Needle and Thread Sewing & Alterations Available

Needle and Thread Sewing & Alterations operates under the direction of master dressmaker Deidrid Armour, bringing more than four decades of technical garment construction to Columbus. Armour, who graduated from MiLady’s School of Fashion in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1982 before launching her first dressmaking shop, approaches pattern cutting and structural alterations with deep foundational trade knowledge. Rather than treating fitting adjustments as superficial alterations, the workshop focuses on balance, grainline alignment, and authentic dressmaking techniques across casual clothing, complex bridal gowns, and custom commissions.

The workshop handles an unusually broad scope of everyday and specialty garment projects. Beyond typical hem modifications and waist adjustments on trousers and skirts, Armour works across difficult fabrics and structured garments that standard dry-cleaning tailors often decline. Projects regularly involve reshaping post-surgical fajas, adjusting swimsuits, repairing leather garments, and fitting maternity wear. Bridal services form a major pillar of the business, extending from bodice adjustments and bustle engineering to designing one-of-a-kind wedding dresses from raw bolts of fabric. For clients wishing to customize existing gowns, Armour alters necklines, adds custom sleeves, and installs hand-placed embellishments to match precise measurements.

Every garment entering the workshop undergoes a careful diagnostic check where seam allowances, interior boning, lining tensions, and original stitch densities are evaluated before work begins. On bespoke commissions, the process moves methodically through body measurements, pattern drafting, and intermediate muslin fittings to verify balance points and drape. Alongside apparel tailoring, the shop maintains commercial embroidery machinery to personalize corporate garments, team apparel, and formal keepsakes. Select men’s alterations are also handled, including trouser tapering, cuff hem cleanups, and jacket sleeve adjustments.

Clients planning bridal or complex formalwear projects should schedule their first consultation eight to twelve weeks prior to the event date to accommodate fitting milestones. For all dress and pant fittings, clients must bring the exact shoes and undergarments intended for the finished outfit, as footwear height and foundation pieces directly dictate hem breaks and torso contouring. Walk-in visitors are welcome for basic jobs like pant hems during regular business hours, while formal fittings and bespoke design sessions require pre-booked appointments, with private sessions available by advance request on Thursdays and Sundays.