VoyForums
GIVE FREE FOOD
www.TheHungerSite.com
-> Click Here <-
FUND FREE MAMMOGRAMS
www.TheBreastCancerSite.com
-> Click Here <-
Non-profit ad served by VoyForums...

[ VoyUser Login optional ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

Celtic Flame Irish Dance Costumer's Message Board
Irish Dance Costumer's Message Board
Welcome to the message board for the designers and makers of Irish Dance Costumes, Irish Dancers of all ages, and others interested in Irish Dance. Please feel free to ask questions and give advice often! Check out the FAQ for these topics: Puffy Headband Instructions 4 & 5 Panel Dress Instructions and Poll Zipper Poll
FAQ Link
Subject: What's your return policy? For custom, otr, alterations, etc


Author:
Jbd
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Tuesday, March 04, 01:13:10pm
Just curious

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Shipping dresses to the U.S from Canada.


Author:
SND
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Thursday, February 27, 05:06:34pm
Would any kind dressmaker on here that ships dresses from Canada to the U.S on a regular basis tell me the best method?
I have been sending dresses to the U.S for many years using the post but I have been having bad luck recently. UPS and Fed EX are more expensive and the customer is charged high custom and brokerage fees. What service would you suggest?
Thank you.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: how on earth do you measure out goblet pleats cut on a circle base? I know it must be quite simple but it such mental block to me. Any help would be much appreciated.


Author:
DM
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Thursday, February 27, 05:25:23am

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Does anyone know the name/type of fabric used in quite a few of the Celtic Star dresses? It's not satin, but still comes in nice bright colors and seems it would be quite a durable option for team dresses. If anyone has had the chance to see this fabric in person, would it be possible to post what type of fabric you think it is?


Author:
looking for other fabric options....
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 09:11:54am

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Sale


Author:
Alison Thrasher
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, February 23, 05:11:34pm
Since I am no longer dressmaking, I am starting the huge process of selling off my supplies. Listed here are a few things that might appeal to you all, so I thought I would list them here before Ebay, etc.

Please email me if you are interested in purchasing any of these items

Vilene B0509 - 9 yds - $20.00 plus shipping

1/2" knit elastic - 40 yd spool - $12.00 plus shipping

Pellon Easy-Knit Interfacing - 15 yds - $30.00 plus shipping

60" white poly-cotton Poplin - 6 yds - $28.50 plus shipping

thanks!

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Following on from the post below about pricing, I'm just wondering what average price you would charge for a dress for an 8yr old, and for a 16yr old, both O/C? Curious as to what the dressmakers would charge when they say the price is the same


Author:
?
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, February 23, 03:40:38pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Hello Knowledgable ladies! I need advise!


Author:
x
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Friday, February 21, 10:44:25pm
I made my daughter a dress. It is more of a "show style" dress. It ended up a too short. A fact that I didn't realize til I saw it at a local feis. She dance and placed where expected, but I knew the dress was too short so I added about an inch of trim to the front and about an inch and a half to the back (it looked shorter in back) and also lengthened the underskirts (it has three layers of soft underskirt.) It is a completely soft skirt flared with gores. She danced at a feis in Feb. and it looked better. Not as short... though it is certainly still a shorter dress. And she has very long legs.

I just received notice that the dress was reported as "non-compliant" at a feis we did in January. How do I go about finding out if the alterations I made between Jan and Now are compliant? She is going to Worlds and we obviously don't want her disqualified. To further complicate things, she (and the offending dress) are away at college (though she is not terribly far away).

What is my best approach to figuring out if this dress can be altered some how (it has no waist--so making it longer is not an easy matter). Would my best bet be to call a reputable professional dress maker and see if she can advise me? I would be happy to compensate her for her time.

The dress all lace overlay over opaque material. There is no area where it is just lace. The collar bone is covered. I didn't get any specifics about what was wrong, but I highly suspect it was the length.

Are there any rules about the flow of the skirt? It swirls out pretty far when she spins.

any advise is greatly appreciated! Thank you!


Other than this obvious rather major issue... we love the dress and would like to make it work.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: pricing


Author:
bg
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Thursday, February 20, 07:58:42am
I know everyone's pricing is different...but
Does your price vary between age and dancing levels...ie if you have a 10 yr old prizewinner, and a 16 yr old O/C....if the amt of embroidery and crystals are similar do you still charge less for the 10 yr old?

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Has anyone upgraded to Bernina 7 from 6 software?


Author:
just wondering how it is
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Wednesday, February 19, 05:31:16pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: advertising


Author:
bg
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, February 16, 08:12:49am
Do you advertise? If so, where and which sites/magazines/fliers/etc do you think work to your best advantage?

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Going rates for assistants to do piece work or hourly??


Author:
Just need some extra hands
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Thursday, February 13, 08:25:50pm
Starting a search for an experienced seamstress to help out with a little of the grunt work. Anyone have any ideas on a going rate for helpers?? Cutting/sizing bodices, sewing skirt ruffles etc.

Any advice greatly appreciated. :)

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: What types of satin do most dressmakers use for ID dresses? Looking on Sy Fabrics, but unsure which satin I should choose?


Author:
thanks
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Thursday, February 13, 02:43:02pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: How long does it typically take you to digitize a full dress design. Let's say a championship, heavily emroidered/appliqued dress. It can take me up to two full 8 hour days. Is this normal? I feel it's taking a lot longer than necessary and I may need to consider outsourcing some digitizing.


Author:
Anyone else take a long time?
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Wednesday, February 12, 06:23:41pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Anyone have a source for LIME green pleated plisse???


Author:
None on ebay looked everywhere I can think
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Tuesday, February 11, 06:59:11pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Is this OK ? I am making my daughter's prelim dancer dress and have lovely large pear shaped NON swarovski AB diamantes to decorate it. As for regular stoning I was planning to use up SS30 Czech crystals on the rest of the dress that are just clear. Does mixing AB and Clear crystals work ???


Author:
Curious (:))
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, February 09, 08:06:28pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Postage update


Author:
sdm
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Friday, February 07, 02:28:09pm
I spent 78.00 to ship from US to Germany
and 81.00 to Australia.
Crazy!
US priority large flat rate box.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: copper satin


Author:
bg
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Tuesday, February 04, 11:14:23am
Do any of you know of a on-line store that carries copper satin. The color of a polished copper pot, maybe slightly on the rust side of copper?
thank you!

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Yahoo group Question- I can't find it when I search iddressmaking


Author:
Please help
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, February 02, 03:11:19pm
Someone suggested I join the iddressmaking group- but I can't find it- can someone help?

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Sewing machine tune-ups/repairs--surveying pricing


Author:
sticker shock sewer
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Wednesday, January 29, 09:17:06am
I take my sewing machines to a local shop that sells many brands-and they usually charge $65-$90 depending on the brand and model(computerized machines cost more). However, I just purchased a used mid-arm machine(Janome)that is a straight stitch only machine, all mechanical and when I dropped it off the guy told me they cost $199 to do a tune up--I was shocked!!! Wondering what the typical rates are in other parts of the the US-I am in the midwest, fairly large city.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Trying to figure out the BNDM skirt construction.


Author:
keep trying
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Tuesday, January 28, 08:16:43am
Currently my skirt construction works fine for me and any of the small dresses I make. It has a definite side seam placed at the side that lines up with the side seam of the bodice. While it's working fine for the "no bum" little dancers, I'm finding it just sits too flat at the back for anyone aged 12/13 and up. There's just not enough swing/flow.

I'm trying to figure out the construction of the BNDM skirts that have their seams hidden about an inch in front of the actual side seam of the bodice. Has anyone figured out a formula they may be willing to share? Something like: Divide the dropped waist by 2, subtract 2 inches from the front panel and perhaps add 4 inches to the back panel. I can see it under the skirt no problem, just having a tough time getting it right.

Any help appreciated, if anyone is willing to share.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Does anyone else have trouble with clips flying off the X-Panto frame, and if so, how have you fixed the problem please? My dealer has no clue!


Author:
Thank you
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, January 26, 09:22:40pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: 11 month old Gavin Doherty Dress for sale


Author:
Majella
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, January 26, 05:37:40am
http://www.ontraz.ie/Ad/Sligo/Irish-Dancing/Dresses/11-month-old-Gavin-Doherty-Dress-for-sale/3759

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Subject: Neon fuschia?


Author:
--
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Wednesday, January 22, 04:06:34pm
I'm on a hunt for a really really bright fuchsia satin. I love the American Beauty twinkle/crystal satin, but its too light. So far, the fuchsia satins I have found (locally & SY fabrics) were either too dark, too red, or too flat.

Any suggestions? Celtic Start seems to use one a lot, and that is the shade the dancer is looking for.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: bernina v5 help, weird problem


Author:
.
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Monday, January 20, 06:41:03pm
This isn't irish related, but I know a lot of you use Bernina so hopefully someone knows whats up!

I made an in the hoop book mark, stitches outline, does design and satin stitch border, just like you'd expect. And I stuck 4 in a hoop. Tested it on my brother machine, stitches just like you'd expect. watched redraw in software, stitches just like you'd expect. Sent it to someone with a pfaff (vp3 format) and its doing something really weird. Instead of stitching the whole color/box at once like it should, its stitching the right side of the hoop, then the left side of the hoop. Jumping back and forth, not completing things it should. Its the same design saved in two different formats. So I'm guessing there's a glitch somewhere? Why would it be doing this? Has anyone experienced this and do you have any ideas? Thanks!

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Another iron bites the dust.


Author:
LynnOH
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Monday, January 20, 10:22:14am
Cordless Panasonic lasted 4-5? years. Any suggestions on an iron that lasts longer than 5 years? Is this being unreasonable? Are those expensive ones worth it?

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: A couple of years ago petal shaped fabric was used in skirts. I am looking for some of this fabric for a dance costume, not irish. Can someone tell me what it was called or a source for it? Thank you.


Author:
gg
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, January 19, 08:35:51pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Great News for Canadian Dressmakers or those US dressmakers wanting to take advantage of our weak dollar.


Author:
Michelle Lewis
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, January 19, 07:13:10pm
My favorite fabric store located in Hamilton Ontario (Ann's Fabrics) has agreed to carry twinkle satin. Cost will be only be around $5.50/metre or $5.00(ish)/yard with the normal pricebreaks as the volume increases. After extensive consultation we decided to have the twinkle satin made a little heavier and denser (although still opaque) than what I've normally be purchasing from Sy Fabrics. I ordered the following colors: white, black, turquoise, flo yellow, flo green, american beauty, cherry red and a few others I can't remember. Marco is placing the order on Wednesday so if you are interested and there are any colors that you'd like please contact him or myself (lewisirishdresses) and I'll relay the message. I'm really excited not to have to pay duty for this fabric anymore and am hoping that you'll use Ann's Fabrics as your Twinkle Satin source. They're super nice and very reliable and quick to ship.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Hi talented ladies!


Author:
Question
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Thursday, January 16, 09:46:06am
We want to make some simple satin capes for show costumes. What size is the piece of fabric? We want to have the fold over type with fringed edges. Thanks in advance.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Has anybody converted a bubble skirt to a soft skirt?


Author:
thanks for your feedback
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Friday, January 10, 08:44:59pm
I noticed a beautiful bubble skirt style dress in my DD's size that they are practically giving away. I love the bubble style but TC does not & she is also worried about re-sale for us. The embroidery on the bodice & the skirt is so pretty. Can a bubble skirt be converted to a soft skirt. I have minimal sewing skills but enough to realize something that sounds easy really is not. If anybody has done this what would you charge? I am just trying to decide if we should strongly consider this dress.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Does anyone with the Tajima or Toyota with the X-panto frame ever switch frames? I have the other sizes and I know a while ago somebody talked about a fix where their service guy made it really easy to do. It would be nice to be able to utilize the machine for more than the dresses.


Author:
trish
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Thursday, January 09, 04:36:36pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: hi, I am looking to start making dresses I have made a few but have got a company to do the Emroidery , I am looking to purchase my 1st embroidery machine only a beginner and no nothing about them! I live in Ireland and contacted a supplier who is about 4 hours drive and he was talking about machines costing over €5k ! Any advice on a much much cheaper one and where to start


Author:
many thanks
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Wednesday, January 08, 04:07:30pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Please read inside. I am so discouraged.


Author:
I am sooooo done.
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, January 05, 08:41:14pm
I think I've finally reached the point where I'm going to stop making dresses. This year has been the worst I have ever experienced with unreasonable clients. The tipping point has come over this weekend with a teacher hounding me while I was on vacation because her daughter's dress was stuck at a postal outlet and that I should interupt my vacation to deal with it (which I did because I care, even though there was nothing that could be done on my end). What I could possibly do I have no idea but was told that if they did not receive the dress in time for the competion on Saturday then they had no use for the dress and would return it. And to top it off I've just received an email from a client for whom I made a dress, who wore it to their Oireachtas and other competitions, who qualified for World's in it and all of a sudden it's poorly made and doesn't fit right and the client acually wants to return the dress to me and give her a 75 percent refund. Am I crazy to think that this is outrageously ridiculous.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Fabric


Author:
Tasha
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Saturday, January 04, 12:02:41pm
I used to make dresses but stopped a few years ago. I still have a lot of fabric and would like to sell it since some of it was pretty expensive but I'm not sure what the best way to do this would be? Any suggestions? Thanks!

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Rhinestone prices?


Author:
--
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Friday, January 03, 11:14:34am
I'm curious about how everyone is pricing their rhinestones. Do you price them by the gross, per stone, or by the 100? Do you charge different prices based on size, or an average? How do you calculate application time? I'm sure every dressmaker is different, but I'm a bit stumped on the best way to charge for stones and am just looking for ideas.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: bernina v5 software?


Author:
small dm
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Friday, December 27, 12:18:37pm
What do you guys think about Bernina v5 software? Ideally I'd eventually update to 6 or 7 but would it "do" for awhile? or do I need to plan on updating as soon as I purchase?

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Tulle skirt construction?


Author:
Rachel
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Friday, December 20, 09:55:21am
Hello, I was hoping someone could help me. I'm a dancer who makes her own solo dresses, and I'd REALLY like to make one of the tulle skirts that I've seen on a lot of Celtic Star dresses lately. However, I'm unsure of how to go about making one...I haven't been able to look at one up close, despite looking for them everywhere at Oireachtas. I know there's a stiffened skirt with a layer of tulle on top. If anyone could help me figure out the construction, that would be awesome! Thank you! :)

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Please tell me we aren't going down the cartoon dress road!


Author:
no no no
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Thursday, December 12, 08:13:39pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: So I made dd a new dress for the O's but couldn't get it finished in time to test drive it at a local feis. Disaster! I edged the solid black, soft flowy skater style velvet skirt in a row of 48 crystals and she jingled like a belly dancer! So I pulled off all those crystals and now the skirt is boring and bare. I'm thinking of replacing it with a double row rhinestone chain. Do you think that will jingle just as much? I've never worked with it so I don't know how stiff it is.


Author:
thanks!
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 11:30:08am

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: What are your thoughts on embroidering through the bodice lining of your costumes? I currently don't but it appears that more and more of the BNDM's are doing this and it's not being questioned by customers. It would definitely make finishing necklines a lot easier but I'm not sure if this is something a lot of SNDM are doing also? Has anyone had any customer feedback on this?


Author:
not sure what direction to take..
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 10:24:22am

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Can anyone recommend a dress form? My daughter is a kid size 12 right now. I am looking for a junior sized form.


Author:
Sewing mama
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Tuesday, December 10, 03:03:41pm

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: Would this be a scam? If you scroll down on the listing, it says to contact the seller directly and the price is $2,500.


Author:
.
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Tuesday, December 10, 07:24:04am
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BERNINA-830LE-Limited-Edition-SEWING-EMBROIDERY-MACHINE-Includes-BSR/111235839179?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D261%26meid%3D3298602899410895011%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D331080270919%26&autorefresh=true

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Subject: I know nothing about the digitizing programs, I just started exploring.


Author:
Could someone explain the differences? Thank you.
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: Sunday, December 08, 09:48:30am
There is a big difference in price on these two, but seems the same. Is it possible?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bernina-DesignerPlus-Version-5-Embroidery-Software-/281220469762?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item417a0bd402

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bernina-Embroidery-Software-Designer-Plus-Full-Version-5-Used-1-hour-4-training/281219870563?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D261%26meid%3D3255520560878638006%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D281220469762%26

I also looked at this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bernina-DesignerPlus-Version-5-Embroidery-Software-/281220469762?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item417a0bd402

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
[ Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

[ VoyUser Login ] Not required to post.
Post a new public message:
 * HTML allowed in marked fields.
Message subject (required):

Name (required):

  Expression (Optional mood/title along with your name) Examples: (happy, sad, The Joyful, etc.) help)

  E-mail address (optional):

* Type your message here:

Choose Message Icon: [ View Emoticons ]

Notice: Copies of your message may remain on this and other systems on internet. Please be respectful.

Create FREE graphics at FlamingText.com
[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-6
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2012 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.