The Tipsy Thimble

The process is simple and FUN!!!

It sounds complicated and difficult to get a custom-made gown. Maybe even expensive. But, I promise you, it is NONE of those things. The whole process will take 5-6 weeks, and involve 3 meetings with me, 2 of which will be test-fittings. Once you’ve figured out the style of gown you want (see dress design), you’ll need to give me a call to schedule a consultation appointment. This is a free appointment which will take about 45 minutes to an hour. This can be done at my sewing studio (in my home, just minutes from downtown Cedartown) or at any location you choose. We could even go “dutch” on lunch somewhere, if you’d like!

On the day of your appointment, please be sure to wear a tank top style shirt underneath your clothes. This is so that I can take a few measurements. Bring with you all of your design ideas. If you have a friend that is possibly interested in getting a custom-made gown for themselves, they can come along, too. The more the merrier! Just like when you bring friends with you to go shopping at the mall, they may give you some feedback on your ideas and may help you make some final decisions on what you want your dress to look like.

The consultation will go something like this: You show and tell me about your design ideas. We’ll talk about them for a little while, and I’ll ask some questions about your ideas to make sure that we both understand what it is that you are looking for. We may do a little sketching, just to make sure I know how you want your design elements to mesh together.

Once I’m clear on your design, I may take a few measurements from your body. Most likely for a prom or wedding gown, I will need measurements like your waistline, your bustline, your side seam (from your armpit to your waistline), your back length (from the base of your neck to your waistline) and your skirt length. I may not take all of these, and I may take others, depending on the style elements you want incorporated into your dress. We will also plan when you will come back for test and final fittings. (More about this later.)

We will also discuss costs. I should be able to give you the total cost of the dress at this time. (The only reason I can think of that I may not be able to is if you want certain types of fabric that I’m not sure of the price of… This should be a rare case.) Dress prices will start at around $100-$150, and can go up as high as you’d like. It will be based on fabric choices, design elements and the labor required. We can discuss payment plans if you are not able to pay it all at once. I will need a $50 NON-refundable deposit to begin work on your dress. (will be applied to the price of your dress). This can be paid on the day of our consultation if you want me to get started on your dress right away, but that is NOT required. However, work will NOT begin on your dress until this deposit is paid. Also, your dress will not be released to you until it is paid IN FULL. The dress will take 5-8 weeks to complete (unless you pay an extra rush-fee), so you will have time to pay off your gown before it is completed.

After this appointment, I’ll find and purchase the fabric for your dress. Then, I’ll go back to my studio and create a pattern based on the design and your measurements. I will then make what is called a “toile” or “muslin” out of this pattern. Basically, this is a mock-up of your gown out of cheap fabric. Then, we’ll meet again (about 1-2 weeks after our initial consultation) so that we can make sure that this mock-up of the dress will fit you. We may need to make a few minor fitting adjustments to make sure the dress fits and will be the way you want it. I’ll also show you the fabrics I found based on your recommendations. This fabric should be close to what you want, but if it is not to your tastes, I can take it back and get more, but this will add another day or two to my work schedule for your dress. Once we get that worked out, then I will go back into the studio to begin work on the actual dress using this new pattern that we are sure will fit and the fabric you’ve selected.

About 2-3 weeks after this test fitting, I should have your dress made out of the actual fabric. It will be almost completed, but I won’t finish off the seams just yet, because we are going to meet for one last test fitting. You will try on the dress, which should fit like a glove. (If it doesn’t, I can make a few adjustments before I finish off the seams.)

We’ll schedule one more meeting for about a week later for you to pick up your dress. By this time, you will need to have paid for your dress in full. You’ll try on the completed gown one more time, then, pleased as punch, take it with you and show it off to all of your friends and family.