eBay Guides - Buying Handmade Boutique Children's Clothes

Buying Handmade Boutique Children's Clothes on eBay can be exciting and rewarding! However, not all designers and seamstress' are created equal. It is important that you research your couture before clicking on the "Buy it Now" or "Place Bid" button.

Boutique Handmade Clothing is not cheap. Designers and seamstresses have spent hours on their "works of art". However, spending top dollar on an article of clothing doesn't ensure top quality.

This Quick Reference Guide will assist you in what to consider when purchasing boutique handmade clothing. If a garment that you are considering is appliqued and still has the original store price tag, then that would indicate that the garment has not been pre-washed prior to being appliqued. This would be something that you would want to avoid purchasing. Why is that so important? New factory fabrics contain sizing. One of the best applique methods by designers is to use fusible webbing to bind the applique work to the clothing, then satin stitch around the edges. When the fabric has not been washed, the fusing does not adhear well and will pucker after washings, resulting in a disappointing purchase.

Pre-washing fabric before making an outfit is not always necessary, however in some cases it is a must. Bright colors such as red and hot pink tend to bleed when washed. Normally this is not a problem, unless it has been combined with a lighter color fabric. Bright colors tend to bleed into the lighter color fabric resulting in a disaster. It's like the red shirt that was washed with the load of whites, changing your whites to pink.

The seller does not always state that applique work requires special laundering. In order to keep your outfit looking it's best, it needs to be washed by hand and hung to dry. The applique may be ironed with a press cloth and a low heat setting. After you purchase the item, the seller should inform you of special laundering requirements.

Time after time I have seen close-ups of the designer's work where the topstitching was not up to par. Although the article of clothing will not fall apart with uneven topstitching, it does not look professional. Topstitching should be a uniform 1/4" for example, not wavering from 1/8" to 1/4".

If the description states "custom" and does not state that your winning bid will be made from a new pair of jeans or overalls, you may be surprised. The buyer may have gently worn jeans or overalls that they use, which is acceptable as long as you were made aware of that in the beginning.

Seams that have not been finished will not withstand washings. You need to know if the seams are French, zig-zag or serged. Any of these techniques are acceptable. Seams finished with pinking shears are fine, but do not have as nice of a finished look.

There are many designers out there that are top name, but this does not mean they have top quality. Research your find and ask the seller questions. If the seller doesn't show close-up photos, ask the seller to email you close-up photos. You want to be happy with your purchase!

Here are some of my favorite applique works...