Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa DeWenter.
Hi Melissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Since I was a little girl, I have loved clothing. It was the first thing I found in any store my mom dragged my siblings and me to. I was never willing to give up garments, even when they no longer fit me. As I grew up, I took an interest in designing my clothing. My mom, being a very talented seamstress, created them for me. I was finally taught how to sew myself when I got to high school. And I fell in love even more. Watching a garment go from an idea to a finished product amazes me. There was no doubt that I should pursue a degree in Apparel Design. I attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout upon my high I majored in Apparel Design and Development with a minor in Business Management.
After graduation, I knew I needed to focus on just finding a job amid the pandemic conditions. Moving back to my parent’s house was the best option for me then, and, unfortunately, there weren’t any apparel jobs around there. I was hired as a Personal Care Assistant and waitressed on the side. While that job was rewarding in more ways than one, I knew I would never be truly happy until I did something with my degree. So I did a little research and started freelancing using Upwork as my main way of finding clients.
Things started slowly but eventually shot off! I landed a big client with an extended contract and many other short-term projects. I could balance these clients and my full-time PCA job for about a year. Finally, I realized I could make a decent living at freelancing and put in my notice. Things have been growing ever since then. I still have my first big client and have gained another since then. I have worked on many projects (sewing, pattern making, technical packets, production) from the comfort of my home. I have made an assortment of items from basic t-shirts to wedding dresses to t-shirt quilts. I still love what I do and enjoy sewing for clients willing to drive to the middle of nowhere to meet me! While I love sewing, I have learned that it is best done for clients I can meet in person. So, recently, I have started shifting gears to just technical and pattern work.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For the most part, things have been going great. Starting, I had overscheduling issues and had many late nights and early mornings trying to get things done. Eventually, I learned how to estimate project lengths better and schedule accordingly. And, of course, there have been the occasional tough clients who demand too much in too short of time. After two of them, I decided I would set my schedule; if the client didn’t like that, they could hire someone else. I have also had a few clients not pay, implementing policies to help with that. After going full-time with my freelancing, things have been going surprisingly well!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am a self-employed freelancer. Technically, I do not have a separate business. I just work under my name. I work from my home studio and currently have no employees. I specialize in creating patterns for apparel and designing (technical flats and technical packets) for garments. I also offer sewing for in-person clients. A few unique things I offer include size chart development, grading, and digitizing patterns. As I am the only one who works in my “company,” I offer my clients a truly personal experience. We work together one-on-one. I also have a lot of experience with many types of clothing (kids, women’s, and men’s) and many non-clothing items (quilts, tote bags, soft-sided storage, etc.). I am proud of how far I have come. I started with a very simple project (adding zippers to t-shirts late at night in my parent’s basement) and now work out of my own home helping people to create unique items.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Before college, I was never much of a risk taker. But once I started thinking about my future, I knew I needed to be more daring. The summer after my first year, I did an internship in New York. While it wasn’t quite the experience everyone thinks it was, it was still life-changing for me. I had never been that far from home, especially by myself. And then, of course, quitting my stable full-time job to pursue freelancing full-time was quite a risk. The week before I quit, my then fiancé and I had signed on the house. I knew there would be a lot of pressure to contribute money to the bills and mortgage, but I truly believed I could do it. And now, here I am.
Pricing:
- Hourly Rate (if preferred) $32 per hour
- Technical Flat (fixed) $16
- Technical Packet (fixed) $275
- Pattern work is done hourly, but a fixed rate can be negotiated if preferred.
- Grading $16 per size if done digitally and $32 per size if done on paper
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melissasuedesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissasue.designs/
Image Credits
Liz Drevlow Photography Melissa DeWenter Nathaniel Schreiber
