Dress-Making And Fashion

Will clothes and dress-makers still be around in the future?
Exactly how high should a skirt be?
Is red the ultimate power color of all time?
When will bell-bottomed pants be back?
Why wear clothes?

According to experts, the original purpose of clothing was primarily functional. Garments were used to help protect us from the rain, the sun, the cold wind, and other unwanted elements in the environment.

Later, such cultural aspects as modesty and religious practices were added to the original list of reasons why we wear clothes. Specific rules were then included on how to wear these clothes, how they should look, and the things they signify.

The idea of fashion came in relatively recent as compared to all the other reasons. However, it is just as important as the others. It may take some persuasion for us to accept the fact that such a simple act as dressing up has something significant at all.

Fashion, for all the original shallow connotations we knew of it, actually covers the combined social, artistic and political trends of the times. Fashion, in effect, is the unofficial barometer of the people’s likes and dislikes, mores, and popular ethics.

Some fashion trends, however, defy logic when viewed against today’s perspectives. Sociologists and historians in the future will have their hands full for a long time when they shall be putting things in their proper historical places.

For a quick scan, let us check what happened in fashion in the last 100 years.

A rundown on 20th century fashion 

The beginning of the 1900s saw the corset, a 19th century fashion hold-over, slowly abandoned. Women’s skirts still trailed on the floor but the gowns were narrower. Paris became he arbiter of style.

In 1920, fashion entered modern times. Clothes became comfortable because hemlines rose to the knees, perfect for dancing the Charleston.  Knickers and drawers were out and panties were in. Clothes now used zippers, hook-and-eyes, snaps, and buttons for fasteners.

From 1930 to 1945, shoulder pads strangely became the rage. The hemlines, raised a decade earlier, were now lowered. Nylon was used in the making of stockings, although there was a temporary shortage for sometime because of the war.

In 1945 up to 1960, the couturiers ruled. Dior introduced the New Look. Balenciaga presented the high-waisted dresses. Givenchy made mix and matched separates. Balmain cornered the market for luxurious clothes, while Chanel invented the braided suit with gold chains and shiny costume jewelry.

In 1964, Mary Quant invented the mini-skirt and shocked the world. Hemlines kept on rising with micro-minis. Hippies took the scene with bell-bottom jeans and tie-dye shirts. Women loved Jackie Kennedy’s signature pillbox hats.

In the 70s, bell-bottoms still ruled. There were additions, however. Polyester, rayon and jersey dresses and shirts became popular. There were now three different skirt lengths to choose from: maxis (ankle-length) midis (mid-calf) and the original minis. Then, there were the hot pants, a shorter version of regular shorts.

The 80s had Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein in the scene. The street urchin look was popularized by Madonna. Leg warmers seen in “Flash Dance” became the rage even for non-dancers.

Shoulder pads made a splashing comeback courtesy of the TV shows “Dallas” and “Dynasty”. Tattooing and body-piercing began. Men and women wanted acid-washed jeans as well as Michael Jackson jackets.

When the 90s came around, retro clothing took off.  It was the decade of supermodels. Whatever Kate or Naomi or Cindy wore, the women wanted them. Princess Diana, not a model, also inspired many with her dresses.

When 2000 rolled in, it was the turn of the music scene “look”. Heavy metal, hip hop, low-rise jeans, spiked hair - these fashion markers were most popular.

Fashion cycles

Fashion trends are like seasons, leaving and returning in cycles. Only that they go away when no one is looking and come back when least expected. There are no formulas, nothing cast in stone as far as fashion is concerned.

For fashionistas, don’t throw out your old clothes. They may look funny now, but you’ll definitely strut in them sometime in the future when they are back in fashion.

On second thought, you can do the strutting right now. Somebody has got to jump-start things.

Tips When Taking Measurements Before Dressmaking

Taking measurements before dressmaking is an art and a science because you need to combine dedication, time, and accuracy to get the job done. Note that measuring the body is more than just measuring the hip, bust, and waist in inches. Measurements for clothing should be more detailed especially if you aim to come out with a custom-fitted outfit. You have to aim to keep the accuracy at all costs. It can be tedious and costly re-doing a dress from scratch just because you messed up in measurements.

Before making any dress, you need to first take the necessary body measurements of the person who will wear the outfit. If you are making your own dress, you need to take your own measurements. If you are dressmaking for another person, you need to schedule a session so you can take the necessary and important body measurements.

You should include the necessary measurement tools in your dressmaking kit. The basic tool for measuring sizes is a tape measure. You can use a nylon or plastic tape measure for the purpose. Use the English standard measurement (i.e. inches).

Before proceeding to measure anyone, be sure the person is not wearing bulky outfit. Advise the person to come wearing well-fitted undergarments. This is because oversized underwear may drastically affect the accuracy of measurements. For women, bras should fit well, and for men, boxers and other loose underwear should not be worn when in the session.

Make the person to be measured stand correctly and in good body posture. He or she should stand proudly, with eyes gazing straight ahead and both arms very relaxed at either side. The back should be ideally straight and shoulders in a relaxed state. Some people do not naturally stand this proud, but advise the person you are measuring to observe correct and proud standing for the sake of getting accurate and ideal body measurements. There is a need to take a good position base.

When finally measuring, take note that the job does not end in measuring the bust, the waist, and the hips. Other body areas should also be measured correctly. There can be differences in procedures when measuring men and women, but there are general body areas to scale.

• To measure the chest, put the tape measure under the person’s arms. Wrap the tape measure around the area, specifically to the fullest bust line part.

• To measure the waist line, put the measuring tape at the person’s belly button. Let the tool fall naturally. The area where it fell is the waist line, the measurement you should take.

• Measure the fullest part of the person’s hip.

• To measure the arm length, place the tape measure at the top of the arm in the armpit area extending until the wrist. Bend the arm without taking off the tape. Take the measurement as the arm length.

• Take back length measurement after determining the length from the base of the neck until the waistline.

• Measure the length from hip to heel to get the accurate leg measurement.
In taking measurements before dressmaking, it is a standard practice to measure the areas thrice in one session. There might be differences resulting from changes in positions and starting points of measurements.

There is a need to do so to ensure measurement accuracy.

Simple Ideas when Making Your Child’s Pageant Dress

Everyone will agree that costumes make children’s pageant memorable and fun to watch. Audience are always having a great time looking at and appreciating clothes and accessories worn by children in such events.

Pageant dresses simply make such activities look more realistic and interesting. If you are a practical and creative parent, you should consider making your child’s pageant dress instead of buying less creative and costly ready-made items at department stores and children’s shops.

The next time your child joins a holiday, Christmas, or special pageant at school or at the community, you should aim to make his costume instead. Doing so will not only be practical and cost-saving, you can also do your child a favor because the pageant dress you will be making will surely fit comfortable in him. You can also make good use of your creativity and dress-making skills. Take such occasions as opportunities to shine and show other parents how enjoyable and great creative parenting can be.

Of course there are numerous pageant costumes and dresses available ready made across the market. However, making the pageant dress on your own will surely score you more points. First, you can show your child and other parents how resourcefulness is effective. Second, you can make your child feel as if the effort is a team activity between you and him. Third, you can save so much money by not buying the expensive pageant costumes available in stores. Fourth, you can finally make use of unused clutters, spare dresses, and other materials in your home.

Here are several effective and simple do-it-yourself ideas if you are intending to make your child’s pageant dress. Take note that you can save so much by using materials that are already readily available within your home.

• If your child needs an angel costume, take a white pillowcase. Cut a neck hole in one side and two separate armholes in two opposite sides. You may put a cloth tie to serve as a belt in the waist area. Another cost-saving idea is to cut a white dress or a simple nightgown so it could fit into the length of your child.

• You could also use a pillowcase when making a king costume. Instead of using a white-colored pillowcase, use one with bolder shade or more light colors to make the pageant costume. A purple, red, or rich blue pillowcase can be very ideal for this purpose.

• To make a shepherd costume, use a terry cloth bathrobe to be tied at the waist area. For the headscarf, use a small towel or a scarf in an appropriate complimentary color.

• For other types of costumes, use your imagination and creativity. Intend to use materials, cloths, dresses, and accessories that are not anymore useful in your home. You can stick with the pillowcase if you are running out of other creative ideas.

Making your child’s pageant dress can be a fun and enjoyable activity. You can even turn it into a bonding, quality moment with the whole family by involving everyone else in the household when making the dress. You can solicit suggestions and ideas from your spouse or other children. Think of how fun the activity can be.

In the end, your child will truly cherish his pageant costume because he will get to realize it was created through labor of love.

Guidelines for Choosing Fabrics When Dressmaking

Dressmaking can never be possible without fabrics. A fabric is a basic material dressmakers use when designing and making any dress. There are many types of fabrics available in the market. Professional dressmakers very well know about the nature and appropriate use of every fabric. However, if you are still a beginner in making dresses, you should learn more about the different types of fabrics, and which one you should use for particular purposes.

There are specific factors you need to consider when creating and implementing certain dressmaking ideas. Before you start making any dress, you need to know where the outfit will be worn, what occasion, and some other specifications and requirements of the person who will wear the dress. Such factors will provide you useful and appropriate ideas when finding and choosing fabrics that are right for your project. After you have taken body measurements and decided on the design to use, it is time you pick out the correct fabrics to use.

Silk is a natural fiber taken from silk worms’ unwound cocoon. In general, silk is known for its absorbency features. The fabric is very comfortable to wear in tropical to warn climates. Dressmakers should know that silk has low conductivity. Thus, it can keep warm air close enough to skin specifically during winter or cold weather. Silk is most commonly used when making blouses, lingerie, shirts, robes, pajamas, skirt suits, and sun dresses.

Linen is another popular fabric used when making dresses. Linen is also a natural fabric because it is manufactured from natural fibers of a plant called fax. The fabric is characterized by its coolness and absorbency. It is popularly used when making dresses, skirts, and suits.

Wool is naturally warm, wrinkle resistant, and absorbent. That is because the fabric is made from hair fibers of animals like sheep (the most common source of wool fabric in the industry). Wool is best for making winter dresses and coats. You can also impart additional knowledge about wool, especially to the one wearing the outfit. Wool fabric should never be ironed, but it can be steam pressed. Most wools should only be dry cleaned.

Cotton is perhaps the most popular and commonly used fabric for dressmaking because it can be used when making just about any dress. Cotton is made from a plant also called cotton. It is characterized by its durability, making it long wearing and extra strong. The fabric can come with different textures, finishes, and weight. It can also be knitted or woven. Many people prefer to wear cotton clothes because it is comfortable to the skin and is ideal for all climates.

The abovementioned fabrics are made from natural materials. You can also choose from among several fabrics that are synthetically manufactured. Some of the synthetic fabrics are nylon, acrylic, and polyester. Nylon is highly elastic, tough, and moth resistant. Acrylics are light weight and are warm. On the other hand, polyester is light weight and is quickly drying, making it ideal for making athletic clothes. Polyester also exhibits wash and wear features.

Know the characteristics of fabrics you are considering using before finally making a dress. Natural and synthetic fabrics are equally recommendable, though synthetic types are more advisable for heavy duty purposes.

Now, you can proceed to make the dress.

Early Introduction To Dressmaking

Dressmaking can be a wonderful bonding activity for parents and children because it nurtures creativity and resourcefulness in both parties. Unfortunately, most children are not into dressmaking because the parents themselves do not encourage them to indulge in the craft.

If taught early, dressmaking could bring so many advantages to children. Aside from encouraging them to be creative, dressmaking also teaches these kids skills such as drawing. It also inspires them to make their own creations and will make them more aware about the independence they can get from this wonderful activity.

Teaching children the beauty of dressmaking

If you are a parent who is into dressmaking and would like your child to join you while you're doing the craft, you must first show him or her the beauty of dressmaking. You can do this by slowly introducing the child into the craft starting with the dressmaking tools, patterns that can be used, different designs, color scheme and selection, types of fabric, and accessories that can be used in sewing clothes, bags, and other items.

When you're teaching a child to sew, make sure that you explain the purpose and advantages of sewing. Explain how she or he can benefit from it and what are the different creations the child can produce. You can also let the child watch you when you sew to tickle his or her curiosity and try the craft by himself. When you are demonstrating the craft, make sure that you are confident with your work, and are ready to answer all the questions the child might have.

Effective strategies to get kids started on dressmaking

No matter how you look forward to having your child join you while you are dressmaking, parents must never force the kids to do what they don’t want to do. So, to spare you from the pains of forcing a child to get into dressmaking, you must access assess the child's personality first by observing him or her and by asking the child questions about his or her interest in sewing briefly. Here are other effective strategies to get kids into sewing and dressmaking:

1. Gauge the maturity of the child. Expert sewers would agree that the basic trait that the child to be able to enjoy dressmaking is his or her maturity level. This is because when the child is mature enough, he or she will develop the importance of finishing what was started. Maturity level can also develop dedication and discipline in your child because he or she already understands the pros and cons of what he or she is doing.

2. Measure the child's interest in dressmaking. Aside from maturity, you should also gauge the child's interest towards the craft. If you see him or her observing what you are doing while sewing and you feel the child's excitement about the outcome of the item, then you should give the child a simple sewing project.

3. Start simple. When teaching a child to sew, start with simple projects such as a handkerchief, tablemat, or a simple blouse. Start with the basic patterns so the child will be familiar with different patterns available. Also, choose designs and colors that are bright and happy to stimulate your child's positive attitude.

4. Teach basic sewing techniques. In teaching kids to sew for dressmaking, introduce him or her hand sewing first. When you see that the child has mastered sewing by hand, you can introduce him or her to using the sewing machine with your guidance.

Dressmaking Fundamentals for Beginners

Dressmaking is a skill not everyone has. But anyone can learn it. If you want to try out the activity so you can make your own clothes, you should first learn about the basics. You may be surprised that learning how to make your own dress is not as difficult as you think it is. Before doing it, you should first take enough motivation and determination to learn. Condition your mind by thinking about the advantages, perks, and savings you can generate if you know how to make your own clothes.

There are several important ideas you need to get to know before you get started. Dressmaking is not as hard as you think it is, but no one says it is easy. For beginners, learning how to make a dress and getting started can really be challenging. Here are several tips and tricks that can surely be of help to you. But before going into procedures, prepare your sewing machine as well as necessary materials like thread, Muslin cloth, pins, and pens.

• Prepare to facilitate clothing measurements. Use a fiberglass or linen tape for accuracy. Basically, you need to measure your bust, waist, and hips. Measure the fullest parts. Allot a couple of inches more to every measurement to achieve a comfortable fit and give yourself or the wearer freedom for several body movements.

• Make the pattern. You can buy ready-made standard patterns or you can make use of your creativity by putting together your own. The dress pattern should be done as if it is the real dress you are making. This serves as the actual guide you will follow when you proceed to making the dress.

• Once the pattern is successfully done, start pinning it to the fabric. Remember to pin it properly because the pattern will serve as the guide when you cut the fabric for making the dress.

• Press the dress after you completed making it. As a tip, press the dress on the fabric’s interior side. This is to avoid creating any burn mark on your new dress.

As additional tips, make sure you are using sharp scissors especially when cutting the fabrics. You surely do not want to mess up as you cut the fabric according to the shape of your pattern. Prepare threads in different colors. Make sure the color of the thread you will use matches the color of the fabric. You may use pens in outlining the cuts from patterns or you could opt to just pin the patterns to the cloth, then proceed to cutting. As a beginner, you should first go with the basics. When you are already familiar and comfortable with the procedures, start applying your creative ideas and designs.

Dressmaking is a skill that can bring about cost savings, potential income, and added personal pleasure. To some people, making dresses can be a stress-relieving habit. To others, it can be bread and butter, a source of living.

Imagine yourself setting your own fashion label when making clothes. After mastering these fundamentals, you can continue making dresses until the activity comes naturally and easily on you. By the time you get accustomed and very familiar with the skill, you can start creating rare and challenging designs. Be a good, patient, and determined beginner.

Dress-Making - The Economics and Politics

First, consider these quirky facts on dress-making and the wearing of clothes.

In ancient China, only the emperor could wear yellow. It was the assigned imperial colors and nobody was entitled to use it except the highest royalty.

In the old island kingdom of Hawaii, only the chieftain had the right to wear feather cloaks, a clothing accessory that was hallowed to them.

Ancient temple priests had to wear specific garbs while doing their priestly duties, with the pain of death imposed on those who broke them. Today, not everyone can be assigned to sew priestly apparel, but once they are, standard forms and patterns must be thoroughly followed to the last lines.

In ancient Rome, only the senators of the republic could wear purple. Aside from the hallowed status, this came with some bragging rights because purple dye at that time was the most expensive and was not available to everyone.

Most of today’s women in the U.S. and Europe still wear white wedding dresses. This is because of the widespread belief that white symbolizes purity, and every woman wants to project that trait.

Sikhs in India wear turbans, one sample of a strict religious requirement.

Different Arab nationalities have different head scarves specific to their countries. The manufacture of these scarves follows exact specifications that are very important to them, sacred even.

Politics, religion, and traditions

Evidently, politics and other socio-cultural aspects play a very significant part in the making and wearing of clothes, including the accessories that go with it. One can see from the examples above that these practices transcend time and place. Some are still in practice today.

As societies and other groupings begun to coalesce and develop, hierarchical rankings developed as well. Royalties, priests, ordinary citizens and others took to their assigned roles in their respective groups.

One effective way people were classified and organized would be by their clothing.  

Countries have their own national costumes for their people. Armies have uniforms. The rankings of soldiers and officers are noted by insignias and other markings. Religious groups have their priests, rabbis, and elders sporting special clothes.

Economics and status symbols 

Today, the social status of a person or group can sometimes be classified, too, by their capacity to acquire very expensive clothes and other luxurious items not available to everybody. These personal goods are limited only to these people with enough wealth to buy them.

Clothes make the man, so goes a tired old saying. To most people, this still holds true. They see beautiful clothes worn by beautiful movie stars and models, and even by plain celebrities. Helped by non-stop media barrage, the ordinary guy’s desire of owning and wearing these clothes themselves becomes obsession. Everyone wants to look like the current hot movie star or celebrity.

Astute dress-makers (name couturiers, big clothing companies) come into the picture by making these kinds of clothes available to every man and woman. Mass production of these expensive-looking clothes at a much lower cost becomes the solution to everyone’s yearning of owning them.

One very simple way of increasing value for these low-cost products is the prominent display of the clothes-maker’s brand name logo on the merchandise itself. The difference in value becomes the profit margin for the designer-manufacturer. These items may be clothes, bags, or any accessory considered hot at the moment.

In effect, the dress-maker’s logo defines the status of a person’s place in society. Stranger still, most people put such a high premium on these little signs. They display them whenever possible for other people to see.

Who’s that on your shirt’s label?

Considerations When Buying Sewing Machines For Dressmaking

Individuals who have been in the dressmaking industry for so long would agree that the sewing machine is one's biggest investment when it comes to the tools needed. Since the machine will do most of the work, its price would range from one hundred dollars or higher depending on the quality of the sewing machine that will be used for dressmaking.

Since it would cost one that much money, an informed decision is very important before buying a sewing machine to ensure that he or she would waste a single cent in something that cannot really be used for a long time. In the market today, there are so many sewing machines available. Many of which come in cheaper prices and durable compared to more expensive ones. For this reasons alone why it is very important to be familiarized with everything about sewing machines suitable for dress making through a simple research before finally purchasing a unit.

Buying guidelines 

The very basic thing to do before buying a sewing machine for dressmaking is to be familiarized with everything about it. One could do this by attending a simple sewing class online, reading various sewing references and asking veteran sewers. If a person is knowledgeable about the parts of sewing machine, he or she will never go wrong when buying one.

To be able to get a good quality sewing machine for dress making, it is best to choose a trustworthy dealer. Since sewing machines are expensive, always make sure that it is bought from a dealer that has good reputation. Although there are reliable online dealers that offer good quality sewing machines, it is best to opt for local dealers so one can inspect the unit first before paying for it.

A person can find reliable dealers through the recommendation of the sewers that he or she knows, taking public sewing classes, or visiting a sewing forum and ask for a list of trustworthy dealers. Once a dealer has been chosen, it is best to inquire about warranty and return policies.

For dress making, sewing machines are great investments because these are expensive. In fact, people that own these or even those who are planning to buy a single unit should be well aware of the things that need to be done in order to maintain its function. Knowing what and what shouldn’t be done in using a sewing machine will not only ensure efficient sewing but also worth of the product in the long run.

Aside from knowing the proper maintenance and caring for sewing machine, another consideration before buying one is the budget. Although there are so many types of sewing machines out there, one may not have the luxury of choosing the most expensive or branded ones due to budget constraint. To avoid frustration over something that a person cannot buy, always consider your spending limits in choosing a sewing machine.

What you can do is to do a short list of units that can fit the budget at hand and choose which is the best among them. Once there is a short list, one can now eliminate the options depending on the price, the quality and the preference of the buyer.

Other considerations would be the design of the sewing machine because this will affect the overall performance of the eaquipment when used for dress making.

What Do I Need: Dressmaking Equipments

A lot of Americans nowadays, are turning to their skills and talents for additional income. In the present financial situation, people are not just relying on their day jobs to get through, some would even do some part-time work or additional projects which they could do in their homes.  Just like dressmaking.

Dressmaking used to be just a skill which is best applied for family clothes repairs and easy sewing.  But currently, these skilled and talented people are turning their skills into something profitable.

If you are planning to start a dressmaking business, what kind of equipment do you need?

• Sewing machine- Of course!  You are not really planning to sew everything by hand, right?  Sewing machines are no longer just for straight stitches.  The modern sewing machine comes in with different functions.  It can sew hems, seams, zigzag stitching, buttonholes and a lot features.

Sewing machines usually range from $300 to $6000, depends on the model, brand and functions.  Is you are just starting, then you can buy a second hand sewing machine.

Just make sure that it is still in good quality.  If you are using your sewing machine regularly, then have someone professional check on it yearly.  This would be necessary, specially if you would be using your sewing machine heavily and frequently or if dressmaking is your livelihood.

• Tape measure – They are available in different lengths, you can just have the standard 60 inches long.  It can be in paper or plastic, so you can just pick one.  Aside from measuring customers, tape measures are also used to measure fabric.

• Dressmaker shears and paper scissors-  The dressmaker shears or scissors is completely for fabric only.  Do not use them for paper or thread. They have edges that are ideal for cutting any kind of fabric, whether it is leather.  It is really important to keep the condition of the blades and edges of the shears,  so put them inside the plastic sheath after using.

Paper scissors are also needed especially for cutting out patterns and threads.  They should be in the same size as the dressmaker shears. You can just buy the regular scissors.

• Pins and needles – There are mixed packs of needles with different sizes, you would need them specially if you would be putting some hand-made detail on the clothes or if it requires you to hand-sew.  Dressmaker pins are also important to keep the fabric in place before sewing.  Any blunt, rusty or bent needles and pins should be thrown away immediately.  They could cause some damage to the fabric.

• Pencil, rulers and tailor’s chalk – Pencils and rulers are important for making paper patterns.  While the tailor chalk would be helping you to mark the parts of the fabric that needs to be sewn or cut.

• Iron and iron board - These would come handy when you will be displaying items or selling out products.

• Dress form- Some would say this is necessary and some would say that you could start a dressmaking business without one of these. Actually, these could help us make adjustments on clothes and see how it fits.  This would give us a general idea how the clothes we made would look when it is put on.

Starting At Home: Your Own Dressmaking Business

If you have the sense of fashion and people always comment on how nice the clothes that you have sewn yourself, then that could be a great idea to start earning at home. Right now, there are creative ways on how can you start earning additional money.

When starting a dressmaking or any sewing business, you would also need to be able to follow patterns, pay close attention to details and of course, have a business plan.  So, what exactly would you need to start a dress-making business?

First, you would need to consider what kind of clothes you are going to make.  There are a lot of things you can sew, you can do home decorations and accessories, bags, toys, pet clothes and or commonly, children, men’s and women’s wear.  The options are endless; you can do costumes, repairs, dance wear, and do custom sewing. If you are totally confused with what kind of sewing to do, then you can start identifying your target customers.  Determining your target would help define what you can make and sell.

When starting this kind of home business, of course you would need a reliable sewing machine.  If you have been sewing at home for a long time, then you must have a sewing machine already.  But if you are still planning to buy a new one, then make sure to buy a good equipment.  A sewing machine would normally cost from $129 to $6,000, the price depends on the model, brand and of course the functions that it include.

Aside from a sewing machine, you may also need a serger machine.  A serger machine can close fabrics and create seams similar to what you would see in industrialized shirts.    It would also allow you to create decorative stitches on different kinds of fabrics.  This could cost from $300 to $1600.  Other equipments that you would need would be simple and easy to buy, like measuring tape, rulers, scissors, needles, and dressmaking dummy.

When starting your own business and it is home-based, it can be difficult to let your business known.  Most of the advertising are too be done through word-of-mouth.  So, you would have to rely to your friends, relatives, and family.  They would be the primary promoters for your business.

You can advertise in the local yellow pages, local newspaper, post in community boards, and post some flyers around the community.  You can talk to local establishments if it would be okay for them to carry some advertisements like flyers.  A good way of getting known also is contributing your skill and talent to some community events, like local theatre performances, church activities, charitable events, and craft fairs.  These are great venues of meeting potential customers.

But if you have decided to work at home you would have to do some modifications. You would have to make sure that there would be space enough for you to keep your things, equipment and at the same time entertain visitors and customers that would visit you for fittings. When having customers over, it is best to advise your family so that they would be able to prepare.

When you also have decided to have your business set up at home and you have little kids, then it would be advisable to keep your working space closed.  This would keep little kids from touching harmful equipment and injuring themselves.

You would also have to consider business registration.  You could contact the local Chamber of Business to ask about taxes and business registration.  You could earn an average of $20,000 to $35,000 a year.  Some could earn as much as $60,000 just by dressmaking.  That is just by working at home.  So start transforming your hobby into a profitable business.