"time is of the essence, sometimes!"

Author - Caroline Jones

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"time is of the essence, sometimes!"

When dressmaking I like to have time to a job thoroughly, properly, carefully, all of that.
Occassionally I am not allowed that time and things can go awry like the tunic that I mentioned a few weeks ago where fitting requirements were suspended because the customer wouldn't travel and left no time for choices to be made and subsequently the garment didn't fit as well as expected.
I now make it a rule that time must always be allowed, even for rush jobs!! I'm learning!
I have two commissions on the go at the minute, both 'rush' jobs in that I am up against deadlines with both.
The first is stage costume for a tribute band and the deadline is a gig which is to be filmed, this one is a rush job because although one coat is finished having been correctly fitted etc, the other can't be fitted until the evening before the day the coats are wanted. Aargh!! Don't panic Mrs Jones!! Forward planning is the key here - the first coat was timed so I know exactly how long the second will take and what order of manufacture is the most efficient, and the second coat is fully tacked together for fitting and ready to go the minute the fitting is over. I am confident that the coats will be ready for collection the following luchtime to be worn at the gig and I'm looking forward to seeing the film.
The second is a wedding gown alteration which I fitted on a Thursday and have to get done by the follwing Tuesday with a busy weekend in the meantime, again forward planning is the key, I have set aside 2 days to do the work and have all the required materials ready to use. The bride will have her beautiful gown and it will be just as she wants it for her big day.
Both of these jobs will be completed to my satisfaction and as I have very high standards for my own work, the customers should be more than happy.
So time is of the essence - either you need plenty of time to do a job well or you need time to plan ahead to do the same job as well but quickly!