The following are a few of the actual, unsolicited thank-you notes that I have received from happy customers and readers. Some are edited for length, and I have used first names only to protect identity. Originals are in my portfolio in my studio. THANK YOU to my customers for taking the time to write these notes. I treasure them!
I wanted to thank you again for my gorgeous wedding dress. You really saved my butt and the dress was perfect on our big day. Your effort was admired and appreciated by all - 7,000 handstitches !! WOW! Best, Rissa
(in another note) THANKS for the dress -it really was perfect for me and looked so stunning on my wedding day! And it is amazing you made it SO darn fast! If I had a dollar for every compliment I got on my dress, Id be a wealthy woman. Thank you again for the dress -it was truly magnificent. I was proud to wear it and everyone keeps telling me how amazing it looked! Rissa
Thank you, thank you for the beautiful job you've done on our dresses! The pictures are forthcoming, but in the interim on behalf of all of us please accept our sincerest appreciation of all that you have done! Love, Abby
For the generous way you share your time and talents with others, Thank you. Thank you for making me beautiful that evening. I was so very lucky to have found you. You were such a pleasure to work with. I know I can depend on you in a pinch. I will forever be in your debt. I will be calling you. Thanks again! Love, Michele
Thank you so much for making a special day JUST PERFECT! Justin was completely blown away when he saw the walk down the aisle. You're amazing! Thank you very, very much! Keep in touch! With much fondness, Wendy & Justin
.I wrote to you before, but once is not enough. I have been plus (sized) most of my life, and ready to wear is useless to me. I love fabric & clothes but fit was always a super problem! I have really looked and looked for answers, and improvised on my own, but still I was not happy with results. Often I wore baggy T's with cotten/Lycra tights, mostly at home. I am so happy with your wonderful book "Sewing for Plus Sizes," how you show how to change smaller patterns, even much smaller. About ease and fit for us. And for your book's cheerful spirit and for your encouraging style & fun, and for helping with self-esteem! Love, Cathie T.
Received MANY complements on the dress. The temp. was perfect. I was cozy under church AC and fine @ reception when others were sweating. Hilda.
Katie has gotten so many compliments on her beautiful dress, both from those who have seen it in person and those who have only seen it in pictures. You are an artist with fabric needle and thread! Nancy
The Court of Special Appeals was quite hostile last month, but thanks to you, I looked really great when I corrected the justices and schooled them on the Court's own holdings! Now I am thinking of other events for wearing my lovely suit! Pat
I want to thank you for your book Sewing for Plus Sizes. I recently found it in our local library. I looked through it and realized I needed a copy of my own. I purchased the book and I'm already cutting pictures out of magazines and catalogs - planning my next sewing project. I wear a size 20 - with adjustments. To fit my large bust, my shoulder seams were inches below my true shoulder. I have never seen direcitons like your for adjustment of a large bust. I had resigned myself to wearing loose, shapless tops. Thank you for making me want to wear clothes that actually fit my body. Your candor and practical solutions to problems facing larger women is greatly appreciated. I look forward to the day when my copy of your book is worn out from use and I have to buy a new one. Thank you. Linda
I just wanted to thank you for making a wonderful prom dress for me. I had a really great time. When my date came to the door and saw my dress you should have seen his face. He really liked the dress. When I got to the prom everyone said that I looked like Cinderella. That made me feel great. Even teachers came up and asked me about my dress. Thanks for making me look fabulous. If I need anything else made you're the first one I will call Thanks again!!! Sheri.
The wedding was beautiful. Needless to say, I got many comments on my outfit. I was the best dressed there! Thank you. Lillie
Thanks for making my (prom) dress. Though someone else had on the same dress, mine looked better. Stacy
Thank you so much for all the work you did to help make my wedding day a dream come true! My dress was perfect thanks to your nimble fingers as were those of my bridesmaids. They all seemed truly pleased to be in a fine quality gown, especially since they had prospects of being worn again (and not as a costume!!!) Thank you again for your fine quality work. Rebecca
Thank you so much for putting so much time, dedication, talent, & creativity into making my wedding dress. It's more beautiful than I even imagined! You are a very special person, and I couldn't have asked for a more talented and charming woman to work with than you. Again, thank you for making "the making-of my dress" than much extra special. Best Wishes, Shari
I want to express my thanks to you for making the bridesmaids dresses for my daughters wedding. They looked absolutely lovely and received many compliments. Your calm assurance during the pre-wedding stress was something I very much appreciated. I would not hesitate to highly recommend you in the future. Dorothy
This is to recommend Barbara Deckert as a custom dressmaker. She handles herself very professinally: her work is performed in a timely manner, as agreed upon and within the estimates provided. Moreover, the finished product is of a high quality that is rare to find today. Ms. Deckert's versatility, creativity and eye for color are apparent and she consistently makes recommendations for improving the wearability and comfort of the garment as well as its "look." She has a willingness to make extra effort, the skills to support it, and an enthusiasm that is impressive. I strongly recommend the use of Ms. Deckert. Sincerely, Theresa O.
I loved the dress and received many many complements on it. Thank you, Alyssa A.
Thanks for "Sewing for Plus Sizes" --it answers a thousand questions. You wondered what to call ourselves. My friend & I have decided that we are size T women --Tremendous! Best, Mabel M.
This is an awfully personal letter to write to a complete stranger but I like your book so well and I admire you so much for being a model. You really have given me a lot of encouragement to start sewing for myself and try and get away from the really ghastly ready made stuff one can buy here where I live Many, many thanks. Yours Sincerely, Gillian A.
Dear Barbara Deckert,
You get "dear" because your awesome wonderful book Sewing for Plus Sizes made me realize a whole world of fashion possibilities were available to me, & that the fashion industry is screwed up which made me feel better in general. I thought I was doomed to wear ill fitting jeans, baggy T-shirts, or day-glo overly festive mumus (as in festering colors) that would make people's eyes bleed if they looked directly at the fabric. I loved your book so much that I actually tracked down a copy of the pattern you used to make that adorable green dress! Seeing someone who was not rake thin wearing a dress like that practically made me buy your book! I actually used your advice & directions with what minimal education in sewing I have. . . . So thank you for writing your book and taking the time to read my email. Sincerely, Deirdre M.
I just wanted to say thank you for writing the book "Sewing for Plus Sizes." I am 1/5 of the way thru it and so far I have INFORMATION now, re designs, colours, textures! and so on. And a special thank you for making me feel good. I always felt guilty altering patterns, blaming my size, sort of "It's my fault, I am too big" (no self-esteem) but now I feel empowered and know that everyone would have to alter a pattern! Thanks from me and all other happy plus sizers, or perhaps voluptuous goddesses would be the correct wording. Jenny in Moe, Victoria - Australia.
(My sister) and I really enjoyed our session with you on Saturday. Above all other wishes for my dress, I wished for it to fit me well and for it to show my figure to its best advantage. And you have done it. On top of the fit, the dress will be exquisitely made and will have lovely details I never imagined before. A thousand thanks, Barbara. It's a real pleasure to work with you. Mandy.
This is just a fangirl note to tell you that Sewing for Plus Sizes was a really useful book to me. I'm plus sized and adore making my own clothes. The chapter on gussets was especially useful as I'm also a weightlifter and bottom heavy. It's nice to add gussets to pants so they fit when I sit down and don't look like a confounded clown suit when I stand. Thanks so much. Noel Lynne F.
I wanted to tell you that I am about to embark on into a new business and one of your books is just so inspiriing. I am an avid home sewer and part of the "vintage lifestyle" culture (you know, we swing dance and go to Tiki lounges and dress in clothes from the 60's and earlier). My friends have very little to choose from. I want to have them look and feel as fabulous as I do when we're out dancing and socializing at period events. Since I've only sewn for myself, I picked up your book Sewing for Plus Sizes to familiarize myself with body shapes other than my own. I knew things would be different, but I really really appreciate how simply you lay out the differences and how to make everything right. Most importantly, I love the vim with which you write. It has influenced me so much that it will be the cornerstone of how I approach my work. Thank You Thayer L., Oakland, CA
Thank you for writing "Sewing for Plus SIzes." I recently bought a copy and it changed my life. I always liked adn tried to make my own clothes, but was always very dissapointed with the results, as I could never get the perfect fit. Now I have a suit that fits me perfectly and cannot stay out of my sewing room. Regards, Laurentia
I am writing to send you some photos of the very first outfit I made from a commercial pattern. Simplicity 4149 made out of a flocked taffeta-ish poly fabric from JoAnns. I used your technique for underlining with a reddish cotton batiste and instead of following the directions for the fold down waistband on the pants I made a separate two channeled elastic waistband using directions from the book. I was also able to relocate the darts (always a problem with RTW clothes) and enlarge the upper sleeves a bit.
I've got big plans for my sewing machine this year and it's all thanks to your wonderful book!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Theresa
I am a size 14 in RTW and have never had success in sewing for myself although I have good sewing skills in general. I keep trying and not quite succeeding. So often I think that it is ME that is shaped wrong or that I'm too fat for clothes to fit comfortably and look nice. I don't hate my body, in fact I think I am beautiful. But I also don't feel I've found clothes that express me in any way.
Thank you for your book. I will read it cover to cover and hopefully I can begin to have more sucess in sewing for my body. By the way - I loved the pictures of you in your garments. So beautiful and inspirational!
Kelly H.
I just found your website. I enjoyed your book "Sewing for Plus SIzes", I mentioned it in my blog today with your name. I think your book is very well written; and has helped me improve my sewing skills for creating clothing for my family. I have enjoyed your website, and the dresses are great! It has inspired me to continue to sew despite the changes in girth that life provides everyone.
Laura H
Cincinnati, OH
Thank you for writing "Sewing for Plus Sizes." I recently bought a copy and it has changed my life. I always liked and tried to make my own clothes, but was always dissapointed with the results, as I could never get the perfect fit. Now I have a suit that fits me perfectly and cannot stay out of my sewing room. Joke is, that as a stay at home mom, I do not get to wear formal clothes a lot, but I sure dress up for church!
Regards,
Laurentia
I just had my wedding yesterday and I cannot count how many compliments I got on my dress. Everyone was asking where I got it, what it was made of; the biggest question was "What color is that exactly?" Everyone said how different it was and how "Amanda" it was. I was thrilled with how it looked and Jason loved it too. As we were dancing it flew out AMAZINGLY when I spun. I sweat like a horse on the dance floor, but couldn't tell from the outside (which is an accomplishment in itself because my sister and I are very sweaty people). The dress was so light and comfortable, I could move and breathe so easily. I cannot thank you enough for making me a beautiful wedding gown. I felt beautiful, but I also felt like myself. Really, I cannot thank you enough. You were a joy to work with; words cannot express my gratitude to you. Many, many, many thanks! Fondly, Amanda.
