Frequently Asked Questions:
How do you do repairs?
I do repairs in many ways! Repairs are primarily done on a Singer 47w70 darning machine and a Singer 600wi straight stitch machine as well as other vintage and modern machines. I can repair items in many ways and styles, so if you have a vision for how you wants your repairs to be done, I will work hard to realize your ideas for you. I can do extensive repairs, invisible mending, visible mending, other customizations, or simply get your clothes back to wearable.
How do I get something repaired by you?
Start by submitting a repair request. I like to be able to screen every piece so I know whether it’s something I can take on or not and so I can give you an accurate turnaround time and quote. Then I will contact you if your repair has been accepted or not and let you know next steps about shipping or dropping off your repair.
Why would you decline a repair?
I want to fix as much as possible! I won’t go down the route of determining whether or not something is worth repairing- that’s up to you! At To Hell and Back, we think anything is worth at least trying! I try to only decline a repair if it’s not conducive with my methods or if I do not feel confident in giving you an end result you will be happy with. I want repairs to last for you so if I’m unsure about the integrity of the repair, we will let you know!
Can I get a quote for repair?
Yes! Please submit a repair application under the “submit a repair” link in our repair drop down menu. I made this form so I can get all the information I need to provide a quote and to also do the repair. Your actual repair total may differ from the quote, but I do my best to keep it accurate and I will discuss if any additional work is needed.
How do you come up with your prices?
I’ve worked very hard to create a pricing structure that factors in many important elements of running my business, from my workspace, the cost of upkeep for my machines, and the value of my time spent working on your repairs.
How do I pay for my repairs?
I will send out an invoice or Venmo request with your total once the repair is finished. If your items are being shipped back to you, I will ship them once payment is received and provide you with a tracking number.
What about shipping costs?
You are responsible for the cost of shipping your items to me as well as for return shipping. I will add the cost of shipping your items back to you to your total. I typically use USPS Priority Mail as a default for shipping. If you want a different service rate, carrier, or added insurance to your package, there is a place to let me know in the repair application. I’ll provide a tracking number when shipping items back.
More on shipping…
If you are shipping me a repair (after you’ve filled out the form and I’ve accepted your repair) I will ask for you to provide the tracking information for your package and will provide you with the tracking information for its return journey. Everything gets sent to my P.O. Box for an extra layer of safety. Unfortunately, things do happen and To Hell & Back is not responsible for lost packages in transit through any shipping carrier used.
How should I ship my items to you?
I want to help you save time and money so I recommend using a shipping software service like Shippo (this is what I use) or Pirate Ship. You can create an account for free and compare shipping rates from all major carriers. Then you can easily enter your package details, choose how you want to ship, print your shipping label, attach it to your box/ shipping bag with packing tape and drop it at the post office or other carrier service. Best of all, most post offices have an area where you can drop off your pre paid packages without waiting in line!
How many pieces can I submit for repair at a time?
I am are currently setting a limit of four articles at a time. If you have more things to be repaired, I am happy to accept those once your first four pieces are finished. This helps me to manage my time more efficiently so I can get more repairs done for more people.
How long do repairs take?
Typically repairs are done in 2-4 weeks from when I receive them. If you need your items back sooner (under 2 weeks), I can do a rush service for $15-$25/piece depending on how quickly you need them and my availability.
Do I need to wash my clothes before repair?
All articles must be freshly washed and completely dry for repair services. This is not only for the health and safety of myself while repairing your clothes, but also helps your repairs last longer by not trapping dirt and oils in the fabric. If you send clothes that are dirty, I will charge a $25 wash fee. Extremely dirty pieces will be returned with no repair service done. If the repairs are for very old and fragile vintage pieces- lets talk. If they are your jeans that you wear daily/regularly, then they need to be washed. I can direct you to links that will show you how to clean your raw denim without ruining it.
Do you repair stretchy jeans or other stretchy materials?
Denim with an elastic content higher than 2% are not the best candidates for our standard methods. The repairs we do will not allow the repaired material to keep any kind of stretch and the fabric next to the repair becomes even more prone to tearing in the future. I will still try to fix anything you send my way, but I can't always guarantee the end result on high elastic pieces or how long the repair will last. If an article you send in falls into this category, I will be sure to let you know.
Do you do alterations?
When not repairing clothes, we are working on the vintage side of our business. By not accepting alterations, it helps us to have more time to focus on our specialties. I only accept alterations (making something fit you better) on a limited case-by-case basis. Some things that I will make exceptions for are vintage pieces and some denim services. If you have alterations, just ask and I will accommodate if I can.
Do you do hems?
I will hem jeans. I can’t do chainstitch hems at this time, but hope to in the future. I will not hem formalwear, dress pants, or bridal. I’m not set up well for these services and there are others who specialize in this and do it better!
Do you do anything else?
Yes! I have done all sorts of commissions and love taking on new projects, challenges, and ideas. If you have an idea for something, I’d love to see if we can make it happen!
If you have more questions, email tohellandbackshop@gmail.com.
Where are you located?
We have a private repair workshop inside Var Gallery & Studios in the Walker’s Point neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Can I come visit the workspace?
Unfortunately not. The studio space is often covered in in-progress work. Visitors to the studio also takes away time working from working on repairs. However, we would LOVE for you to stop by our shop space where we sell lots of great vintage clothing and more!
Who am I talking to?
You see ‘we’ a lot throughout this website because To Hell and Back is a two-person operation. If you’re corresponding with ‘us’ through email, text, or Instagram, you can pretty much count on ‘us’ being Andrea. Nate’s scared of Instagram and technology in general.
Who does your repairs?
I, Andrea, am currently the one that does all the repairs. I have 25 years of sewing experience behind me that started with sewing with my grandma when I was very little, learning skills that I still use today. I’ve built on those skills in many ways over the years and in 2019, I started fixing jeans and clothes for friends around the same time we started selling vintage clothes and it quickly grew into a combined business effort.
What can you repair?
I can fix a whole heck of a lot! The best way to see what we can do is to go to our Instagram or photo gallery page. I’ve put a lot of things on there that show a good range of what I’ve done. Tears big or small, blowout crotches and knees, hardware fixes, vintage restorations, etc. If you’re not sure, go ahead and fill out our repair request form under “Submit A Repair” anyways or send me a message to see. I’m happy to take a look!