Gathering of Goods sells a combination of ready to ship and custom made clothing as well as other items. Premade items ship as soon as possible upon receiving your payment; custom orders will be handmade, and production time varies. Contact us for our current make time to create your custom order. Usually that will be anywhere from 2-4 weeks, but varies depending on the time of year. It can be longer around major holidays. We always try to accommodate if possible.
Payment
Payment is currently PayPal exclusive. This means you can pay with a PayPal account ~or~ ANY major credit card. We will consider personal checks, but your item will not be shipped(ready-made) or processed(custom or made-to-measure) until the check clears.
Shipping
We ship most items USPS Priority Mail. Our smaller items (under 16 oz.) can now ship First Class, with the option to upgrade to Priority if you desire. If you would like a Priority item to ship First Class for a lower cost, please contact us. We gladly ship to international and overseas destinations. However, customers outside the United States are responsible for foreign duties and taxes.
Cancellations, Refunds & Exchanges
Because most of our garments are custom made to your specifications and are uniquely you, we do not take returns, or make exchanges. We do not issue refunds, except before shipment, as in the case of the customer being unable to get measurements. However, there is a 5% cancellation fee.
If no measurements (for Made To Measure) or Fabric choices (for Made to Measure or Custom) are provided within 7 business days of the order being placed OR 10 business days before your need-by date, and we are unable to make the garment for you, we will cancel the order.
Frequently asked questions
How do I order custom?
Custom orders are made according to your measurements. See each listing for the measurements we need to make the garment for you.
How soon will a 'In Stock' item ship?
Items marked 'In Stock', 'Ready To Ship', or 'Ready Made' will usually ship the next business day. If you order before 11:00 am Eastern Time, your order can ship that day. Contact us if you need to know when your item will ship.
How long will it take for my custom garment to ship?
It depends not only on how long the garment takes to make, but also how many other orders we are currently processing. If you need your order for a special occasion, please contact us with as specific of a date as possible and we will let you know if we are able to fit you in our sewing schedule.
When will my In Stock item ship if my order includes a Custom item?
Unless you request otherwise, your In Stock item will wait until we can complete your Custom item.
How see-through are your nightgowns?
While our nightgowns are not made with an especially thin fabric, white fabric always has a certain 'shadow' problem. If you need a gown with no see-through at all, please choose a darker color, a print, or a flannel.
How to Measure
We ask only the most important measurements for your custom garment. The following will help you understand why we need these particular measurements, and how to measure them correctly.
Chest/Bust- We need this to determine the width of your finished garment in the chest area. This is where we begin to size your garment. This one is REALLY needed! Measure the fullest part of the chest or bust. For ladies, that is your 'Low Bust'; we also like to have your 'High Bust'. That is the part of your chest just under the arms.
Full Height- This is a measurement very important for sizing. It helps us decide whether you are tall and slender or short and husky! This can effect some style details.
Length desired down the back from the top of shoulder nearest the neck- Start with the seam of a normal shirt at the shoulder, near the neck where a collar would be attached. Proceed down to the length you want the garment to be. And we will make the garment to hang at the length you indicate.
Measurement from shoulder/arm seam to length of sleeve desired - This is for sleeve length. While wearing a normal shirt or blouse, start from where the sleeve of the garment is attached and go down the arm to the wrist or other length needed, like short or 3/4.
Circumference of arm - This, of course, helps us to make the elastic or cuff fit nicely without pinching or slipping. Please make the measurement exact, not 'comfortable'; we add the ease when we make the garment.
Length desired down the back from the top of shoulder nearest the neck- We do not always ask for this measurement, but sometimes it is needed for a particular style. This determines the length of your bodice. Start with the same place as the full length and go down to the waist. Not sure where the waist is? Put your hands on your hips. Ta-Da! There is the natural waistline!
When ordering historical outfits from Gathering of Goods, remember a few tips:
Length
The proper length for young girls when measuring for Prairie or Civil War dresses can be determined by your personal preference, ankle to mid-calf being most attractive and will give plenty of wear for growing children. For plays and costuming, Harper's Bazaar 1868 indicates that just above ankle length was appropriate for 2-16 years old.
Little girls in Colonial times were little versions of the grown ladies, lower mid-calf to ankle length.
For adult ladies, working class women from colonial times to the wagon trains of the prairie wore their gowns from the lower mid-calf to the ankle. Any dress occasion for all classes would be ankle to floor length. Upper class women would wear this length for everyday wear.
Colors and Prints
If you need to be really exact(plays, reenacting, etc.), choose the following types of fabrics:
Colonial~Lighter backgrounds, simple prints of one or two colors, prints fairly far apart.
Prairie~Simple small prints of many colors, any color or shade, on any background.
Civil War~ Prints can be bolder, and of many colors, on any background. Darker/brighter dyes had just come out, and women were wild about them!
If you don't need to be exact...have fun picking your favorite color and print! They'll all look beautiful when made into your unique and one of a kind article!