How to Get Started with Alterations for Money

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If you know how to sew, chances are that someone has asked you to do alterations for them. If you aren't comfortable doing alterations, I strongly encourage you to shoo those people away. Your time, energy, and skills belong to you and nobody has a right to them. But, if you think you're ready to take the first steps into making alterations for money, I'm here to share my do's and don'ts and what I've learned!

Overcoming fear

I got into alterations the way most people probably do...reluctantly. It started in 2021 when a good friend asked me if I could help out the high school marching band with a costume they needed made. It was around the time when all my kids started elementary school for the first time, and I suddenly had hours during the day to take on work. Long story short, the band ended up leaning on my ideas more than my sewing skills, but I made a little bit of money and got experience meeting with clients I didn't know.

That first meeting...I was SO scared! What if they asked me something I didn't know? What if I was totally out of my depth? What if they wanted something impossible, could I finesse my way out of it? What if they took one look at me and decided I wasn't professional enough? Yes, I have anxiety, but I imagine any sewist would think some of these things.

I did three things to help myself overcome these fears. First, I bought a binder. Yes, it sounds silly. I bought a brand new, professional-ish looking binder, pens, and a fresh tape measure. I already had business cards (super generic, just my logo, website and email address) so I stuck a couple in the binder. I am 100% a believer in fake it until you make it, and giving myself the things that made me look successful was a part of that. You can design and print business cards in Canva and have them shipped right to you.

Second, I charged way too little for my time. Only you can choose the price that makes you comfortable, but for me I went with $15/hour (again, 2022 prices!). I have since started calling this the "friends and family rate" but the truth is, that was my introductory, low-stress, low-pressure, take-a-chance-on-me price. It was enough money that I felt I wasn't wasting all my time, but not so much that it stressed me out. I did not charge for my mileage, for my consultation time, etc. though I'm sure professionals do. Looking back, I'm super happy I started with a low rate and took that pressure off myself.

The third thing I did to prepare was to give myself permission to refer out a job. In addition to the custom costume, the marching band needed some alterations done to their drum major uniforms. They wanted a factory pleated, plaid kilt without a hem allowance, to be lengthened. Once I looked over the kilt, I knew there was no way I could give them what they wanted. I was doubtful anybody could. But rather than take on the job because I was embarrassed to say no, I admitted that it was beyond my skill set, and gave them the names of two local shops they could call instead. 

The Right Clients

After the band costume, it didn't take long for someone else to hear that I was sewing for money and ask me if I made alterations. Again, the person who asked me was a very kind friend, the sort of person where you don't want to say no. The alterations were for her teenage daughter, and we started with something like 5 pieces. 

This time, I went the extra mile and created some invoice sheets (you can buy them in my Etsy shop, they are editable and you can add your own logo). This paperwork was the next step in my "try to look professional" plan. Again, I showed up with my binder and took notes and measurements and gave an estimate of my time for completion. It happened to be December and I was honest that handmade gifts for my family would be taking priority over alterations. Because I was working with sweet, super nice people, they made no demands on me. 

Over the next 8 months, I ended up doing alterations for these clients two or three more times. I charged my low, $15/hour rate. I made trips to their home for fittings and didn't charge extra. I think one single time I charged for a spool of thread. While I didn't make a huge profit in dollars, that work was invaluable to me for other reasons. I got the opportunity to work on everything from pants to hoodies to a prom dress. I practiced pinning on a real person and taking good enough notes to work from later. I was forced to estimate my time for a hem, for changing a sleeve, for moving a zipper. Basically, it was a paid internship.

The Next Step

After months of alterations for one teenager, she graduated high school and moved away to college. It felt like the natural time to both raise my rates, and also to make it more publicly known that I was doing alterations. I posted on my personal Facebook page and landed another job right away. This time, I charged $20/hour, and she came to my home for her fitting and item pick up.

After almost a year of on again off again alterations, I was astounded to find that I was *gasp* enjoying it! I cannot describe the way it felt to alter a garment, message someone that it was ready, and have them immediately pay me electronically. Sewing, this thing that started as a hobby and grew into a passion, is valuable. It's a skill. It's worth paying for and I CAN DO IT!

Other Opportunities

I have also gotten a few contract sewing jobs via Upwork. These are not alterations, they are more like sample sewing. There are often regional sewing jobs posted there, but I've seen quite a few that are remote. To protect clients and freelancers Upwork handles all the payment details (for a fee) but so far it's been a good experience. I can choose my own pay rate each time I bid for a job. It's easy to apply for jobs within the app, to log my time there, and to get paid.

I've also poked around on Indeed and there are sewing jobs there, but usually local ones with a more traditional application process. It never hurts to send an email and ask for remote sewing work even if the job is advertised as local.

Heading into the holiday season, I've also toyed with the idea of making some small items for a pop-up shop. Zippered bags, reusable gift wrap, etc. We'll see if I end up having the time, but as a side gig, once a year only thing I don't hate the idea. 

Further Reading

Angela Wolf wrote a great book in 2012 called How to Start a Home-Based Fashion Design Business. I've pulled it out again recently with fresh eyes, it's a great resource if you're curious about different ways to turn sewing into a business. (And in 2025 I even got to meet her in real life!)

Do you make alterations for money? What has your experience been like? Let me know in the comments! And to follow along with my alterations adventures, join me on Instagram.

What You Need to Know about Sewing Brand Partnerships

Have you ever wondered what it's like to have a partnership with a sewing brand? Have you wondered if it's worth it to pattern test or be an affiliate? If it's the right choice for you? Well, grab a cup of coffee and settle in, because I'm here to dish on my experiences, and give you some things to think about if you're considering teaming up with a brand. 

Please note: these are just my experiences, with many different brands and arrangements, and your experience will probably be different! I have been sewing and blogging for nearly a decade and have seen industry shifts in that time. You never know when things may change again! Also, I'm not going to name names. I will be honest but I'm not interested in throwing anyone specific under the bus. If that's what you're after, you can go ahead and click off ;)

First, let's define the different ways a single sewing hobbyist can be involved with companies. 

TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS

Pattern Tester: Before a sewing pattern can be released to the public, it needs to be tested by people of various skills and across (ideally) all the pattern sizes. In my experience, established pattern design companies have a group of favorite testers that work with them. New pattern designers put out far more calls for testers. Of course, a tester pool can be ever changing, and the best way to know about open tester opportunities is to keep an eye on a brand's socials. For an interesting read on pattern testing, check out this post from Gillian at Crafting a Rainbow.

Brand Ambassador: A Brand Ambassador can take many forms, but generally they are a person who uses a pattern/product/fabric and then shares about it online. The skills required are less intensive as the brand is typically not asking for direct feedback or testing, just asking for marketing on one's social media platforms. 

Sponsored Post: A sponsored post (blog, Instagram or Facebook) is usually a one-off situation, with a specific product or item being used and marketed. Sponsored posts can be solicited by the brand, or, sometimes, pitched by the blogger to the brand. 

Affiliate: An affiliate marketer is someone who uses specialized links to refer customers to products. The affiliate then receives a small percentage of the sale as a referral fee. Affiliate programs are generally easy to be a part of or require a simple email sign up. Some places, like Share-a-Sale, are companies that run affiliate programs for other brands. You apply for SAS and then you have access to their brands.

COMPENSATION

Pattern testers are given a final draft of the pattern and sometimes compensated financially, or with a discount code for supplies. A Brand Ambassador is often given free or discounted patterns or fabric in exchange for their reviews. Like a Brand Ambassador, a sponsored post often involves a free or discounted product, and sometimes a monetary payment. Affiliate marketers receive a percentage commission. (Scroll down to see which of these, if any, are "worth it"!)

I'm going to take a minute here and also discuss exposure as a form of compensation. More than once, I have been enticed by a brand with a large following offering exposure of my work to their audience. More than once I have been disappointed, either with a lack of follow through (the brand doesn't actually share my work) or lack of response (my work is shared but I gain no new followers). 

One way to set proper expectations would be to review a brand's previous socials and see how often they promote their current partners. Do they use someone else's photos but don't link to that person's socials? Do they promote their own pattern but not the people who make them? How often are they sharing work from an ambassador and how many ambassadors do they have?

It would be great if I could stay objective here, but I'm becoming pretty salty about exposure as compensation. Exposure is not compensation. Consider it a nice bonus, but do not lean on exposure as a reason to do work for a company or brand. 

WORKLOAD

I have personally been involved in brand ambassadorships, fabric promotion, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing. Each brand I've worked with has had different expectations but they have all been clear from the outset what those expectations are. Do not venture into an agreement with a company without having an exact idea of what is expected of you! 

Will they require a certain number of makes per month? Posts per month? Will there be strict deadlines? Can you meet those deadlines? Are you comfortable posing for photos or are flat lays acceptable? Can you easily take photos at home alone, or do you need an assistant or to travel to a good location? Will video content be required (Reels, Idea Pins, etc.)? Is your sewing equipment reliable or will it be in the shop for long periods of time?

These are just a few questions that you should have answers to before committing to partnerships with sewing brands. Always be prepared to adult and ask hard questions, or to formally end an arrangement if it's not working out. Please do not ghost! If you cannot fulfill an agreement, be upfront with the company, ideally long before a missed deadline.

FUN

I want to make sure to talk about fun, because I believe it is misused by people who are not in the creative community. Oftentimes, we are brought requests because people assume we sew for fun, and therefore we can do XYZ project for someone because it's just sO fUn FoR uS. I believe that brands are guilty of this assumption too, often pretending like working with them is so super duper funsies that maybe they don't have to pay you.

Don't fall for it! Do not be surprised if your partnership work often feels like, well, work! Any time you "have" to do something, it takes away an element of fun, even if you're being compensated.

On the flip side, I have had perfectly wonderful partnership arrangements that ARE fun. I derived personal satisfaction from working with the people or group. It made me happy. Place importance on your happiness, and pay attention to the projects that are sucking the life from you. 

BECOMING A PARTNER

So you've thought about all of the above, and now you want to know, how do you become a partner with a brand? I have a few tips.

Tell your friends. Make sure your friends know that you are looking for partnership opportunities. I have one sewing friend in particular who has tagged me in SO many posts that I never would have seen. We can't be all over the internet at once, so use your friends as your eyes and ears.

Follow new brands. Heard about a new sewing pattern company? If you like their work, give them a follow. Newbies are always looking for testers. They are also more likely to share your photos or become aware of you as a potential ambassador if you are making their patterns, simply because there will be less competition among their users. 

Apply for everything. I cannot tell you how many partnerships I've applied to and not gotten. I'm not big on  math, but statistically you will need to apply for way more things than you'd ever actually do if you want to land a gig. It's also good practice to put yourself out there on applications. You will inevitably gain more confidence and skill in pitching yourself. And please do not be afraid to sell yourself and your skills! Don't play the comparison game and think that your work isn't good enough. Companies usually want a wide range of skills.

IS IT WORTH IT?

I know what you're thinking: so how much money have you made? Well, I can tell you. Barely any!

I have been blogging since 2013. In that time, I believe I have been paid cash money for a blog post ONE time. And it was 2 figures. 

I have been an affiliate of many different companies (and Amazon) for years. I would be shocked if someone told me that I've made 3 figures in that time, with all of them put together. Most affiliate programs run at about 10% of the total purchase. If you buy a $15 pattern I recommend, I get $1.50. 

I have been given access to free patterns over the years. A generous estimate of the free patterns I have would be about 30-40. 

I have been given gift certificates for free fabric. This is definitely the most "lucrative" of all my arrangements. I'm probably approaching $500 worth of free fabric over the course of the last decade. Maybe more (though I also end up spending at times when I otherwise wouldn't, to bulk up orders or take advantage of the discount).

I run Google ads on my blog. Google Adsense has a minimum threshold before they pay out, which is $100. I've been paid by Adsense one time in nearly a decade.

So is it worth it? My answer in 2022 will be different than my answer would have been in 2015. Here's why.

I am self-taught. I learned all I know with extensive reading and, most importantly, failure. Many of my partnerships were a help to me as I grew and expanded my skills. Now, however, I'm a decade into this venture, and my skills are naturally the highest they've ever been. Of course I still have lots to learn, but the average home sewing pattern isn't teaching me much anymore (sounds braggy, but it's true!). 

A beginner testing a pattern will have a totally different viewpoint than an advanced sewist. A beginner is absorbing knowledge, whereas a non-beginner is typically dispensing it. Both are important aspects of a test! But the experience is different.

In my opinion, free patterns also become less appealing the more time one spends in this hobby. Eventually, you have the basic patterns for everything, and everything is hackable. Do I need another hoodie pattern just because it's free?

Affiliate marketing can work for some people, but it depends on how much effort you're willing to put in to creating content. If you cannot drive traffic to your links, nobody will be clicking on them. I think that the slight discount I receive for being an affiliate is usually more useful than any income from it. It's not unusual for me to get 100 clicks on an affiliate link before I get one single sale (and remember, that sale might only net me $1.50). Sometimes the conversion rate is even worse than that. How much time are you willing to spend on content creation for $1.50?

To be completely honest, any arrangement involving free fabric is my favorite. I take those kinds of commitments seriously and try to provide an equal value in return. I don't just post a few photos on Instagram, when I get free fabric I also strive to write a blog post, pin on Pinterest, post in Facebook groups, make a Reel, etc. It's important that you work with brands you do actually like so that you're not struggling to recommend them.

So there you have it, a decade's worth of partnership experience word vomitted into a blog post. Questions? Comments? I believe in transparency and am happy to help!