Sewing a fine seam

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/04/2019 (2373 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sue Ives’ love of sewing is evident in her collection of vintage sewing machines displayed in her basement work room.

Ives runs Elie Alterations & Crafts from her home at 2 Alexander St. in Elie. She offers clothing alterations, dressmaking and handcrafted home décor services, and this is one of her busiest times of the year with adjustments required to high school prom and bridal dresses.

Ives, who grew up in Marple near Manchester, England, said she first learned to sew when she was 11 using her grandmother’s treadle machine. She took sewing while in high school and began offering alteration services as a way of making some extra money. After finishing school, she sought work as a seamstress.

“I went into the factories sewing sportswear,” she said. However, as in North America, many of England’s sewing factories were closing as companies moved their production to countries with a lower paid workforce.

Ives decided to open her own business when she was 21. “I had my industrial machines in the dining room,” she said, adding that her mother wasn’t very happy with the arrangement.

Her business included the same sort of services as she now offers and she had a contract with a local clothing store to do any tailoring needed on the clothes they sold.

“I made myself available for anything anyone wanted doing,” Ives said.

She continued running her business until she, her husband and daughter moved to Winnipeg in 2006. Ives’ husband at that time was recruited as a long-haul truck driver by a Manitoba company.

“I was never going to sew again when I moved to Canada,” she said. However she broke that vow and worked at a custom draperies business in Winnipeg.

The family moved to Elie in 2009 after they happened to spot a For Sale sign on the property while on a day trip. Instead of looking for a job nearby, Ives decided to open up another home-based business.

“I like to set my own hours and not be in a rush,” she said.

In the past it was common for a bride-to-be to buy a dress pattern and fabric then have a seamstress sew her wedding dress, but now most women buy a ready-made dress and have it altered to fit them. While most bridal stores offer alteration service, Ives said that she’s been told by customers that they feel more relaxed bringing their dresses to her for alterations.
Ives noted that there aren’t as many fabric stores around and many people aren’t familiar with buying a pattern and fabric.

Another popular trend is creating memory quilts and pillows using loved ones’ clothing. She recently turned a father’s shirt into an attractive pillow for a customer.

Ives said the summer months tend to be a bit quieter but business picks up in the fall when people need to have jacket zippers repaired.

She watches for bargain-priced yarn in thrift stores, then uses it to crochet hats and scarves for charities such as the Christmas Cheer Board.

Ives has temporarily set aside her plan to retire, saying, “I’ll never be a millionaire, but this is my passion — sewing.”

For more information on Elie Alterations & Crafts see the Facebook page or call 204-510-7281.