FAQ:

Where can I buy Brass Bobbin items?
You can purchase stock Brass Bobbin products online at Steampunked Out. You can also purchase stock and seasonal Brass Bobbin products at the various shows we attend throughout the year. Keep and eye on our home page for locations. If you are interested in wholesale, please contact me.

Where do you get your products?
We design and create almost all of the products we offer. Often times, the materials like clasps, hardware or devices may be obtained and incorporated into a larger creation. Up-cycling and re-purposing one-of-a-kind items are a challenge we enjoy. When we do sell products that we don’t make, be rest assured that we are vetting the company and the product we offer to be the best possible offering to you, the consumer.

What are you return/shipping policies?
Please refer to our information at Steampunked Out

Why are your products more expensive than some others?
There are a few sources out there that offer similar kinds of products. Many of these shops outsource to other countries and use the least expensive materials possible to keep the costs low. We are choosing to make all items in the USA, and most of them in our own workshop. We are also committed to using materials that are historically informed, but also environmentally informed. If we can source it in the USA, and locally, we try to. Could we make these products with cheaper materials? Yes. But we are choosing to make them from high quality, enviro-informed sources because we know that consumers are looking for a garment or costume with substance and quality that will last.

Where do you get your materials?
I buy almost all my materials direct or through American distributors. I have investigated the origins of the textiles, and made the best ethical decisions about whom to purchase from. These decisions are complex, weighing many factors: historical usage, fiber origin, dyeing and processing methods, the best textile to suit the garment function/wear & tear, and of course, cost. I then get samples and will test the fabric’s viability to make sure it’s the best choice. Please see the specific products page about the textiles being used. If you have further questions, please contact me.

Do you do custom work?
Yes. There are some customizing options in the product listings, so you can make your garment unique. We also do custom work when the schedule allows. Need a specific pocket in a coat? Are you a size 50 chest and 5’-4”? Do you only wear green plaid? It is possible to make small adjustments to our stock garments/patterns to suit your physical and/or design needs. It is also possible for you to supply the fabric for one of our stock garments. Completely custom design and creation work is also possible, but the fees associated with completely custom work can really add up, and we want to be up front about the potential cost of it. Please contact me about your needs for more information.

Why are you selling your patterns?
I know that there are A LOT of DIY’ers out there, and are more likely to create if you have a pattern to work with. I also know that many of you would like Brass Bobbin’s exact piece, but we only offer it in a tight color and fabric palette, by choice. If you need something that matches your outfit or character’s color palette, and I don’t have time to make it (see custom work above), there is still a way for you to have your cake. As an added bonus, there are more attractive looking clothes out there as a result—we know that our styles have a great shape and fit well. You’ll find that the patterns are a great basic shape, but may not include all the details or options that the Brass Bobbin line offers. This is an intentional choice! Happy stitching.

What makes your patterns different than other period patterns?
Numerous things. My patterns are not copies of period garments. They are well informed historical interpretations and that DO take into account modern body shapes and sizes, and how bodies move. I test each size to make sure it is accurate and write concise assembly directions. I try to use as much information about a garment as I can, whether that is from an extant garment, pattern, written or visual documentation. Many of my patterns are designed based on historical fashions or garments, but I try not to limit the “period” boundaries, especially if a style is clunky or needs to function in a specific way for contemporary use.

Where can I find some of the specialized materials used in some of the patterns?
Please check the product listing, as some of our patterns have supplemental materials for sale. Otherwise, check our links section for reputable sources for materials and notions.

What if I have a small shop and want to use Brass Bobbin patterns to make garments for sale?
These patterns are intended for personal use only. If you're looking for a pattern to use for commercial production, please contact me. Our patterns are original designs, not reproductions, and as such are protected by copyright law. If you copy the pattern for your friends, a class you teach or you sell copies of Brass Bobbin patterns without permission; you are breaking copyright laws, and may be prosecuted. We try to make the patterns as affordable as possible with multiple sizes so this should not be an issue.