Honey, the Closet Shrank My Suit!
I have a suit that I bought several years ago from a local men’s shop. I don’t wear suits on a daily basis because our work is pretty casual, but I wanted a suit to use for special occasions. I… Continue Reading
Author: Barbara Stone
How to hem distressed jeans
Question: I just bought a brand new pair of jeans for my daughter that in the “olden days” I would have tossed into the trash long ago. They are raggedy, holey and faded, but I guess that’s the style. My… Continue Reading
Vintage garments: How to alter and care for them
Q: My grandmother died recently and left me all sorts of beautiful clothes and furs. She was much heavier than I am and a couple of inches shorter. Would it be worth having some of my favorite pieces altered? First,… Continue Reading
Sew and Sew: Bugs, blood and vinegar
Summer is here. Please clean your winter silks and woolens and store them safely away from bugs. Bugs like dark, warm places and they love to chew on natural fibers, especially the ones with perspiration and food residue. Yes, I… Continue Reading
DIY wedding-dress alterations
It’s officially Wedding Season and I am flooded with questions about alterations for the wedding gown as well as dresses for the bridesmaids, mothers of the bride and groom, and even guests. I’ll try to answer one or two more… Continue Reading
Barbara Stone
Q&A Expert
Dressmaker & Alterationist
Wedding Gowns
With wedding season approaching, I’d like to talk about a couple of subjects that always seem to come up this time of year: alterations for the wedding party and preservation of the bride’s gown. Sarah M. of Lancaster, PA, asked… Continue Reading
Barbara Stone Q&A
Dressmaker & Alterationist
Q: Can moth holes in my husband’s wool jacket be repaired? Diana M., Redding Moths and other fiber-eating critters are a big problem in the north state, and they like the best fabrics. Cashmere seems to be their favorite. Holes… Continue Reading
Barbara Stone
Q&A Expert
Dressmaker & Alterationist
I was first struck by Barbara’s skill, wit, tenacity and talent many years ago when I interviewed her for a story about her then home-based custom clothing designs. I reconnected with Barbara about eight months ago when she designed and… Continue Reading
