Ya, patterns suck. Unfortunately, a great way of learning the trade can be eating some assholes shit for a while. If you can find a shop you can suffer with, it will get your face out there. People will quickly seek you out if you're talented.

It doesn't sound like you're able to start a business, but you will be able to build one. I say, I'm not building boat tops, I'm building relationships lol. It's a piece of cloth, they're going to be back for repairs. Sometimes you eat the bear, but this time the bear ate you. Remember this one and carry on with the next one. It takes a stiff spine to slut yourself as a custom shop. I call myself an upholstitute or an upholstwhore.

I know it's easier said than done, but this is exactly why unionization/collective bargaining exists.

Right now, you (and your fellow seamsters/seamstresses) have zero leverage in this relationship and will get fucked over 100% of the time. The only possible way for you to improve your situation is to gain some leverage, and the only way to do that is by organizing.

Careful about bosses telling tall tales. Happens in the contracting and piecemeal space a lot. Confirm with other seamstress. Hell, start a coop and poach clients directly.

It would be worth finding out why the other seamstress is quoting $25 for each seat. Are they trying to underbid you (or other seamstresses), is that rate sufficient for them, or do they just have no idea what their labour is worth?

If they'd normally bid higher but underbid to get the work in preference to you, you need to talk. You'll either need to work together or in some way set a reasonable rate between you. If they are underbidding to beat others, the market may be saturated, but from your post it sounds like there should be enough work for all.

If the rate is sufficient for them they either have lower living costs somehow, but yours sound low anyway, or they are producing pieces more efficiently than you are, so their effective rate is higher. If that's the case, you might want to talk to them to find out how, although they may not be willing to say.

If they just don't know what their labour is worth and the boss has pushed them to quote that much, you probably need to talk to them about that.

In summary: talk to them. They might not want to talk, which is their perogative, but you both might get more insight into the issue, and maybe find a way to boost your income in the process.

Fuck, that manager is a vulture.

Her bid for the 2 seats were 25$ each. He only chose mine because she’s been out sick all week & he needs them done by Friday.

Dumb question because I don't know your industry. What would a customer pay to have these 2 seats done that he is paying her $25 to do?

Very good ideas but you've just described, like, 4 trades lol. Sewing Machine Operator is a very broad term for many specialized trades. It's rare to find a quilter who's also an industrial tarp fabricator.

I've actually made fursuits before.

Unfortunately, there's apparently an oversaturation in the market right now..

I'm looking for some place where the income is stable & I don't have to seek out clients on my own. Done my own stuff for years now. I'm too tired trying to "market" myself & my work.

All fantastic ideas.

I imagine the furry market is a lot harder to get established in as cosplay due to size.

The automotive market is equally as hard to break into unless you can establish a partnership with an established upholstery company.

Pet clothes are are a more widespread niche market, but the clientele has to be more batshit than furries.

Drycleaners, big market, great potential.

Rich people pay, but are a bigger pain than pet parents.

If your specialty is seamstress, I guess that is an any harbor in in storm situation. So maybe taking anything n you can get until you find a niche is the strategy?

Understandable. Is there any other market that you can pursue that isn't limited by local market demand?

Seize the means of production my prole

It's not unreasonable. I wouldn't work for this person, or I would accept work to do and then come back to them and say "I needed to prioritize better paying work, I can't get this done on time."

Like, do you think this person is treating you honestly in any measure? No. They are breaking the social contract. Don't give them an inch.

Unfortunately if you aren't an actual employee, minimum wage doesn't apply. And if you have to bid against other workers for work, you DEFINITELY are not an employee.