Brought my lace, backless BHLDN wedding dress here. After multiple fittings and $400, I was not satisfied. I paid and didn't put up a fight or ask for them to fix it because the result was so disappointing that I didn't want them ruining the dress more than they already had. The trust was gone. I was clearly unsatisfied and the seamstress just kept telling me how great it looked. I called BHLDN in Seattle to ask for extra lace samples in preparation for having it fixed somewhere else. When I mentioned Eltsa's to the store manager, she said they had received multiple complaints about Eltsa's from brides. This tailor is on the DO NOT RECOMMEND list for BHLDN dresses. I ended up taking it to an excellent business on Galer street in Queen Anne. The owner there told me the dress had been altered incorrectly (bodice before back area, which is wrong). What a shame. Eltsa's did do a good job on the bustle though. And they had very flexible meeting times. read more

After inquiring with several other "highly recommended" alterations places in the area and not feeling entirely comfortable with them based on their initial service, I took a chance with Eltsa Custom Sewing after reading the many Yelp reviews. I scheduled my first consultation easily using their online scheduling software and off I went. The boutique itself is no frills, located in the second story of a building above the Red Hen bar in Greenlake area. The fitting rooms are small, but I was able to get changed in them just fine even with my ballgown-style dress. I had about 5 different appointments including the consultation, and they did their very best to schedule appointments so that they didn't overlap and only one person was in the fitting area at a time. It made me feel like I really had their full attention. My consultation went just fine. The gal who helped me (I'm completely forgetting her name now, but I think it was Ivonna?) was very straight-forward about what would need to be done and how expensive it would be. She moved fabric all around to help me get an idea of what the bustle would look like when completed and showed me several different options. At the end of the appointment, she offered to let me take the dress if I still wanted to think about it or shop around. In the end, I felt very comfortable with moving ahead with alterations since she was so honest and went ahead to schedule my next fitting appointment. No deposit was required; leaving my dress served as collateral. They provided me with a written copy of the estimate before I left the first appointment. Every appointment afterwards went swimmingly. Several others gals assisted throughout the process, and each one of them was extremely kind and helpful. During the final fitting I did notice one nit-picky thing about the way the lace way laying on the top half of my dress, and without hesitation or complaint they re-pinned the fabric and offered to fix it (without additional charge) prior to the next appointment time. Great experience overall. They will probably not be the cheapest option you find for wedding dress alterations, but they provide great expertise and peace of mind. read more

They were amazing. I trust and recommend them absolutely! Took in a bridesmaids and cocktail dress and they turned out perfect. Tricky adjustments needed too, but they knew exactly what to propose and the end result was perfect. read more

They did an amazing job with my wedding dress! I'm a petite women with an hourglass shape. My wedding dress was way too long and large around the bust and in the shoulders. It took about two months with weekly appointments to finish the dress, but the results were spectacular. And the price of alterations was so reasonable. I would highly recommend Eltsa Custom Sewing for any formal occasion alterations. read more

Eltsa Custom Sewing - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I had a bridesmaid dress altered a year ago and more recently I had my wedding dress altered. Everyone who works here is so nice and amazing at what they do! They worked hard through COVID and I was able to get my dress early! They book a lot of appointments so you get the fit just right and give you great advice. I really trusted them! I have no clue if pricing was considered "good". I didn't shop around, I just went with what was recommended and where I had some experience. read more

Margo and Ivanna made my tailoring experience wonderful! (Thanks for the recommendation, Ashley Z. of the 1/22/2013 review.) I took my dress to the shop at the end of July 2014 and picked it up at the end of August. As the first person I saw at the shop, owner Margo answered all my questions with expert knowledge and delightful charm. If someone has never had eastern European friends, they might take her as brusque, but I am used to her type of candor, no-nonsense attitude, and efficiency. I felt I was in the right hands and really enjoyed her personality! I saw Ivanna on all my next visits, and I say "all" to point out that she cared about getting things perfect. After the first round of alterations, I could have taken the dress home and it would have been fine, but she really cared about details. She'd notice something that I didn't--"now that we took in the straps, I don't like how the neckline buckles on one side of the V"--and ask if I'd like to leave it another few days so she could fix it. The shop didn't stand to make any more money from these tweaks, but they just want to do a job right. I really appreciated that attitude and help. Plus, Ivanna is a super, super nice person. I could tell she is working a lot of hours and under a lot of pressure to churn out products during the crunch of summer wedding season, but she was always engaged, attentive, and pleasant. In the end, I loved the bustle they put in, the way they turned my sash into an attached belt so it could leave the dress back open, and the fit of the straps. All the seams and stitches were invisible, which was especially impressive for a dress with thin, beach-setting material. The price was comparable to what they offered to charge at a large bridal shop, but I am confident I got much more dedicated service at Eltsa. Note, I've been using "they" because, apparently, various people worked on my dress. I didn't care but, if you do, you might want to be specific about meeting with the person doing the work. I will absolutely go back to Eltsa and recommend the shop to others! read more

Eltsa Custom Sewing - When they hemmed the bottom of my dress, they worked attentively to make the double-layer train maintain a beautiful shape. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Made an appointment for a quick alteration. A dress I bought from a department store online was supposed to have adjustable criss-cross straps but I couldn't figure out how they worked. The straps were sewn so they couldn't be adjusted! Five minutes at Eltsa and the kind seamstress was able to make the straps functional and didn't even charge me! She even took the time to adjust the straps and help me find the perfect, flattering fit. I will definitely be returning for all of my alteration needs! Thank you again! :) read more

Margaux worked magic on ny wedding dress! She made it fit like a glove and look absolutely beautiful!!! 100% recommended.

I faced getting my wedding dress altered out in Seattle while all my family and the wedding were back in Maryland. However, Eltsa's Custom Sewing made the experience an absolute delight. Everyone was so nice, upfront, and talented that I was not worried about having to go through the alteration process alone. Though I had to come in quite a few times for a difficult dress, they were very considerate and made sure I understood why everything was being done. I will say that I wish they had a waiting area because it could get quite crowded on weekends. read more

Amazing tailors, very worth the money and the turnaround time is fairly quick, but I wasn't there for bridal.

Love love Eltsa's! They helped make my Pronovias wedding dress fit flawlessly. Margo is a truly talented dressmaker and tailor. Very funny and warm too!! read more

Eltsa Custom Sewing - Love Eltsa's! They helped make my Pronovias wedding dress fit flawlessly! Margo is very talented and friendly. Worth every penny! - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I had a pretty poor experience here. For my consultation, I had Margo who was AMAZING. She gave me a very fair quote, knew exactly what to do, and while not super talkative was obviously very skilled. However, the next time I went in after agreeing to go there, I was switched from Margo to the other seamstress. While she was exceedingly nice and friendly, she did a terrible job on my $1600 dress. It ended up being double my estimate in alterations! For $1.1k in alterations, I came in another 6 or so times, as she kept having to redo the bust, the straps, the side seam (which she charged me $150 for in lieu of doing a $300 hem, and she ended up doing the hem! So I had a $150 side seam for no reason!), and the final product ended up having an uneven neckline. The day I picked it up, I asked her to fix the neckline, as the left side didn't match the right side! She also had taken beads from the FRONT of the dress to extend the straps with, even though she told me she would take from the BACK. I ended up going on Etsy to find matching beads so I could fix the missing beads on the front. I also asked her if the elastic on the straps were strong enough to hold up my dress all night and she said yes. OF COURSE, one of the straps broke off my dress 5 hours into my wedding. Luckily, I had another dress to switch into but for $1.1k I would have hoped they would have not broken. The bustle was done very well, though. When I tried to sell my dress to a consignment shop a few weeks after my wedding (I replaced the elastic), I was told by 2 different shops that the hem was too uneven and the sewing was poorly done on the side seam and bust. I'd have to get it altered again in order to sell it!!! I ended up donating it (glad someone else can wear a beautiful, if not oddly sewn, dress). Long story short, if you have Margo, you'll have a great dress. If you are pushed to someone else, you might have an amazingly sweet and friendly seamstress but who is NOT great at sewing. So much $$$!!!! read more

I brought a $98 Lulus wedding dress and David Bridals skirt to Eltsa's hoping they could frankenstein them into one wedding dress. Basically every part of the dress had to be altered - in addition to frankensteining the top of one dress to another skirt, the sleeves, bust, and waist had to be taken in, bust cups were sewn in, the skirt was hemmed significantly, and the leg slit was extended. I have pretty funky proportions, but once all was said and done this dress fit me like a GLOVE. I was so comfortable in it and thought it was so flattering. I already plan to return with a bridesmaids dress for a wedding next year. read more

Eltsa sewing did a great job on my dress! Very impressed and satisfied. I had a beautiful A line gown, and they made it well fitting to me. I also added Bustle and chest cups. They gave me options to preserve the lace patterns vs. not, with price differences. I appreciated that she gave me an option. Lastly, their appointment booking system (google/apple calendar event invite, email notifications) was on point. read more

First time doing alterations in my life, and I will be a customer for life at Eltsa's custom sewing. I had my wedding dress altered and taken in on the sides, it fit me perfectly, everything was perfect. I think I came in for a total of 3 times. The ladies here are professionals. read more

Eltsa Custom Sewing - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Amazing! I heard of Eltsa's through a friend who also had a great experience with her wedding dress. I took a bridesmaid dress and my wedding dress here. The fitting appointment and turn around was super fast. I trusted every judgement and felt comfortable leaving my dresses here. Price was very reasonable from what I have heard of other alteration experiences. I will definitely use her again in the future. read more

I came to Eltsa to fix up and tailor my plain David Bridal second hand wedding dress. She worked it to be a mermaid style, added some boning on the side, gave me a sweetheart neckline, hemmed it, and put in one of my bras to add a bit of padding. I honestly don't know what would have happened had I gone somewhere else! She slaved over my dress and I'm eternally grateful. It looks astounding now and can't wait to wear it on my big day :-) And just so you know, I drove from SE Bellevue up to Northgate to meet with her, that's how good she is. :D read more

Can I give her TEN stars??? I had the worst time trying to find a wedding gown that wasn't plain. Plus, I needed it within 6 months. Since the boutiques are all two seasons behind in their dresses (meaning that even though the magazines were showing a "Spring 2012" line in the Fall catalogs, it wasn't available for my June wedding) I gave up and decided to sketch my own. So I took my ideas to Margo of Eltsa Custom Sewing and she made my dream dress and within my budget! Thank you, Margo, for working with me and for putting off sleep to get this dress completed - I love it, it's a work of art and you are truly talented. If you know anyone who is looking for a custom dress, just ask Margo. read more

My wedding is this Saturday (it's Monday). I tried on my dress this morning, and had a friend in the building help me zip it up, just to make sure I didn't need any last minute fixes. Well, to our horror we realized I didn't even begin to fill out the bust anymore. I've lost a few lbs since I bought the dress so I assumed it meant I'd just lost it all in that one area... I called Eltsa, and she made an appointment for me to come in later in the day. When I get there she helps me get the dress on, looks at me and says "I don't see it, it looks fine". I look at myself and see she's right. She explains to me I probably put the dress on a little too high up, and if I see that happen the day of just to take it off and put it on again a little lower down. She was so incredibly friendly. To make sure I felt OK with the decision to do nothing she let me try on some cups and stuff but took the time to point out why it was better without. She could have easily made a good chunk of change off of me today--I would've paid through the nose. But instead she just made me go from panic to happy in 0 seconds with $0 paid. I kept apologizing for wasting her time, and she was even really sweet about that--reassuring me that it's normal for brides to have these last minute freak-outs. read more

I took my wedding dress in to Margo and the following done: -dress taken out a tiny bit so it could zip up properly/sit right -lace sleeves/v-neck illusion neckline taken in/re-shaped -hemline shortened -lace applique taken from leftover hem and sewn onto ribbon waistband to cover a slight imperfection -cathedral-length veil shortened and edging re-done -restyled veil sewn onto rhinestone headband to be removed after ceremony -pressing of dress and veil All of the above cost $200 LESS than what P.A. Jens Custom Sewing quoted. She essentially did the veil for free because I had paid for the dress before realizing the veil needed work, and Margo refused to take any more money for the veil later on. Margo is a pleasure to work with and I felt so comfortable with her, almost like she was a girlfriend working on the dress. She has excellent attention to detail and isn't afraid to be honest about a dress' limitations. She is also not pushy at all, unlike a couple of the other seamstresses I checked out before settling on Margo. I also love that she has a no-shoes policy! I hated that the other seamstresses I looked at let my dress drag along a filthy floor. I'll miss my sessions with her and will definitely be back for any future sewing needs! Thanks, Margo, for everything! read more

For menswear: I think their prices are very competitive and the result looks like you didn't pay much. If you're going to the trouble to pay for your clothes to be tailored, that seems like the wrong compromise. I asked them to shorten three ties, and they did all three for a bit under $30. That's very reasonable. I asked them to do it on the cheap and not preserve the silk lining on the end, the reasoning being that you don't look at the backside of the tail end of a tie. They folded over and stitched the fabric on the end (imagine a sort of + shape of folded fabric), which is great, but the lines are all crooked. Not straight across, not straight up and down - it's kind of a hack job, and it looks like I did it myself. I paid someone else to do it so that it wouldn't look like I did it myself. While I was in there I saw a guy getting a blazer tailored, and he was asking if the sleeves looked too long or uneven. The seamstress' response was "I don't know, it's preference, it's up to you". I don't expect that from a good tailor - there is more or less a correct length for sleeves, and a good tailor should be able to say "yes, this fits you correctly" or "no, these sleeves need to come up an inch". read more

I arrived on Eltsa's doorstep with two dresses, the one I had purchased off the rack and the dress my mother wore at her wedding. It was a very special project for me, seeing as I had lost my mother to cancer a few short months prior to starting my dress transformation, but Margo & Marina listened to my vision and helped me recreate it along the way until my wedding dress was a perfect compilation of mine & my mother's. The dress I had originally purchased had a beautiful lace bodice but it had a one shoulder top, full of feathers and flowers... beautiful, but not my style. I wanted that one shoulder dress converted into a halter dress, and the material we used to make that halter transformation happen... the pearl belt off my mother's dress. Her belt became my straps. The transformation was physically beautiful, but spiritually it was so impactful to have my mother hugging my neck all day! Thank you doesn't even begin to express the gratitude I feel for Eltsa's staff. They made a dream of mine come true! They do incredible work! read more

I came to Eltsa a few weeks before a wedding with a bridesmaid dress that would not zip! And by dress, I mean it was a SERIOUS dress. Sweet heart top, black satin, full length with lots of mesh layers to make it poofy. Margo was fantastic, she took out and hemmed the dress. There were a few additional things that we noticed (once we could get it zipped) like the fact the sweet heart dip wasn't centered and the sides weren't laying down straight. She added cups, ribbing on the sides and fixed the sweet heart dip. And she made the dress feel great at a very reasonable cost! I danced the night away feeling great (I could breath yet there was no tugging the strapless dress up) and looking fantastic! I'll be coming back next month to get the dress hemmed to knee length since it now fits so great! It'll be the perfect little black dress. I'm very happy that I found such a wonderful and trustworthy seamstress! read more

Eltsa did the alterations for my wedding dress they had great attention to detail and were able to do all The things I requested and got it back to me in a reasonable amount of time read more

I have yet to take my dress in, but when I described my problem she was more than helpful. She said it sounded possible and quickly made an appointment. She on a Sunday afternoon, which was the only real time I had available to go in. After being flat out turned away by another local seamstress I am happy to know Eltsa has the time to take on my dress. I will update this to let you know how her work is. Customer Service = Top Notch! read more

Eltsa Custom Sewing is definitely the place to go when you need any type of custom alterations to your clothing. The owner Margo and her staff are absolutely amazing! Extremely knowledgeable, talented, and friendly- they were able to alter my sequin gown on short notice when the place I had originally confirmed with dropped the project. My gown was for my brother's wedding and it came out beautifully- better than I had anticipated with the help of Margo's suggestions! This is the only place I will take my clothes for custom alterations from now on- I highly recommend them! read more

I had my wedding dress altered here, and I was very happy with my experience. 1. They were honest with what needed to be done and gave me options (for example, "you can spend $400 and we can do option A, or you can spend $75 and we can do option B") 2. When you show up for appointments it is prompt 1-on-1 interaction (ie they're not doing a million things, helping a dozen customers at once) 3. Most importantly, my dress fit like a glove when they were done with it. I will definitely be returning if I need alterations in the future, and would highly recommend to any brides or bridesmaids! read more

Margo is the best friend a bride could have! I tend toward the nontraditional anyway, and it was my second marriage, so I was uninterested in a traditional white wedding gown. In fact, I didn't want white at all. I wanted a simple sheath dress, tea length with a low back. It seemed impossible to find anyone who could do that. Until I met Margo. I had chosen my fabric, which was cream-colored silk brocade to start with. Then, I had a silk expert dye it. The fabric was a bolt-end from Nancy's in Q. Anne and with the dying, it was doubly irreplaceable. I trusted Margo completely to take good care of it and deliver a very special dress for my winter destination wedding. Margo had many excellent suggestions to make the dress fit perfectly with the challenge of the very low back that I absolutely had to have. She lined it with cream-colored silk charmeuse and fitted the low back and scoop neckline with a cowl of the same material. It is absolutely gorgeous. This dress is the epitome of the reason one does anything custom and Margo made it affordable. I will be going back for other work from Margo. When I bought my wedding dress material, an aqua silk charmeuse found its way into my bag.... read more

Yes Margo is amazing! She is so talented in her designing/sewing!!! Margo recently dressed a few models in our fashion show portion of our wedding expo. The dresses were GORGEOUS, and she is such a sweet lady! I will highly recommend my brides go see her for the wedding dress of their dreams. Thanks again Margo!!! read more

I had purchased my dress months before my wedding! I wanted something simple yet oh so gLam at the same time, something that nobody has had before!!! After purchasing my dress from a shop in seattLe I was referred to Eltsa bridal! I couLd have not been happier with the results!! This process took quite a whiLe because of how much work needed to be done, but the end result was timeless, perfect, & everything that I wanted! Margo & Marina went above & beyond, they stayed late hours with me, trying different things to create exactly what I wanted!!! Highly recommend them!!!! Thank you so much!!!! read more

See all

Margo is absolutely THE BEST seamstress a bride could ask for. Not only is she super friendly, she is also skilled, helpful and inexpensive. I really wish more of my engaged friends lived in Seattle so I could send them to her! read more

Eltsa Custom Sewing - photo copyright Meredith Perdue - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I had an excellent experience with Eltsa's when I went to get some of my clothes altered. I ended up giving just one shirtdress to be taken in, and the job was done perfectly. The only reason I deduct one star is because I feel $31 for a dress alteration is way too much. It is definitely beyond my budget, and I won't return. That said, this is definitely a great place for someone who can afford to pay this price. What I loved most about the place is, when I first went with ten or so items, the seamstress took out the time to go through them one by one, giving me an estimate of how much each alteration would cost. For two of the items, she said that there was no alteration required, because they were supposed to be loose-fitting. Such honesty is refreshing. A tip: call up and make an appointment first, get your alterations estimated. And also, you pay a bit less if you pay by cash. Overall, I do recommend this place. read more

I need my measurements for a project I was working on and thankfully I was able to come here 20 minutes before closing. They took my sizes and although I was a male, didn't hesitate to help me with my task. read more

I live in the neighborhood, and have been here many times over the years for various alterations. The people here are very nice, their work is completed promptly and often early. The location is obscurely located in a commercial office building over the Little Red Hen. It's accessed directly next door, and always marked as open with a sidewalk sandwich board. All in all, I recommend without hesitation. read more

Brought my wedding dress here for alterations and was very happy with the service and results! It's an expensive thing to do in general, but their prices are fair and they do everything they can to help you save. They also come up with creative ways to help your dress fit perfectly. I would definitely recommend this place, and will be coming here for future alterations! read more

I came here earlier this year and worked with Margo to alter my wedding dress. Working with Margo was a dream -- she does amazing work, and she's so much fun to talk to. After reading reviews and meeting Margo I was confident that she would do a great job, and she really did. I also appreciated that she gave recommendations during the process -- I didn't know all of the parts that should/shouldn't be altered, and Margo's recommendations ensured that my dress fit beautifully. Both of my sisters came here and Margo altered their bridesmaids dresses too -- both of which looked fantastic. Highly recommend!! read more

I bought my dress off the rack (size 8) and I'm normally a size 00 or 0. I didn't have time to order a dress in my size. Plus, it was half off. Wow- Margo and her team altered it so it looked like it was absolutely made for me! Incredible. I had her alter my strapless, fit and flare dress with chantilly lace(for the ceremony) as well as my two piece outfit for the reception. So many other seamstresses told me it was not possible or gave me an outrageous quote. I know it helped that my dresses was chantilly lace. I don't think this is always possible. My wedding was just this last Saturday July 23rd. Thank you so much ladies!!! read more

Eltsa Custom Sewing - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Amazing! I used Eltsa for alterations to my wedding dress and I could not have been happier. It was the perfect fit. Professional service, quick turnaround, and a result that was amazing!! read more

I was nervous about my wedding dress alterations because the bust area needed to be completely taken apart and re-done, something I did not anticipate when I bought my dress .... but they were amazing! Margo took her time each appointment to make sure that we got it done right and the results were great. I would absolutely trust them to be honest, charge a fair price, and work on anything delicate. Margo and her team understand and value the importance of caring for garments. I am looking forward to wearing my wedding dress and am so appreciative!! read more

I had the pleasure of working with Eltsa's Custom Sewing to provide alterations on my wedding dress for my December wedding. It was a wonderful experience and I could not recommend them enough. I had five rounds of alterations that spanned just over 8 weeks. My dress was complicated, read - delicate lace, full-ruffled skirt, button details, etc. The alteration appointments included taking in the sides, adjusting the chest to fit properly, altering the length, adding heavy bustling, and fitting the lace back. I could not have been more thrilled with the results, my dress came out perfectly. I was a little apprehensive because I had never had anything (with this significance) altered before and truly the craftsmanship was remarkable - the (heavier) dress fit me like a glove. I did not even notice it throughout the day, never had to adjust it, and I felt amazing. Eltsa's staff - Margo, Ivanna, and Marina provide exceptional alterations that are quality, listen to your ideas and needs, and work diligently to provide you with your vision. I would without a doubt use Eltsa's Custom Sewing for your wedding, bridesmaids, special event ,etc. alteration needs. The customer service was great - they offered great ideas and gave honest opinions on my alteration options, had clear communication, were flexible with my scheduling needs, and were upfront about the cost estimate. Plus, they were a lot of fun! A BIG thank you to Eltsa's Custom Sewing for making me feel truly beautiful on my wedding day!! read more