Why A Private Seamstress?????

Many brides are torn between whether to have their alterations done at the shop where they purchased their gown or to go to a private seamstress.  As a former Alterations Training Manager for David's Bridal I understand their concerns.  There are advantages to the bride with either choice.  The main advantage to having your gown altered at the shop where you purchased it would be that the store is then responsible should any damage or faulty alterations happen and would have to replace your dress if you were dissatisfied.

As a private seamstress, I guarantee my work and the safety of your gown.  In fact I have insurance that would cover the cost of the gown were there any accident at my shop such as fire,etc.  Beyond that I also guarantee my brides that they will be happy with their alterations or they will not pay me one cent.  I also have the means to pay a bride for her gown if anything would happen to it during alterations that could not be fixed.  Neither of these scenario's have ever happened to me, but if it would,  I would certainly do everything I can to take care of the bride.

The GREAT advantage of bringing your gown to a private seamstress (one who is talented, experienced, knows how to alter a gown) is the cost of the alterations.  Brides can save up to hundreds of dollars having their gowns altered/pressed by a private seamstress.  Private seamstresses typically charge much less than bridal shops.  I know this is a fact in comparing my prices to David's Bridal and Alfred Angelo.

In today's economy what bride would not like to have $50, $75, or $100 more to spend on something else for her wedding??  Flowers, Photo Booth, Favors, etc!!!

I suggest to all brides to have the shop where you purchased your gown give you a written estimate on alterations, and then come and get a free written estimate from me - Just to see how much you can save!

Christine Your Seamstress - Getting to Know Me - Getting to know all about me!!!

As a child I always loved to sew.  One of my earliest memories is rummaging through my mother's sewing basket looking for scraps of fabric to cut, or a needle, or just to look at the various treasures
inside. 

Here is a picture of me on my ninth birthday.  All I wanted was my very own sewing basket.


During high school I was an avid seamstress.  I took advanced sewing classes and worked for three long summers in a sewing factory.

After I became a stay at home mother, people who knew I could sew began bringing me their alterations jobs.  I continued to love sewing and learned to do English smocking and heirloom sewing.  In 1990 I won the Sew Beautiful Magazine's first annual "Most Beautiful Clothes in the World" contest which included a trip to Martha Pullen's Huntsville Alabama sewing academy where I studied heirloom sewing.

Here is a picture of my winning entry:


I continued to do clothing alterations, along with sub contracting alterations for various local bridal salons and dry cleaners for the next many years.

In 2007 I joined one of the largest bridal chains as an alterations manager.  I quickly brought my local store's alterations department to the top ten in the company by teaching my own values of hard work and pleasing customers to the seamstresses who worked with me.  We worked together to achieve our sales goals and to provide our customers with the best possible experience within the company guidelines.  As a result I became a company alterations trainer - training new alterations managers on how to successfully run an alterations room.

In May 2010 I decided to leave the corporate world and return to working on my own.  I have an in-home business which is very common in my area of Pennsylvania.  I have a large fitting room and an even larger sewing workroom.

I look forward to meeting YOU and Getting to Know All About You!!!