I will kill the next bastard....

[ysobelle]

...who asks me why my tartan corsets are so expensive.




I just cut another one of these. I'd thought I had enough of the fabric left from the first one to make another set. No such luck. I searched for two weeks to find more, to no avail. Finally, I had to go back to the store from which I first purchased this glorious Indian silk tartan and insist on ordering it. They, in return, said I had to place a minimum order. Fifteen yards. Fifteen yards. They promised it'd be in in three or four days. It took SEVEN WEEKS. (If someone wants a specific tartan? I'll have to do it all over again, and it'll probably take even longer.) And then, laying it out so that the tartan matches on all the seams? Took me almost an hour. And hour of incremental changes, changing my mind, taking up the pattern and refolding the fabric, lining up the pattern exactly, moving the whole damned thing again, and finally, painstakingly, cutting it. And do you know how much of that fifteen yards I wound up using? Half a yard. Eighteen fucking inches.

Well, I have yet to cut the skirt, so that'll take up some more. But the urge to wring necks just out of principle is still strong.

Comments

[transversecity.livejournal.com]

Why are tartan...

...oh, nevermind.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I already knew that about you, dear.

Oh, you'll get your money tomorrow, btw.

[transversecity.livejournal.com]

Hey! My parents claim to have been married when I was born, thank you!

Money? Yaaaay!

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

"...why my tartan corsets are so expensive."

Is it because they come with the really hot girl included?

*impish grin*

[fondor.livejournal.com]

Which is why I really hate dragging the swatch book out for wedding parties. I have one party I'm working with now that has 23 folks. There are two folks that are using the same material for their outfits. Of the 23, I have about 6 of the fabrics in stock. I'll have a lot of extra satin, velvet, jacquards, and lightweight satin jacquard stock available. Yay! As if my freakin' place didn't have enough crap floating around. Banana colored lightweight satin jacquard! Argh!

[silverstah.livejournal.com]

I'm still using up the last of the bolt of lavender-colored twill I bought for a wedding party *six years ago*.

*headdesk*

[surlywench.livejournal.com]

you are *REQUIRED* to make a giant banana costume for the smoothie booth on site. i swear to god a giant jaquard banana would MAKE YOU FAMOUS!!!!!

;P

[feistydiva.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling.

People are so used to paying Target, Wal-Mart and Lip Service prices for mass-produced schlock that they can't understand the value of unique items created with artisan craftmanship.

I hear the same thing when it comes to hairpieces, wigs, etc. People don't realize that they take some time just in the building process alone, not including shopping around for materials. There are materials costs and time costs. There is also a need to make a profit so you can afford to invest in creating more new things.

I think I could get really ranty about it right now, so I should just stop here...

[silverstah.livejournal.com]

http://www.thescottishweaver.com/silktartans.html

I have no idea what you are paying per-yard for your tartans - his are $55/yard for 48" wide silk tartan in clan-specific styles.

*pets gently*

[tempest-gypsy.livejournal.com]

There's a reason the only thing I ever sew out of tartan are basic pleat-a-bunch-of-fabric-to-a-waistband-skirts. No, wait, I did a corset for Ann Lynn at Dancing Fire once. I remember now. I had forgotten with the help of sweet medicinal rum! I feel your pain, my sweet!



Not a great picture of it, but she's on the GARF front page!

[brattgirlz.livejournal.com]

But just think, people like me see that and say "damn I need to come up with more money because now, besides the corset I was already planning on, I want that too" Think of it as advertising outlay ;)

scuse me while I mop up the drool

[irishcoyote.livejournal.com]

that's a whole handful of hot damn.

In the meantime- go wander the OTR website, and look up gothifaerie off my friends list- she's going to be off at the same fest you are, and uh,
If D.M. suggests you ought to hunt someone up for a drink cause it might be fun...

[surlywench.livejournal.com]

omfg. at faire, just send the stupid ones to me.

:>