Ready to order?
Let’s design something together!
Send a note to nadine@naycrochet.com and we’ll get started!
The process can be as simple as:
- pick a design or I can create one for you
- choose & purchase materials
- discuss timeline, generate quote, sign contract
- I get to work.
Before I can get started on your bespoke piece, I require a deposit and the materials for creating the item.
Check out my social media pages for my latest art pieces & installations!
FAQ
Care Instructions
If you lose the receipt or notes I gave you for your specific piece, all of my wearable art pieces have the same washing instructions: hand wash cold; lay flat to dry.
Alterations & Repairs
I offer free alterations up to a week after delivery of your wearable art piece, and minor repairs are covered for the lifetime of your item. If your pet gets at it or your rumba eats it, I will have to charge to restore your piece to your comfort level or to replace it.
Commission Contract
I didn’t always require a contract for client’s bespoke pieces, but I do now. In case one of us forgets what we initially agreed to or you’d like to change your order, it comes in handy. Your contract can be reviewed and signed digitally or in person. Life happens, and I’m pretty understanding, but *remaining payment for commissioned art pieces is absolutely due upon delivery.* I offer discounts on future orders in the event that your item is delayed due to my disability, but as a rule, I will pull all-nighters if it means that my clients have their piece in time for an anticipated music festival, burlesque performance, or photoshoot.
Measurement Appointment & Fittings
Due to the nature of bespoke/tailor-made/custom couture, I only offer wearable art to those able to be present for an in-person initial measurement appointment and subsequent fittings as needed. I conduct fittings at Confetti Heart Studio by appointment only, but I might take your measurements in the green room at a local show or event if you make a special request and are comfortable. I usually have a measuring tape on me.
Couture Pricing
I believe in a living wage, so in 2024, I charge $20/hour + gallery commission + materials.
- Each wearable art piece is priced at average creation time of sizes XS to 3X
- or as quoted and contracted for commissioned original art pieces.
- Confetti Heart Studio receives a commission on any piece fitted, sold, or advertised on its premises.
- Not all materials are created equal and are always additional to the price of the piece. You can provide your own, shop local at Yarn Bar, use what I have on hand, or I can order it online. Before I start your bespoke piece, I ask for a 50% deposit + materials with the remainder due at delivery of your item.
- * If we discuss pricing and deposit at a 21+ event where inebriation might affect decision-making, I ask that we postpone signing an art commission contract and exchanging money until the next day.
Patterns
For someone without a ton of pattern-design experience, I do a lot of original tailor-made designs. I also use a lot of pre-made patterns from famous designers world-wide. No, I won’t share their patterns, since that is a designer’s livelihood, nor do I sell patterns of my own online. A legally gray but despicable scam plaguing the artist and maker community is to change two or three lines in a pattern and sell it as an original creation without having done any of the designing, testing, photography, or advertising involved in pattern creation and distribution. [If you’re an artist, don’t do that; I’m sure you’re talented enough to copyright your own design.] If you’re in the community, I’ll gladly tell you who designed what in my collections. I routinely share creators’ latest projects and designs on social media or tag them in posts. They deserve all the love and credit for their talent and hard work.
I get a lot of questions about this, so I’ll do my best to explain what my attorney told me. Crediting designers with pattern design is not legally the same as selling an identical or extremely similar product with the same name as someone else’s product. Legally I am allowed to sell items crafted using other designers’ patterns, but completed pieces sold by the designer (or anyone else for that matter) can be protected by copyright and/or trademark. Anyone can copyright a set of instructions on a page, but no one can copyright or patent a process, which is what the act of crocheting from a pattern is. However, physical products can be protected by copyright and trademark. I’m not interested in stealing someone else’s work or taking credit for their art.
Returns
I do not accept returns. This policy applies regardless of it being a commissioned piece, a ready-to-wear art piece purchased at a local gallery, or a ready-to-ship piece purchased from my online storefront.
Timelines in Contract
I am very up-front with my clients about my availability. Rule of thumb: you never know; don’t hesitate to ask! Cold and flu season is disproportionately the time of year that my disability renders me unable to work. If I’m unable to meet a delivery date, I offer discounts either on the current piece or on future orders. Please don’t ask me to expedite the creation timeline and delivery date after we’ve signed the contract. I now know from experience that I will try to accommodate your request at the cost of my sleep since I would never let it affect my other clients.
As of September 2024, I have yarn orders in the mail with delivery dates (of completed couture) scheduled through November 15th. I usually update my clients when their materials arrive and confirm delivery date of the completed item (just because your yarn arrived doesn’t always mean I can immediately get to work.) I don’t offer rush shipping or give people the option to skip the line; art is delivered when the contract states. I try to allot more time than necessary when setting a delivery date, so if yarn arrives ahead of schedule, I have time for additional orders. So don’t hesitate to ask! That being said, if you want a floor-length gown for Christmas or New Years, the order window for that has passed (before June). Gowns take a lot of material and multiple fittings.
Rough averages of couture creation times:
- bikini top: 4 hours
- bikini bottom: 6 hours
- bralette: 6 hours
- crop tank: 8 hours
- full-length tank: 10 hours
- crop sleeveless vest with cowl: 10 hours
- full-length sleeveless vest with cowl: 12 hours
- crop top: 10 hours
- full-length short-sleeve blouse: 12 hours
- short shorts: 8 hours
- short skirt: 8 hours
- midi skirt: 10 hours
- floor-length skirt: 12 hours
- dresses and gowns: add time of style of top + time of length of skirt + embellishments
- masquerade mask: 2 hours
- fishnet shrug and mini skirt: 6 hours
- basic adult winter hat: 4 hours
- basic adult elf/dragon/fae hat: 8 hours
- deluxe adult elf/dragon/fae hat: 10 hours
- basic adult witch hat: 8 hours
- deluxe adult witch hat: 12 hours
- deluxe monster hood/hat: 10-15 hours depending on design
- sewing bra or cups into design: 2 hours
- add cap sleeves: 1 hour
- add fae sleeves: 2 hours
- add beads/hardware/appliques: 2 hours for top, 4 hours for skirt or dress
- I do not make plushies.
* Just keep in mind that the more complex the piece, the more fittings you will need.
** Changing clothing sizes within the order/creation window is highly discouraged but understandable.
*** If you commission an original design, pattern creation is an additional charge factored into the quote.
I haven’t made a wedding dress yet, but there are some gorgeous patterns out there that I’m dying to try! *Please order wedding dresses a year in advance and be prepared to pay for a work of art (designers estimate 1500-2000 hours {+ gallery commission + materials}).
Commissioning Art
A couple of you asked for a detailed step-by-step breakdown of my process. Here it is!
- You pick a pattern, or I design one for you
- Schedule a measurement appointment at Confetti Heart Studio downtown
- We pick out yarn either online or at Yarn Bar downtown
- Generate quote, discuss timeline, & sign art commission contract
- Accept 50% deposit + cost of materials from you
- Get to work at earliest availability (per contract)
- Schedule initial fitting of in-progress item as needed (for placement of hemlines, arms, shoulders, bustline, etc.)
- One more fitting may be necessary, but usually I deliver the item and accept final payment after one fitting + however long it takes for me to complete the item. (I do accept payment plans with delivery upon receipt of final payment. Payment methods: venmo, paypal, credit/debit card in person; and you always get a receipt.)
- I provide free alterations up to a week after delivery of the item (if it hasn’t been washed yet), and free minor repairs for the life of your wearable art piece. (If your pet gets at it or your rumba eats it, I will have to charge for repairs and materials, but I’m happy to keep your piece looking fab!)
- Care for your wearable art pieces: All of my items are hand-wash cold; lay flat to dry, but at the client’s discretion I can provide what the yarn manufacturer suggests as care for their fibers. I cannot guarantee these washing methods:
- Many brands suggest washing on warm and blocking the item to dry. Blocking just means that you need to stretch the item after it was potentially shrunk slightly by warm water. You can pin it to a board at the farthest you can stretch it in all directions or spin the crap out of it in the washer (GENTLE CYCLE) and wear it damp while you finish the rest of your laundry. Blocking or wearing the damp item while it dries ensures that it retains the desired fit.
- Obviously if there are beads, clasps, or other hardware, however you wash your wearable art piece, it should not be with other clothing to avoid snagging or damaging what it comes into contact with in the washer/dryer. Washing any other way than hand-wash cold runs the risk of wearing the finish on metals, cracking beads, or wearing the fibers and causing pilling/fraying/etc. Yarn simply isn’t fabric and cannot be treated as such.
- Many brands suggest washing on warm and blocking the item to dry. Blocking just means that you need to stretch the item after it was potentially shrunk slightly by warm water. You can pin it to a board at the farthest you can stretch it in all directions or spin the crap out of it in the washer (GENTLE CYCLE) and wear it damp while you finish the rest of your laundry. Blocking or wearing the damp item while it dries ensures that it retains the desired fit.
- I always appreciate reviews on socials, word-of-mouth recs and ask before I post pics of my clients wearing my art. I am able to protect privacy by blurring/covering your face or tattoos for bragging rights of how awesome you look in my art without sacrificing your anonymity.
