Have you ever bought a pair of gorgeous pants, only to find that they were made for someone six inches taller? Or received a skirt from your grandmother that falls just below the knees? Do you adjust the hems on these items to suit you? If so, why not start doing it for money?
That's right, sewing. Hemming is fast, easy, and a very necessary service, but most people either lack the skill or find the task tedious and boring. Which is why you will find rolled up jeans and sleeves around the world.
You can offer your sewing skills to those folks with shorter-than-average legs and torsos. Run an ad in your local paper and hand out business cards. Word of mouth and repeat customers will also build your business, so do a good job.
Don't list prices in your ads because each project will require an estimate. Some fabrics are horrible to work with. Anything slippery or stretchy or sequined will take longer to work on, so give a higher price. For skirts, dresses, and blouses, you can easily hem using a sewing machine, but sleeves and pant legs may require hand stitching. Remember to include this in your price.
Generally, you will charge by the project, not by the hour, since some projects may only take five minutes. Include expenses such as wear and tear on the machine, thread, and any trim if needed.
The client will tell you about how much to hem, but to avoid errors, ask her to try on the piece of clothing on. Adjust to her liking in front of a full-length mirror. Pin the fabric in place before removing the garment so you won't have to guesstimate afterwards.
If the garment to be hemmed is for a child, ask if you should leave the extra fabric untrimmed. This way the hem can be let out when the child grows. With other items, it is usually fine to trim to one inch. This gives you a bit of play if the client decides the hem is too high after all.
So, your hemming business is humming along, but you want to expand. Why not stock up on assorted scraps of fabric and do minor customizing. This could be anything from designing fanciful patches for kids to adding colorful stripes down the sides of jeans. Replacing old pockets with contrasting fabric ones is another option.
Depending on your skill, you may take on other assorted jobs such as dressmaking during prom season or for special events. Chances are, your clients will occasionally ask for more than just hemming. It is up to you to decide how much to take on. You decide exactly how much you want your business to grow.
You should be sure and create a website explaining your services and how you can be contacted. Register this website with search engines and local business directories to help your potential customers to find you.
Resources:
http://knoxville.citysearch.com/profile/9420770/knoxville_tn/quality_alterations.html
http://jhittlesewing.com/visitor/index_jhs.html
http://www.sewingjust4u.com/
August 16, 2008
