Quality, Fit Highlight Homemade Clothes Bargains A _ J-M .4 A *~\ .» /I t -x. \ *~* «-*- ^^ By DEBBI RICHMOND In today's jungle of 'rising prices and poor-quality workmanship, it's nice to know you can achieve satisfaction if you are willing to spare the time. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the advantages of having their wardrobes sewn by seamstresses or by themselves, instead of buying at retail stores. Several Belleville area dressmakers e x p l a i n the reasons why you should consider having your clothes made. At the top of the list is quality. Belleville seamstress Jane Kouri said, "With a dressmaker, you know the garment is made properly. I'll bend over backwards to please my customers." Along with quality goes cost. If an article is expensive in a store, you hope the workmanship is in the garment, but this, unfortunately, isn't always the case. Seven local seamstresses interviewed recently agreed that on the average, it's cheaper to have your clothes made. This holds true unless you require extravagant materials or harbour expensive tastes. The initial cost of material and the dressmaker's fee should not be the only items calculated however, when determining whether you've hit a bargain, As Mary K- Hopkins explains, when making alterations to a garment, you want to have enough seam allowance to achieve the proper fit. Seamstresses make sure there is room for adjust ment in their seams. This does not always pertain to the clothes you purchase at your favorite apparel shop. Another advantage, important to most consumers, is commonly described this way: 'When your clothes are made, you don't have to worry about seeing your new dress walking down the street toward you.' All this means, of course, is that you are the one to choose your patterns and match materials. Sometimes more than one pattern may be combined to come up with some- thing special. Mrs. Kouri said it is not uncommon for her to use three or four patterns when designing a specific garment for a customer. Matilda Wiarda said that because her customers choose their own materials and styles, they feel satisfied with the end product. It gives the customer more choice in what they wish to wear. Proper fit is a difficult thing to find when shopping for clothes, especially if you have a *'problem figure". But not for a seamstress! The fit conies to you, you don't have to go to it. Comfort is a major asset to having your clothes made, claim several dressmakers. One pet peeve among seamstresses is invisible thread- In just about every garment you buy today, this bothersome trend pops up. When it begins to unravel, you have to take fast action to repair it. If not, you may wind up spending the rest of the day behind your desk with no hem in your dress -- or sleeve, or zipper. What are the chances for men getting some of their c l o t h e s made here in Belleville? Bob Ldddle, of A.B. Liddle and Son, said there are no men's tailors in Belleville. Their shop handles alterations to clothes, but perhaps, if you talked sweetly, a local seamstress might help you out.