Hello and Welcome to Sewing by Karen!

 

I’m Karen Merklinger, and I’ve had the joy of being a seamstress for over 32 years. I hold a college degree in secondary education, with homemaking as one of my teaching fields, but it was during college that I discovered my true passion for sewing. In fact, I altered my first wedding dress while still in college—though I’ll admit, I didn’t quite know what I was doing at the time!

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I started my career focusing on bridal alterations, but over the years, I expanded my services to include selling wedding dresses. I began by acquiring discontinued dresses from local bridal stores at incredible prices and was able to pass those savings on to my customers. During the pandemic, as multiple stores closed and clearance sales were no longer an option, I found new opportunities. I began sourcing groups of dresses from sites like eBay and other suppliers, allowing me to offer them at amazing deals.

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Over the past few years, I’ve built strong relationships with bridal boutiques across the United States, and they now alert me when they have discontinued or slightly damaged dresses available. If a dress has minor issues, like a missing button, a zipper that needs repair, or some lace that’s come loose, I take pride in fixing them and offering these gowns at discounted prices. On average, most of my dresses are priced at 70% off their original retail value.

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I offer a variety of bridal and formal wear, including name-brand wedding dresses under $800, bridesmaid dresses under $70, formal gowns under $100, mother-of-the-bride dresses under $100, and homecoming dresses under $70. My goal is to make high-quality, beautiful dresses affordable for everyone.

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In addition to my work with bridal alterations and selling dresses, I’m also an Assistant Pastor’s wife. Together with my husband and our Pastor, we’re in the exciting process of starting a brand-new church from scratch. It’s a rewarding and fulfilling journey, and I’m deeply involved in supporting and helping where I can. I’m also very close to my extended family, and I cherish every opportunity to spend quality time with them.

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When I’m not working on dresses or helping with church activities, you can find me at home with my wonderful husband of 32 years, our two grown children, and our two friendly cats, who love to greet guests with a little extra love. We’re also eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first grandbaby, which has added a wonderful new chapter to our family’s life!

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Whether you need a quick alteration, a beautiful gown, or something more detailed, I’d be honored to help make sure your dress is as perfect as your big day. I look forward to working with you and being part of such a special moment!