We all deserve to look and Feel good in our clothes!
Stacey Sansom Designs strongly believes that everyone should have access to affordable alterations and repairs.
It is not just for luxury garments!
The terms alterations and repairs get interchanged all the time. Stacey Sansom Designs distinguishes between them: alterations change the shape or form of the garment, repairs do not.
Keep in mind, some garments are not cost-effective to alter, just as some garments are not cost-effective to repair. I will be honest with you and up front about this with all requests for alterations and repairs.
alterations Include
- Taking in or letting out a garment
- Hemming
- Narrowing a pants leg
- Adjusting a neckline
- Shortening shoulder straps
- Shortening shirt sleeves
- And more
Repairs Include
- Fixing zippers
- Replacing buttons
- Fixing frayed hemlines
- Patching rips and tears
- And more
Pricing
Most general alterations and repairs are priced at $25.00 per hour. Some services incur additional costs or are flat-rate. Materials are extra.
Free Fittings
Fittings are always free! I do not charge for the time it takes to mark necessary changes. I do charge for all work completed.
Pay at pick up
You pay when you pick up! Some large orders may incur a deposit. You are expected to pick up quickly after completion.
§ Some services are priced flat rate. Prices may vary based on the service provided. Materials are extra.
What to expect
Alteration fittings are more than a hand-off at the door. A fitting involves the seamstress pinning up length, pinning out fullness, or marking places to provide ease. They take about 30 minutes, and can involve standing for 10-20 minutes (sometimes longer) while this is being completed.
When you come for an alteration fitting, you must:
- Bring yourself (or the individual being fitted) – no fittings will be done on another person, hoping it works for the intended body
- Bring the garment approved for the fitting – you may bring additional garments for alterations and fitting services, but the turnaround time on those items may not be the same as the garment scheduled.
- Bring or wear the shoes you will wear with the garment – these can adjust the way the body is positioned and impact the way the dress hangs on the body or the way the hem lays across the shoe. Similar shoes may be used, but sole and heel height must be the same.
- Wear the undergarments you will wear with the garment – this includes bra and shape wear. These can adjust how the body is positioned and will impact the drape and hang of the garment on the body. You may bring them and change into them on location.
- Wear or bring a belt if one will be worn with the garment – this can adjust how the garment hangs or is positioned on the body.
If you do not wear the garment to the fitting (not required), you will be asked to change into the garment and other things as listed above. I will then pin out or mark where changes will occur. You will then be asked to change into your street clothes again.
Once the pinning process is completed on major structural changes, you may be asked to sit on a chair, walk up and down 4-5 stairs, bend over, or even sit on a couch to verify fit. This is how I achieve the best fit based on your use case of the garment(s).
If you are a musician, you will be asked to pretend you are playing your instrument. If you cannot get the proper position without the instrument, please bring your instrument to your fitting.
You will fill out your Intake Form. This form goes into the bag with your garment(s) or pinned to your garment on a hanger for formal attire. This bag keeps everything clean and together. The Intake Form includes identifying information about you and your garment(s), including what work will be done. Once you complete this form, you are authorizing the work listed to be completed.
Fitting Warning:
Some alteration fittings may required me to touch you. This may be places that are personal in nature. The only touch will be what is required to get the best possible fit. I do have some tricks to minimize touching, but they do not work for all alterations. I try to warn you before contact is made. If you are uncomfortable with this, the fitting will end, and your work will not be completed.
Estimated cost
Due to the nature of and quantity of work being completed, it is not always possible to provide a cost estimate at the time of drop-off. I try my hardest to estimate the amount of time for completion, but it is not always possible. If seams must be separated or hand sewing is required, it will take longer than a simple dart insertion to remove fullness.
Some alterations incur additional costs for materials. This may include buttons, hooks and eyes, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, fabric extensions, etc. These added costs are noted separately on your invoice.
Additional fittings
Sometimes big changes in a garment’s shape and structure require a second or even a third fitting to verify fit and appearance before final changes are made. You will be notified at your fitting if additional fittings may be necessary.
If an additional fitting is requested, it is your responsibility to schedule as quickly as possible, or your due date may be missed. I try to accommodate working schedules for these fittings as much as possible, but I have a family and after-work life as well. Please be respectful of this.
Fittings are free, the work is not!
Your fitting is free! I do not charge for the time it takes to mark where to make changes. I charge for all work completed.
I do not charge a deposit, except if extensive work will be completed. I trust you will pay your bill once it is sent to you. All fees must be paid before the garment is returned to you. This is non-negotiable!
You are expected to pick up your garment in a timely manner once the work is complete. All items not picked up within 14 days of being notified of work completion will be charged an additional $2 per day storage fee. I am not a storage facility. Please make arrangements to retrieve your items as quickly as possible.
Need alterations and repairs?
Example
Average Cost
Average Zipper Cost
$5.00-20.00
Varies by type and size
Average Zipper Repair on Pants of Skirt
$37.50 plus zipper cost
About 1.5 hours
Average Zipper Repair on Jeans
$44.75 plus zipper cost
About 1.75 hours
Average Zipper Repair on Lined Dress
$50.00 plus zipper cost
About 2 hours
Average Zipper Repair on Coat
$50.00 plus zipper cost
About 2 hours
Pricing for Alterations and Repairs *
All prices are subject to change and may vary from project to project based on the complexity of the alterations and repairs.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| General Alterations Taking in, letting out, tapering, adjusting neckline, etc | $25.00 Per Hour |
| General Repairs Fix zipper, replace buttons, fix rips and tears, etc | $25.00 Per Hour |
| Pants Hems Dress slacks, khakis, etc | $20.00 Flat Rate Lining additional |
| Pants Hems NO CUT § Dress slacks, khakis, etc | $30.00 Flat Rate Lining additional |
| Jeans Hems Denim and other heavy materials | $25.00 Flat Rate |
| Skirt or Dress Hems Knee-length to mid-calf | $30.00 Flat Rate Per layer |
| Skirt or Dress Hems Ankle or floor length | $40.00 Flat Rate Per layer |
| Skirt or Dress Hems With train | $50.00 Flat Rate Per layer |
| Skirt or Dress Hems NO CUT § Mid-Calf length or longer | $50.00 Flat Rate Per layer |
Alterations and Repairs Pricing current as of:
§ NO CUT Alterations frequently require hand-sewn hems to hide the excess fabric, which take considerably longer than machine-sewn hems.
* These fees and prices for alterations and repairs are estimates only. Most services are charged on a per-hour basis unless otherwise stated. Time varies from garment to garment.
Additional Fees for Alterations and Repairs
Rush Fees
Planning is important! Please allow adequate time for completion of your alterations and repairs.
Customers requesting less than a 72-hour turnaround (3 business days) on alterations or repairs will be charged a rush fee. Weekends incur additional costs.
$75.00 per item
You will be notified of any Rush Fees that will be applied to your services at the time of appointment approval.
Some minor alteration and repair services (formal attire not included) will only incur a smaller $50 rush fee (per item) for a 72-hour turnaround (3 business days). Requests with less than a 48-hour (2 business days) incurs a $75.00 rush fee per item. Weekends incur additional costs.
Wash Fees
All items brought to Stacey Sansom Designs for sewing services, inclusive of alterations and repairs, MUST BE CLEAN of all animal hair, body funk, and strong smells.
Any item not meeting these specifications will incur a non-refundable washing fee. This fee is used to clean your items before providing services.
$5.00 per item‡
If you have animals, smoke, exercise a lot, or diffuse essential oils (to name a few), please wash and dry your items, gently fold them, and immediately seal them in a zippered plastic bag (right out of the dryer). You can purchase 2-3.5-gallon bags in the paper goods aisle at most discount stores or grocery stores. Larger bags can be purchased online.
‡ Dry-cleaned items will incur additional costs based on local dry cleaning prices.
Clean UP Fees
Any order containing items with sequins, beads, or glitter will incur a non-refundable “clean up” fee. They are notorious for making a mess.
Beads $25.00
Sequins $50.00
Glitter $75.00
This fee covers the “clean up” required to maintain and clean out the machines used for services rendered. Sequins and beads tend to fall off. These small items fall into the machines and must be cleaned out. This incurs additional time before I can work on the next item.
For beads and sequins, this fee also covers the numerous broken needles.
For glittered items, this fee covers the “clean up” required to to keep other customers’ items clear of glitter. Glitter goes everywhere. Every surface between the entrance and the machine must be wiped down and vacuumed to prevent the spread of the craft industry’s herpes and damage to machines. This is a very time-consuming process.