Starting a business - sewing - where do I start?

[Katymac]

I have a small part-time job which covers my basic expenses.

I have always sewn - I can do basic repairs, make clothes, do simple alterations, make home furnishings, and do upholstery. I can also embellish things (dance wear, clothing, household objects)

I need a name and I need an advertising plan

I am always know as "DD's Mum" and at the Ballet Show last year (Large Theatre) it was announced that the costumes were done by person's name, person's name and of course DD's Mum who did x, y, z

So do I use her name? or my name? or my nickname - which came about because my Nana's knitted and had little labels embroidered with "Handmade by Joey Mac" & I loved them so much she had some made for me "Handmade by Katy Mac"

So far I have.....from a brain storming session with one of DD's friends

......maybe handwash?" as a sort of name for making/embellishing stuff?
Or maybe "By DD's Mum"

As I may be embellishing clothes already made with washing instructions I feel I need to mention handwash somehow

Making dance clothes, costumes and embellishing bought clothes
Crystals, applique etc

edited by

I don't like the words "Dance Wear" etc or sewn by

"made pretty by"

"Embellished by"

"Decorated by"

"Improved by"

"Improved by KatyMac" & "Suggest hand washing" / "Wash carefully"

"Amended by KatyMac" & "Prefers handwashing"

"Tweaked by KatyMac"

"Enhanced by KatyMac"

So as you see I got precisely no-where - I thought I'd put it in Start-ups too as it's their sort of thing....

HELP!!

Is that less suggestive?

Ah I see it's the green section of the skirt. Because it's a line drawing it shows as another thing entirely! Maybe you could extend the dappled bit of skirt over the 'leaf' bit, or zoom out so you can see the line of skirt against the other leg. Could you just trace over the photo? Sorry I'm probably overthinking and complicating it!

Thanks for pointing it out Shotgun

Oh I'm a nightmare! It looks as if part of the skirt is missing now - it's a black layer over the green, isn't it? It does need that bit you've taken away, just not so it looks like part of her anatomy iyswim. But maybe I just see it that way because I'm on my phone.

Okay here's what to try: take the line out to the edge of the green and remove the original sparkly line. So you've got a bigger 'petal'.

I dunno - I'll have a look in the morning I think

I did that thing where you put your profile pic on FB & it does it with a line drawing

This was the original - I tried with Paint but I'm really bad at it!! Can you tell

Not bad at all! Actuall, now I can see a bit of the other leg and the edge of the green layer it's fine - phew!

But when I lose the hand the skirt bit goes too!

Love the business cards, but can I suggest a semi transparent white layer between the photo and the text, would make it much easier to read and still show the beautiful photo

Sounds good - I'll have a look - still concerned about the line drawing too

More like that?

Can't find a transparancy thingie - but that's a blurry one

KatyMac I am a graphic designer - if you want me to do a quick tweak of your card and/or logo then just PM me (can't work out how to PM you from iPad!) - I would be happy to help (would not charge you, obvs).

If you want some upholstery type work try contacting Plumbs as they outsource to local freelancers !

My sewing lady tells me that she has a huge amount of work sewing name labels on for people going into care homes, and adapting clothes for wheelchair users, the very elderly and those with poor grip. She does all sorts of things including repairing awnings, bike leathers, curtains, recovering caravan cushions, but apparently labels are a nice consistent job through the year.

Looking good :)

I thought the original line drawing had a buttock in it too :o

Thanks Bartonian - I have PM'd you

Those are great ideas everyone thank you - off to Southwold for the day with DD

Hopefully I will come back with loads of ideas

Our local wedding dress shop recommends a sewing lady, maybe you could leave some cards in your local ones. Good Luck

I suppose I need to start making a list of things I can do, things I need to learn, places I should network/offer work at & places I should advertise

Hi KatyMac. I came onto this part of the forum because I am also in the planning stages of setting up a sewing business - specialising in dance costumes. Assuming I don't wimp out before I get started...

We must network then

What sort are you looking at - for me Ballroom & Latin, followed by leotards I think....maybe? with maybe some 50's stuff for the swing crowd

I'm going to be both making and embellishing already bought ones

How are your plans going?

Bartonian's work is amazing for logos and stuff - I am waiting to hear back from my latest email but what I have so far is amazing - if you haven't thought about logos & stuff she might be a good person to go to

You have to budget money for that sort of thing I think, it makes you look more professional

Early stages, really.

I usually pay through the nose to order costumes from Images for my daughter's dance competitions. Although I can sew, and used to have a business making cloth nappies and baby carriers, for some reason I have been too scared of lycra to think about making dancewear.

However, daughter's teacher didn't tell me what she needed for her last competition until the last minute, so I couldn't order. So I thought - I'll make them myself, I guess. And I really enjoyed making them. And since I am struggling to find steady work as a teacher (and hate the fact that as a supply I have several months with no work at all) I have been playing with the idea of starting my own costume business.

I have been going over ideas for the past month, and playing with some very simple leotard patterns and stuff, just to get the hang of the fabrics and construction before I start adapting and embellishing...

These are the costumes I made: one for demi character and one for tap.

Yeah, I think you are right about the logos and stuff. I haven't really got there yet. though I am thinking about "Amaris Dance Designs" - Amaris being my daughter's middle name...

Lycra isn't too bad - I did 2 way stretch velours this morning & that was tricky as the I needed to remember which way the velour stroked right

They look like fun - did your DD enjoy dancing in them?