Seams Right: Everything from a wedding dress to windows for a yurt

Mon, 11/21/2016 - 8:00am

Do you need a jacket altered? A dress hemmed? A new zipper sewn into a winter coat? A couch cushion re-covered? A wedding dress taken in or designed and made from scratch? How about a Santa Claus costume?

Mattie Welch's seamstress business, Seams Right, has been going strong for four years, but she has been sewing since she was a kid. Her mother was a high school home economics teacher and Welch said she made all her clothes growing up.

“I sewed five or six hours a day when I was in high school. I sewed everything, including my underwear.”

She doesn't sew for herself anymore, but will do pretty much anything for others. Her website, which features the slogan, “Not just another dress maker,” states that she'll work on things “as fine as wedding apparel to heavy work such as windows for a yurt.” Her work includes alterations, repairs and custom designs.

Welch recently turned a wool shirt into a jacket for a friend in Wiscasset, Tom Cramer, who gave her his idea for the design. “It was made to be a sports coat so it's lined and has inside pockets,” she said. “It has a Nehru collar. He plans to wear it to cocktail parties.” She has also made curtains, drapes, cushions and pillows for Cramer and his husband, Ron Sanchez, an interior designer.

Welch's shop is set up in a barn next to her home on Egypt Road in Jefferson, and she has a booth at Nobleboro Antiques on Route One on Thursdays. “That gives me a little more foot traffic than out here in Jefferson, for some reason,” she said with a smile. “People can go there to leave work for me rather than drive way out here.” Welch said thanks to the booth in Nobleboro she brings in customers from Camden, Rockland and the Friendship area. The Mustard Seed Bookstore in Bath will also take in projects for Welch.

The seamstress will alter military and other uniforms, including sewing patches on large orders. She will cover couch cushions, and cushions for chairs, but said she does not do upholstery or slipcovers. “I will do an occasional footstool though,” she said. “I'm into footstools. I buy them and re-cover them to sell at at Nobleboro Antiques. She also offers sewing classes — private or small groups.

Welch has made a lot of costumes, including one for her grandniece, who wanted to dress as Star Wars' Luke Skywalker's mother. And she made over a dozen “singlets” for a professional WWE wrestler, Delicious Dave Vicious. “He was my favorite all time client because he wanted the same thing time after time,” she said.

In a recent Facebook post, Welch wrote, “It's nearly that time of year again. You know, when everyone starts to freak out about the holidays, the lack of time and money, the need to buy gifts yada, yada, yada. Don't stress out, take a moment for yourself. Come visit the Nobleboro Antique Exchange on November 25, 26 or 27. They are having their annual Christmas event and its a great way to gear up for the season. See you there, open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Call (207) 586-6622 for more information.