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Posted by Mary Fisher on May 21, 2008, 11:58 am
> Candide wrote:
>>> Candide wrote:
>>>>> My sister called me a couple of days ago, and asked it my
>>>>> machine (trusty old Singer 401A) would "sew through denim,
>>>>> like a jeans hem". I said, "Sure, I shorten jeans for
>>>>> [younger DD] all the time!" She asked how much I would
>>>>> charge her to shorten some jeans which were several inches
>>>>> too long. I replied, "C'mon, you're my SISTER, I won't
>>>>> charge you anything!" (Mom taught us both how to sew, I'm
>>>>> the one who loves it, she hates it.) Besides, it's not like
>>>>> I'd have to rip out the old hem: if they are several inches
>>>>> too long, just whack them off and hem them, right?
>>>>>
>>>>> THEN she explained that she was inquiring on behalf of her
>>>>> daughter-in-law, wife of my least favorite nephew. Grrrrrr.
>>>>> :-| But I (graciously) told her to have her DIL come on
>>>>> over, I'd mark the jeans and hem them for free.
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear-niece-in-law arrives with two (count ''em, TWO) pair of
>>>>> jeans, one three inches too long, the other a bare hem-depth
>>>>> (which means unpicking the existing hem) too long. <sigh>
>>>>> So I had her try both pair on, marked the new hem, and
>>>>> almost as an afterthought wondered aloud if they had been
>>>>> laundered yet. She, "No, why?" I, "Well, because, once I
>>>>> cut them off and hem them, if they shrink there's no way to
>>>>> fix them." So I sent her home to run them through her
>>>>> normal washing procedure. I'm still waiting for her to come
>>>>> back.
>>>>>
>>>>> Anyone wondering why I usually *refuse* alterations?
>>>>>
>>>>> Beverly
>>>> Oh you poor thing! *LOL*
>>>>
>>>> I feel your pain and have been there with other situations. They
>> have no
>>>> shame some people, and that includes relations. Indeed one has found
>>>> relations often are the worst offenders in these matters.
>>>>
>>>> If upon the lady's return, she begins dropping hints about other
>> work
>>>> she would like to have done, kindly and sweetly smile hand her your
>>>> price list. The effect is underscored if the words "all alterations
>> must
>>>> be paid fully in advance", are written on the form. *LOL*
>>>>
>>>> Keep on smiling, you are blessed!
>>>>
>>>> Candide
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Wonderful idea, Candide. The other alternative is to offer to teach
>> her
>>> to do it herself. You'll never see her again.
>>
>> Ah yes, but the lady in question might be wise to the trick I pulled as
>> a child when assigned tasks didn't really wish to do. The thing is to do
>> the job so badly or half-heartedly that sooner or later the assignee
>> gives up and says "oh just give it here", and takes things back.
>> However one must know one's audience before trying this, grandmama would
>> sooner go upside one's head for wasting her time, and you STILL had to
>> do the job! *LOL*
>>
>
> I can just see Beverly saying, "Don't worry dear, you'll get it. It's
> just going to take a little time, but you'll learn how to do this if it's
> the last thing I ever do. Now, we need to spend some time going over
> this. Get out your calendar so we can schedule some sessions. Is eight
> hours at a time all right for you?"
At $/£x an hour ...
Mary
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