Thread: Who does your difficult costume alterations?

I can do basic sewing, but I have an alteration that I'm just afraid to touch. It's a silk choli lined in cotton, and the shoulder needs to be taken in. I'm afraid of snagging the silk with my lowsy sewing machine, and I probably wouldn't get it back together anywhere near professional quality. For dance costumes, has anyone had success having a tailor shop do it (that specialize in evening gowns), or is it best to find a specialist that makes bellydance costumes? I worry that a decent tailor shop might be crazy expensive (more than the price of the choli itself).

By the way, I'm in Chicago, in case any of you are costume pros in this area and could help me!

are you near a good quality sari shop? that would be my first choice for choli alterations. especially since they usually have an in house tailor who will know how a a 2 layer choli "works"

I asked a friend of mine who used to ballroom dance for a recommendation. Sure enough, she knew of a seamstress who she used to use for alterations on her heavily beaded and expensive costumes. She's altered two for me and done a great job at a very reasonable price.

I've used a wonderful Asian tailor for costumes. He's excellent ...and expensive.

Sabrina: Good idea! I'll take a look for a sari shop.

Laura: Is the seamstress in Chicago by any chance? :)

Otherwise it might be a hit or miss with the European tailor shop I thought of trying.

I have a family friend to do things that my skills just are not up to. I know that there are dry cleaning shops in my area that do bridal alterations. Perhaps calling a bridal shop and asking them where they reccomend brides take their dresses to might give you a few good leads?

Me. I asked my launderers who also do alterations, and they took one look at my bedlah and freaked out! So I do most of them myself - over a loooong period of time.

I went to a European tailor shop that has excellent reviews for bridal alterations, and they told me it would cost $40 for the alteration. Is that average? That's how much I spent on the choli itself.

I wonder if the sari shops would charge this much too-- plus they are way out of my area so transportation alone might make up for the difference.

Linny-- good idea, I might try that, because there's a dry cleaner/alteration shop on every street corner here, and one of them must be decent I'd imagine.

Shajar - I work at a bridal shop in Rockford and our seamstress does a fantastic job. She's helped me w/ my costume questions. If you want to come out and visit, let me know. Otherwise, I'm in Chicago once a week and if you can meet me, I'll bring the items to her.

Originally Posted by Shajar

Laura: Is the seamstress in Chicago by any chance? :)

Nope, in Milwaukee. But if you want to wander up this way, I can give you the address - she works at a dry cleaners.

Shadylady-- Thanks for the offer, I'll get in touch with you if I decide not to go with one of the local shops here :)

Laura-- Oh, it's too bad she's that far away. I'll have to pass, but thanks :)

Shajar, no problem. Just send me a PM.

In the Twin Cities, we are exceptionally fortunate to have a fantastic lady who is both a professional bellydancer and a professional seamstress (specializing in bridal wear, pageant gowns, and costuming). Probably 3/4 of my costumes wouldn't fit if it weren't for her expertise, because I like to buy used and I am difficult to fit! When I lived in Chicago for a year, when I got new costumes I'd have to wait months in between trips home before I could take them to her and be able to wear them. We are so lucky here!

i do all my own hand work.i also build costumes and sell to others.i am fine with any hand work, but not good on a machine.