Customers often have fitting issues. They come in odd sizes, larger sizes, extra tall sizes, extra skinny... You name it, there'll be a customer somewhere with it!
Some are shy, some are a bit overwhelmed and diffident, some are nervous. Some know almost as much as me about the sewing but don't have the time or find self-fitting difficult (don't we all!).
Yesterday's lady has severe fitting issues: some on size (larger than she likes, but mostly due to the steroids), some to do with fluctuation (where in the steroid cycle she is), and some those 'natural assets' we ladies have to deal with: a bigger than B cup!
A sibling is getting married in August (Bank Holiday Weekend), in Scotland: it could be baking, it could be snowing, and she has no idea what her consultant will do with her steroids, so has no idea exactly what size she'll be! And she's so nice it almost hurts!
She chose a wonderful pattern that will really flatter her (that Vogue Issey Miyaki skirt, No 2796 I raved about a week ago, and made up for myself in light weight stretch denim), and we fitted the toile yesterday evening. I need to skim a couple of inches off the sides, but because she fluctuates so much, I'll cut her silk dupion the size it is and give it extra wide seam allowances so we can let it out if we have to. This scarlet silk dupion version of the skirt will be teamed with a neat little camisole top, either in the scarlet or in black, and a black dupion jacket, and the cutest pair of Jimmy Choo 'straps with heels' sandals you ever did see! :)
Last night we found her a jacket pattern, and a top pattern. These were patterns already chosen by some of my other customers, so it'll be a doddle to make them again in her size. I WILL have to get another pattern because of the size difference, but she chose the jacket from Vogue 2756, and the top from McCall's 2818. :)
I have *another* possible new customer with an in-a-hurry project (she wants a 1950's Big Skirt dress for a couple of posh frockery occasions with a historical theme), who will come and see me this afternoon, so I'll do some pattern ordering after she has been. I've got the May magazine coupon to use, so I'll see what I can get free! :)
I thought it was going to be a quiet summer, but I have a glorious collection of fabulous silk to work on, some freakily good patterns, and a set of lovely customers to work with! :) I have a toile for one of the jackets to sew up today, a potential new customer to see, patterns to order, a proposal to prepare, silk factory people to talk to, and I'm loving it! You may see a leeeetle less of my for a while, but I won't make pro
Right - gotta go play with some fabric!