My 2018 - This is my Hobby: Making Ready-to-Wear Dresses for Women and Children

I saw this contest here and I fell in love with the concept. So here is my entry for the contest.

My hobby is making dresses for women and children. I have absolutely mad passion for dress making and do it with so much joy. I got to know about this passion as early as my pre-teen and thank God for that. Actually, my dad was the one who noticed it in me and encouraged it. He would come to my room to give me frequent pep talks. He also praised every little fashion item I did then, even if they looked kind of flawed at the beginning.

Growing up, we weren't so financially buoyant and had do make do without a few luxury toys, one of which was baby dolls. But since I loved these dolls so much I took to making mine. I would get my mom's old outs and cut out a doll shape from it. The rest clothing would be cut in tiny pieces to use as filling for my doll.

Back then, I didn't know how to use a sewing machine, didn't even know one existed, so I would make my dolls using needle and thread. It took me one or two days to make one, but I always completed them and they came out beautiful.

Here began my sourjorn into the world of sewing and designing. Fast word to a few years later and I got professionally trained to design and make clothes and my course was paid for by my father.

Why I Have So Much Passion for Fashion

You've just got to love fashion. Fashion is about bringing an idea to life from your head. I think up a design for a dress, pillow, dolls, or beddings and bring this to reality using a simple machine, some fabrics, and a few sewing accessories.

How Long I Have Been Making Dresses for

This year 2018 makes it the twelfth year I have been making dresses and other fashion items and I have loved every minute of it.

It hasn't always been this easy or fun. Actually, the beginning was quite tough as I would make so many mistakes, ruin a lot of good fabrics and cry.

I also had a few customers whose dresses I ruined and they didn't find it funny. A few came over to my house to rain insults on me. I felt humiliated beyond words. Worse, I also had to replace some of the spooky clothing before the customers were pacified.

In the end, I chalked it all down to experience and pushed on.

Sewing is about learning everyday. The fashion market is vast and dynamic. New styles and concepts spring up everyday and you have to keep abreast of them or you become obsolete.

What I Love the Most about Sewing

I live the fact that you an create beautiful masterpiece CD s from clothing. You take a fabric, sometimes a plain one, mix and match and come up with a m beautiful dress.

I also love seeing look of joy on the faces of my client when they wear a beautiful outfit and subconsciously transform in attitude as they know they look amazing.

When I Sew

Sewing is something you can do anywhere and just about anytime. I sew daily, as I get a lot of orders to meet up.

*Here's How My Typical Sewing Day Goes

I get to my shop by 9am, set about selecting the fabrics to be made that day and also the styles to be sewn. I then proceed to the fabric market to buy everything clothing accessories I'll be needing for that day. Of course, I could buy in bulk to save cost, but I never get around to doing this an so buy in bits.

Once back at the shop, I make the dresses, then call the customers to come pick them up.

The Best Part of My Hobby

I am lucky that my hobby also doubles as my profession. It takes very little to achieve much and I get paid in cash and in kind (customer satisfaction) for every dress made.

If I were to describe my hobby to a stranger, I would say it is one of the best gifts of life. Nothing beats making something from nothing. Sometimes, a fabric is cut into a million little pieces and a tailor still assembles all together to make a masterpiece.

I also love the fact that this hobby gives me enough time for my family. While this hobby means a lot to me, my family is also top priority and it gives me the opportunity to give them the time they require, especially my toddler.