How To Make Money With A Sewing Machine

As more and more women are relieved from time consuming

housekeeping chores, thanks to the modern equipment and

appliances that we have, they are finding time to cultivate

other activities. On the other hand, many families have grown

to the point where extra income is needed to make ends meet.

This report is provided as a means of earning some pretty good

money, right from the comfort of the home. Most women have the

skills necessary to make any of these plans work successfully -

using the sewing machine. Look over these plans very carefully;

at least one could be the one that you've been looking for.

PLAN 1

Mending Service. Any woman with good sewing ability can earn

substantial money in most communities with this plan. Single

men and women who live alone are good prospective customers for

this service. They usually don't have the time, let alone the

skill, to bring their clothing up to standard, and will welcome

your services.

To reach these people, all you have to do is place a small

classified ad in your local newspaper - something like this:

MENDING, PATCHING, general clothing repairs at very reasonable

rates. Guaranteed, quality work. (phone number here).

Do good work and you will keep busy.. Word of mouth advertising

will bring you lots more business. Your rates should be

established according to the condition of the clothing, and the

amount of work to be done. Set your rates so you can average at

least $7.00 per hour or more. $100.00 per week should be easy

to earn.

PLAN 2

Manufacture Curtains and Drapes. This type of specialized

sewing is not too common, and your chance for success using this

plan is outstanding. Your best bet is to offer custom work, at

prices about the same as "stock" curtains and drapes. To

contact prospective customers place a small ad something like

this:

DRAPERIES AND CURTAINS made to order at reasonable prices. Best

Selections of material - all work guaranteed. Free estimates.

(your phone number here)

Contact a wholesale fabric distributor to obtain material

samples. Most will give them to you free; others may charge a

small deposit for them. Because you will be buying the material

from them, most will offer the samples free of charge. Be sure

to select a wide variety of samples, in all price ranges.

Almost all drapery and drapery hardware manufacturers also sell

or give away instruction booklets on how to measure material

needs and hang draperies.

Your earnings will be unlimited. Mildred started offering

custom drapes, and worked about 5 hours each day at the

beginning. Inside of just two years here husband quit his job

to become her installer - and stayed busy. Here policy was to

obtain prices on standard drapes from several stores in the

area, and then offer a better quality in custom drapes at the

same price. It didn't take long for the word to get out, and

she was soon manufacturing all the drapes for several housing

contractors in her area. She now nets as much as $500.00 per

week.

PLAN 3

Manufacture Rugs. Any heavy material, such as canvas or burlap,

can be used as a backing for rugs. On this material you simply

draw a pattern that you wish to create, or use transfer patterns

which are available at most supply houses. You then wind your

yarn around a guide and stitch to the material. You will

discover that with a little practice you can complete even the

most delicate pattern on your rugs.

Each finished rug can be an original creation, and you will have

a ready market for them. Your best bet is to offer consignment

to gift shops, furniture stores and perhaps appliance stores in

your area. Offer them a commission of 30% on each sale that

they make. Rugs of this type command a fair market price, and

your mark-up will be excellent. The average small throw rug

should sell for about $12.00, and even allowing a 30% commission

will still give your about a 6 to 1 mark-up.

Also consider selling your crafts at the local flea markets and

swap meets. One gal in San Jose is averaging about $200.00 a

week in sales at the flea market. A lot of her customers are

back time and again - they like the quality. Do good work and

you can enjoy the same type of success.

PLAN 4

Letters and Emblems. In many areas it is almost impossible for

schools and sports teams to find letters and emblems for their

uniforms and sweaters. If you are interested in this plan you

should first contact the sporting goods stores in your ares.

Offer to contract with them to provide the letters and emblems

for all the uniforms that they sell. Most stores will be more

than glad to contract with a local source of supply, as they

must nearly always order everything from out of town. Although

this plan is seasonal, once you become established, all future

business will be automatic, and could amount to several thousand

dollars a year.

If your own one of the new "wonder" sewing machines that can do

jobs like this practically automatically, this may be for you!

PLAN 5

Custom Sewing for Special Women. Stout and very tall women,

plus super-small women, are considered hard to fit. If you have

dress making abilities, you can build a profitable business very

quickly, with a minimum of effort.

Your first step will be to make a study of the types and

materials that will make dresses and skirts more presentable for

stout, tall and super small women. If you can come up with a

wardrobe plan for each customer that presents good taste and

style, at a reasonable price, you are in! Keep them

well-dressed and happy with your work and word of mouth alone

will give you more business than you dreamed possible.

This is a specialized sewing field, and the demand is already

established. Clothing stores can't handle this type of

business, because the "dress factories" do not set up for

anything except "standard-fit" sizes. You have a wide open

field.

Assembling a good variety of specially sized patterns is

important. If you don't know how to fit properly, visit your

local library and find out about books and manuals that can

teach you. There are many.

PLAN 6

Stuffed Toys. Make a visit to any toy outlet in your area and

count the large numbers of stuffed toys - especially around

Christmas time. To manufacture these pretties does not require

any special skills, other than the use of a sewing machine.

You simply cut out and sew together patterns, such as dolls,

pandas, teddy bears, a nd others. Stuff them and you are in

business. You can take orders and sell direct to the stores in

your area, in quantity lots, or offer them on consignment. Also

consider flea markets and swap meets. A good price is paid for

good work, and if you have a little imagination, you can create

YOUR ORIGINALS. Large stuffed toys can sell for a such as

$120.00 - and that's mostly profit - as your cost for materials

will be very small.

PLAN 7

Specialty Products. One of the most overlooked items to come

off the sewing machine is the apron. Come up with a dozen

designs and offer them "imprinted" with the personal name of

someone - to order. A few samples left on consignment in stores

will bring home the bacon. Also consider "custom" made towels,

face cloths, pan holders, scarves and you name it. The material

cost is very low, and the time involved is minute. Place a few

samples with gift shops and offer them a 30% commission. The

bucks will be pouring in. Let your imagination run wild with

these products. It could blossom into a full time venture for

you overnight!

PLAN 8

Repair & Zipper Service for Dry Cleaners. If you live in a city

and know how to install zippers, make suit repairs, turn collars

and cuffs, etc., your authorized dry cleaners may be in need of

your services. Many of these stores have calls for repairs, but

not often enough to employ a full-time seamstress. Comb the

stores that you could service without too much driving around,

and make up a sensible price schedule. Business cards and order

blanks should be left for them to call you if a pick-up is ready.

In general your skills will be important, but your business will

grow and be profitable because you develop a clientele that

comes back to you because they are satisfied, and you know (or

learn) what you have to change, how to estimate and how to buy

well (to make a reasonable commission on goods.)

Repeat business is always more valuable than new customers. New

customers are harder to find and advertising is more expensive

than "keeping in touch"