I don't have the info for the seamstress we used when i was down in school; however, I have already asked my mom to ask a woman at work who belongs to a sewing guild for some more techincal information.
I was just hoping to see if possibly there were some other serious, yet not professional sewers on the board who could offer some help.
I guess if worse comes to worse, it's plan B, practicing the free hand sewing, but that will have to wait until grad school is over in august.
Thanks for the input!