Individual Fit

A good fitting garment creates the illusion that your body is symmetrical and well proportioned. You are not required to have a perfect body in order to get a good fit, but the clothes you wear should enhance the body you have. Remember, people usually see you from a distance of at least five feet. What they notice is your body outline and how your clothes hang, so you must learn to see yourself as others see you. You can do this by standing at least five feet away from a full length mirror. Now turn down the lights a bit. Look at general proportions, height and outline. One of the biggest "aha" moments comes when you understand that part of the process of getting a good fit is choosing the correct styles for you as an individual.
My favorite clothes are those that I grab first out of the closet, are comfortable, fit my lifestyle and I feel good in. Make sure you think about and take into consideration your fabric preferences, whether or not you want to dry-clean or launder your garments, what kind of upkeep your lifestyle requires, what kind of clothing you require at home and/or on the job, and what outside interests you have. All these things should be considered when making a purchase or are thinking of having a garment custom made.

Words of Wisdom

I just love this quote by Maya Angelou...enjoy!


"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

— Maya Angelou

Fit Specialists

What should you look for in an alteration specialist? Everyone wants to look their best, especially in a newly purchased garment. You bought it for a reason, and you want to wear it right away, but it has some fit issues. It may be too long, too wide, or too tight. Your alterations specialist can handle the first two with ease (most of the time), but a garment that is too tight or too short is a whole new can of worms. When you have those fit issues, call your fit specialist for an appointment so he/she can tell you first of all IF the garment is alterable and what it will look like on your body when it is finished. If you feel comfortable with the way it was pin fit to your body and with the estimate and turn around time, let them do their magic on your garment. But remember, we are fit and alteration specialists, not magicians! When you pick up your garment, feel free to ask to try it on. Make sure to look at the work that was done. Look at the finishing of the seams, inspect the hem...kick the tires, so to speak. The garment should look like nothing had been done to it...it should look like the original. If you are pleased with the fit and the alteration, make sure to let your specialist know that. We mostly do this because we're good at it, but we also have to earn an income as well. When we know that you are pleased, we will bend over backwards to continue to do a good job on other things you bring to us AND will help to get you the appointment and turn around time that is convenient for you. Look good, feel good in custom fit clothes.
.............Katherine

I want to be an Every Day Diva

I wrote a few days ago about Everyday Divas, the business of a dear friend. Well, her blog is listing twelve simple rules for getting dressed. This vintage brooch was #10. After cleaning and organizing my closet (rule #7 Think of your closet as art), I found two boxes I remember stashing in there after Great Aunt Lottie passed away. The boxes were full of wonderful, vintage costume jewelry like the brooch at left. Now I just have to figure out how to make clip on earrings into pierced style so I can wear them! There were wonderful bracelets with matching necklaces and earrings! After reading Kris' blog, cleaning out the closet felt so good, but to look at all that vintage jewelry with new eyes was like getting a wonderful gift. Designs for new garments are swirling in my head, and after fabricating for the custom designs I'm working on for clients, I can hardly wait for business to slow down enough so I can make some wonderful things for myself to go with all this beautiful new jewelry! Make St. Vincent DePaul & Goodwill part of your shopping experience...go to estate sales...beauty is everywhere...repurpose that wonderful jewelry and work it into your wardrobe for a fresh new look.

Designer vs Seamstress

What is the difference between a designer and a seamstress? I wonder if most people know the answer to that question. I consider myself to be both because I am able to take a client's needs and ideas and draw them into a sketchbook of ideas to present the client. I then will either drapefabric to make a pattern or use paper to make a pattern using a flat pattern method. A designer sees the project from conception to fruition. A seamstress can use fabric to make a garment using a commercial pattern. She is not necessarily proficient in customizing the fit of the pattern, where a designer should be able to make a garment not only fit perfectly, but know what will be flattering to her client.
A custom designed garment should be more costly than ready-to-wear clothing purchased from a mass marketing retail store. It is designed to be one-of-a-kind, unique just for you and perfectly fit and suited to your body. Attention to detail is the name of the game here. A custom garment is an investment in yourself. Take pride in how you look with beautiful clothes and people you come in contact with will respond to your new attitude of confidence and joy.

An Everyday Diva

My friend has this wonderful blog called: aneverydaydiva.com. Take a look at it. She is one of the most creative people I know and has a sense of style at any price point. She teaches women to look their best in whatever circumstance they are in, and is funny and smart. Check it out and see for yourself!

40's Designs for the Over 50 Crowd

My next design challenge is to make a dress for a mom and daughter to wear to a 40's theme wedding in three months. Mom is in her 70's and daughter is in her early 40's. Dior's "New Look" in the 1940's was a body hugging bodice, waistline seam and very full, calf length skirt. I want these ladies to look elegant, be able to wear the dresses again, and have fun with the whole design and construction process. Wish me luck...I will need it. I'll post more when I have the design's sketched out....maybe even do a survey for people to vote on the style you think I should pursue!

Funky Aprons

So, a dear friend found a funky apron she wanted me to make for her to give as a wedding gift. I made it reversible, and it was so much fun to make I think it would be a good idea for Christmas gifts for my daughters-in-law! What do YOU think?

Today's Design Challenge
After watching the whole last season of Project Runway, I've been inspired to do more creative projects. One client brought in her wedding dress for me to make into a Baptismal gown for her second son. So that was my design challenge today, and it was fun, creative and enjoyable! Take a look. I used the center front of her gown for the baby's gown and used the Dutchess satin from the train of her gown to make the bodice and sleeves. I had to take off some pearls to stitch the side seams, so I reused them around the neckline. An invisible zipper at the center back gets the baby in and out with ease and it is completely lined using the wedding gown lining!

Bra Class

Well, the bra class was excellent. Everyone came away with a perfectly fitting, perfectly comfortable bra and supplies to make two more! It was a long day, but well worth it. Now I am able to custom fit and alter this type of undergarment for my clients and make some very beautiful garments for myself! Wish I could post a photo, but modesty rules in this case!

Probably more than you want to know...

I have read that as many as 80% or more of the women in the U.S. are walking around wearing the wrong size bra. It's a touchy subject when you talk to women...not only do they hate shopping for this intimate item, they can never seem to find one that is comfortable AND fits. Enter the "Bra Lady".
I met with this amazing woman today and in a few short minutes she had me fitted AND comfortable! Same goes for the other five women that came and went while I was there. At our age, modesty was not high on the priority scale, but some ladies used the restroom for their fitting, others just donned their new duds in the hotel room with several other ladies. The "Bra Lady" knew just what to look for, how to customize the fit for each lady, and then she will create a pattern specifically for that lady's needs...and MY needs!
Tomorrow we will spend an entire day constructing 3 garments that should fit perfectly. We will learn about fabric, trims, and construction. And I hope we learn to help others with this unmentionable dilemma as well. I will post how it all goes...keep watching!

Why custom made clothes?

Custom made clothes are much more than a dress your mom or grandmother makes for you from a pattern and fabric. A good custom clothier will advise you on styles that will flatter your shape and give you specific direction in your fabric choice. She will take detailed measurements in order to draft or alter a pattern to fit your body and then in the construction phase will make suggestions on proportion, color, and texture choices. Once you have a basic pattern to start from, it can be used to create an infinite variety of garments without having the added expense of patterning. You can change the fabrication, style lines, length, and width--add darts, pleats, tucks, ruching and seaming to make each garment different and unique. You will never walk into a room and see the same garment on someone else. A few weeks ago I went to a family gathering. I knew very few people, but recognized immediately two women with the exact same skirt on in different prints. I am sure no one else caught this, which goes to say that even the same fabric and pattern with a different print adds to the uniqueness of a garment. It is fun to choose a style and then choose from a myriad of fabrics, but to then have it fit perfectly is icing on the cake!

Welcome to Katherine-sews. There is so much information out there about what you SHOULD wear, or shouldn't wear to be "in fashion". I am all about helping you to look your best no matter your age, gender, body type or style preferences. Clothing should flatter you so that people see YOU not your clothes. The first impression you make when you walk into a room is the total package. My part in all this is to construct clothing or alter your existing garments to makes you look fabulous.

KD&A Katherine's Designs & Alterations

Welcome to Katherine's place where you can be transformed from blah to wow, from frumpy to sexy, and from outdated to stylish. First impressions are made within the first 3 seconds, so you only have one chance to stand out from the crowd. How you present yourself with your clothes, shoes, hair, makeup and accessories can add or detract from that first impression. Last week a beautiful woman brought me two shirts with really short puffy sleeves. She didn't like how puffy they were and I thought they looked more like what a nine year old little girl would wear. So, I did my magic on them and took out most of the puffiness so she looked a little trendy, but most certainly more polished for the workplace. This is what I do. I am part problem solver, part magician! Welcome to my world.