with.
I learned about how much fabric there is in a kilt watching the Great British Sewing Bee. All those pleats! This whole conversation has also made me think of that show, because the first challenge of each episode was to convert an existing garment into something completely different. As you can imagine, some were more successful than others. If you like sewing, highly recommend checking the show out online (same producers as the Bake Off).
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Kimpossible

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Re: Turning down business
« Reply #29 on: December 12, 2019, 09:05:05 am »
I showed the description of the work your customer wants done to my sister, who runs an alteration shop and does do custom work (she does a lot of work for re-enactors, for example, and she's made a few wedding dresses), and she said she would turn down the work for the reasons VorFemme cited.  She did say that she once took apart a very nice kilt that no longer fit and was able to make another garment from it (another style of skirt), but there are yards of fabric in a kilt to work with.
I learned about how much fabric there is in a kilt watching the Great British Sewing Bee. All those pleats! This whole conversation has also made me think of that show, because the first challenge of each episode was to convert an existing garment into something completely different. As you can imagine, some were more successful than others. If you like sewing, highly recommend checking the show out online (same producers as the Bake Off).
Oh!  That sounds good.  Is it on Netflix?