Promote Promote Promote

I haven't gotten all polished at this blogging game, but I have been trying to learn the ropes in promotion! I know a lot of you have blogs and one of the hardest things is getting traffic and followers. Well in my circles I have found a whole ton of people that kept tweeting about blog posts from other people and I couldn't figure out what they were doing.

I finally got the scoop! TWIBERR!!! It takes a little work to set up and I had to ask for directions to get it correct. However once you join a "tribe" you can approve new blog posts from other tribe members. THEN automatically the app tweets the blog title with a link to the post and your twitter name to all their followers. This can happen up to 5+ times a day from different people. It is like multilevel marketing for your tweets and blogs.

No matter how we generate traffic once it is generated then we can eventually make sales and get things moving.

I have joined and in the first day I saw an increase in traffic. Now it wasn't massive, but it was  an increase of maybe 15%. I also had three additional followers in the first day. Eventually all that extra traffic will increase more and more and more!

From what I can tell anyone can join Triberr, but you need to join a "tribe". I have a tribe that I have started, but haven't started adding members YET! It is called (shockingly) Sweety Darlin's Tribe! I know I just keep using that name everywhere, but to create a brand you gotta get a little name crazy!

If you would like to join, be invited, or try out this tool. Let me know! send an email to dressmakersofetsy@gmail.com!

I will send you an invitation and we can start to promote each other!

Vintage Sewing Technique

I wanted to share a very cool vintage sewing technique I learned a few years back. I do a lot of historical attire and in that I have learned some techniques that are very interesting.

This particular technique creates a rouched/scalloped edge. You start with  the following design, and cut it out of a piece of cardboard. Now I made about three sections and taped them all together because none of my boxes were large enough, but it needs to be out of a heavier weight material.

You place your fabric over the scallop pattern as shown in this sketch.

Then with upholstery grade thread you hand stitch as evenly as possible with approximately 1/8" stitches along the scalloped pattern, as shown by the dashed line.

Once you have completed the full length edge of the area you want to receive this treatment you pull the stitch similar to the way you would pull a basting stitch to gather an edge.

Once you get the stitches pulled to the length and layout you like, You will want to stitch the scalloped edge to the fabric you want to place it on. You can do this treatment to the top edge of a skirt ruffle or make the scallops both directions for a fancy wider trim.

Here is a dress that has this detail at the sleeve and at the top edge of the jacket skirt.


















I thought this was a great technique that gave a very unique finish to edges. I haven't used it on any of my personal designs, but that is only because I have had so many other things on the table.

If any of you have cool techniques like this we would love to share them. Our team email is dressmakersofetsy@gmail.com.

The Guise of Infringement

I don't know if you are aware, but Etsy has been "cracking down" on anything they deem copyright infringement. However I have had a few of my Etsy friends suffer from this so called crack down, and in my opinion it has been without merit. Of course in none of the situations have my friends been allowed to know the full story so neither do I.

Here is one instance. My friend worked with another seller to purchase a pattern. She explained the pattern would be used to create the item for a special event and then sold for charity. The pattern maker agreed, in writing, to this arrangement. The item was created, used for the event, and then put on Etsy to sell. The pattern maker was noted in the listing and links were included to the pattern for others to buy. The pattern maker turned in the listing to Etsy as infringement. My friend gave the documentation with the pattern makers approval to Etsy and was told that it didn't matter if she approved the use she was retracting it now. Therefore even a written contract was not valid.

In this instance because the specific item was one she had worked with another store, she was able to research the issue and attempt to defend herself, however fruitless it was.

Another Etsy friend created a design one night while we were brainstorming and having dinner and drinks. She went home and the next day made the garment with some fabric she had lying about. It was lovely! She posted it on Etsy and about a week later she received an email that the item had been removed due to infringement. Another Etsy store had turned her in saying it was their design. The worst part is she has no idea who it was that complained as Etsy will not divulge the accuser. However the item was removed and Etsy threatened my friend with shutting down her store because "so many complaints" had been received. Again she had no idea of the accusers, quantity of complains, or nature of complaints.

When a criminal commits a crime he is legally allowed to face his accuser, but we can have things removed without any form of retribution, discussion, or even the ability to prove our validity.

I tell these stories because we all have clothing that is similar. Meaning a neckline might look the same, or they may both have swing skirts, however all of us design our items from a wide variety of influences. There are bad stores out there, and when they are discovered then action is taken. Heck even Etsy got fooled, they had a featured seller that was having all her items made in Indonesia and shipped over, and a huge back and forth started over that one that still isn't sorted out.

We need to all be cautious in how we watermark our photos, make notations about copyrights, and a large variety of other things to protect our items. I have been working towards this goal, but it is a hard thing to do while working full time, creating, sewing, blogging, and everything else that has to happen.

Let us all work together to protect the things that are ours, but also understand that it is not entirely unheard of that another person we have never met might actually create something similar to our item without ever having seen it. I am sure this has happened to a lot of us, but we can also see it on the runways where designers create things that are similar even years later.

I just want us all to work together to build each other up and not create tension by using terminology that causes people to bristle.

Pattern Review: Simplicity 3833

As dressmakers we all have patterns, some we bought, some we made, some we have modified to be something else. We all know about the copyright infringement issues with store bought patterns used for item that are sold. I have made changes to this pattern, but will not divulge those changes as this is merely a pattern review. 

Today I wanted to write about one that I bought and made into to a dinner dress. I loved the simple lines of the dress but figured some nicer fabrics would make it a perfect spring/summer dinner/date dress. 

Simplicity 3833 Retro Pattern

The top of the dress is a dull blue grey satin with just enough body to fit smoothly over the bust. The bottom was gold and blue lightweight taffeta with gold scrolled embroidery. The blue colors in both fabrics were a perfect match so it tied together really well. Plus the finish of both fabrics had the same sheen. 

Completed Garment

There are darted seams at the bust for shaping that also give the front a scoop shape below the bust. It also has a tie in the back that I elected to simply have a pretty pearl and gold button for attachment. The dress fits slightly loosely, but provides a very feminine shape. 

Back tie and Button

I know that there is a large percentage of dressmakers that turn their noses up to using store bought patterns, but a large percentage of them learned to sew from people that used store bought patterns. I am of the school of though that there are so many idea out there that a store bought pattern is a great learning tool. I have patterns I have created myself, and I have store bought patterns. To me they are all tools to be used for my passion.

Of course my own made patterns are ones I have created for historical pieces and tend to fall back on store patterns for daily wear items.

What are your go to tools in the way of patterns? Custom made, store bought, or a combination of both?

Another blog with Great Advise

We all know that sometimes we get caught up in our standard sewing techniques and sometimes either don't take the time to learn new ones, or forget to share the information of our own special things with others.

This is why I usually love to surf the power of the internet for all kinds of fabulous blogs and sites that have great advise, reminders of things we might have forgotten, or just a general consortium of knowledge.

I found another one.....

Sewaholic

I love the name it fits me personally, and I am sure it fits all of you as well! Take a look at some of her posts. I was turned on to this site by the post about how to sew stripes. I hate stripes, but this made me not hate them nearly as much.

We will see if the next stripes I sew turn out as good as hers.

UPDATED! The Low Down on the Giveaway!

Okay I had posted here about the giveaway I participated in that increased my Facebook following so significantly that in four days I went from 74 Likes to 1,500+.

I had a lot of inquiries about the process and it became apparent that I was unclear. However I have now been informed of another giveaway in the Month of May and I want to encourage all my Team Members to involve themselves.

Keep in mind that this is a tool for you to increase your own visibility, but if you win that is great too!

The complete details are HERE! (The link has been removed as sign up is closed)

READ THE INFORMATION COMPLETELY! 

The way this works is you follow the very simple rules. Which are...

1. This is FREE to get on the rafflecopter! 2. You MUST have this giveaway shared by your Facebook Fan page between 9:00 p.m. EST, May 3, and 9:00 a.m. EST May 4. 3. You MUST promote this giveaway a total of 9 times on your Facebook Fan page throughout the 3 weeks it is live. 4. This giveaway will run from 9:00 p.m. EST on May 3 through 12:01 a.m. EST on May 24.

The Rafflecopter is the way people enter the contest, and once the contest opens then people must "like" your Facebook page to enter the contest.

Now if you don't follow the rules, the administrators of the contest will remove your information from the contest, and in some cases not allow you to participate in future events.

When people connect to you, they will then see your posts in their feed, and it is only reasonable that it will increase your views and hopefully in turn result in sales.

I entered the first contest trying to win, because I wanted a Kindle Fire. So the entire situation was shocking to me once I learned what I had actually done.

However Etsy tells us that using social media to our advantage is a plus, and if we can find ways to expand our social media footprint then I think that is a great plan!

GOOD LUCK! Let me know if you have any questions at all!

UPDATE: on April 17th I was informed that the signup for this event was closed. As soon as I find more of this type of events I will post them for your use. Keep an eye on Facebook and other locations as well.

Suggestions to Grow Visibility!

Trying to Find a Dressmaker! 

I know that all of us struggle at times with getting people to look at our products, but we all know that if we can generate more traffic our chances of sales go up. I accidentally fell into a way to make this happen, and it has been SHOCKING! Almost too easy for words.

First when I started my blog I read a book by The Simple Dude called Grow Your Blog. It was only $1.99 and it gave me some simple tips and ways that help your blog grow. Now I have seen dramatically increased traffic, but as of yet I haven't gotten to his level of success. I have faith though.

I know not everyone has a blog and it can be a little daunting and confusing to get it all started and set up the way you like it, but if you already have one this may be a good idea. If you are interested in starting a blog, I would be happy to help, and could even do maybe a series of tutorials to help Team Members if you are interested.

Second, I found a contest where they were giving away FOUR Kindle Fires. I know it is somewhat foolish to think that I will get one, but it was also foolish to think I would win the $540 million power ball, but I gave it a $2 try anyway.

Now I had never heard of this site before and didn't know a lot about it, but they have these contests with varying prizes frequently. The trick to them is that they use a company called Rafflecopter, and on of the biggest ways to gain entries into the contest is to "Like" the Facebook pages of participating companies.

I know this can be annoying, but in 24 hours I received an additional 1200+ additional Likes to my Facebook page. I also saw an increase in number of people reached from an average of 60 to a new number of 275!

Here is what you need to think about, when people like your companies page all the items you post on your Facebook go into their News Feed. A ton of people that know nothing about you see your items, and it is only reasonable to think that someone will eventually click on your item.


Etsy tells us that using social media to our advantage is a highly successful and FREE advertising method. It doesn't matter how you get people to like your page, you just need to get them there. I stumbled into this hopefully highly advantageous event, and wanted to share with my team members.

Good Luck!