Advice!Advice!What would you do?

That is a tough call. Unless you'd get a kick out of appearing on the Judge Judy show, under the circumstances I'd probably let it pass since you are neighbors. The up side is think of all the money you will save never ever having to buy this dumb woman or anyone in her family any kind of gift ever again as long as you live, lol. She probably lost or spoiled the fabric and is too lacking in self-esteem to tell you. I'm thinking, though, that in the long run you will come out ahead. At least this is one neighbor you will never have to loan money.

I don't you owe single penny and an explanation to her. How come she decided to finish the dress for one year and she charged you with a very high cost. I think she's really insane. Why don't let her wear that dress and tell her that you don't need it anymore since it's your maternity dress.

Now, this too much!! I just have the feel that she has lost it by now. You can ask her to sew you some new clothes taking your current measurements with the same cloth. I just hope she didnot give you an excuse of cutting it into pieces!! Just tell her that it's urgent and you want it on a particular date. And then wait and watch. Do keep us updated. good luck!

I guess the million dollar question is whether you have any proof that you actually gave her the material? Like a receipt or something? Given that a year has passed; if there is no record of a "transaction" taking place it would be very, very difficult to prove your point if you were to seek external advice. For sure if she had the material she would have given it to you; so she has obviously either used it for something else, sold it to someone else, or messed it up. I would count this one as an unfortunate loss and accept it is gone to be honest. At least now you know that if you ever need stitching done then this is not the place to do it!

if your friend/neighbor is in business then she is obligated to return your item, and I would tell her you have promised it to some one else, and she must return it be for the end of the week, accept no excuses, either she returns it or pays for it, that is how you do business, and she know it, I believe she has lost the item and will not admit it, make her be responsible for her actions. She knows she has done wrong and that is why you get nothing but excuses.

She took advantage of your politeness..its very bad on her part to do like this being your neighbour..afterall you are not asking for a free stiching and its for a purpose you have given her to stich accordingly..she has given all lame excuses to you.. since we cannot fight with neighbours sometimes they take advantage of us..I would have waited for a month and would have defintely requested her to return my clothes and explain that i need it urgently and hence will get it sticked somewhere else as she is very busy with her work.. our neighbour a few months back had their daughters betrothal function and they requested us to give our terrace for providing dinner to guest..being a neighbour my parents said ok for using our terrace and water tap..to our shock when we went to our terrace the other morning it was looking like a wastage yard as they stuffed all the waste here and there..we cleaned up the whole place which they were even watching but doesnt even had the courtesy to say sorry..they simply said that they informed those catering assistants to clean and they havent done the job..

I will go and tell that she is wrong and will never return to her shop and tell that she will lose business with her attitude.I will never turn up that side.

Give her a time limit. Tell her you need the item for an upcoming occasion. Let her know you are grateful that she has guarded it for you; but you really need it back. Ask her if there is a charge for stitching it and let her know that you are grateful. Don't lay any guilt on her when asking..Compliment her on being so kind as to do the favor for you.

Yes, you are correct. It’s a matter of principle but since she is a neighbour and you don’t want to spoil relations, I think you should not bring up this topic anymore. Instead, if she still stitches, next time you meet her, ask her if she still has the material with her. Be sweet, tell her in a nice voice that you must be having that material. Have you stitched my maternity gown? If she says yes, then ask her for it telling that you intend to gift the same to an expecting sister/friend/sis-in-law (whatever). If she says no, the material is lying unstitched for some reason, ask her for it and be firm. Even if she doesn’t return it, then make it a point never to interact with her on business matters anymore. A simple Hi from a distance should be OK.

Hi there. I would ask her one more time, if she has the material, and I would be frank with her. I'd tell her if she doesn't return it, that you will have to contact local authorities (do you have a such thing as a small claims court...where you can sue for the amount of money the dress is worth - or could you file a police report?). IF she doesn't return the material within a good amount of time, I would then send an invoice, and keep a copy for yourself and your records. Then send it in a certified letter, so she has to sign for it. It isn't fair that she has done this to you, and I would do what you can to get the material, or the equivalent in money, back!

This is a tough one. I understand it being about the principle, I really do. But if it is something you would not use now anyway since you are no longer pregnant, I would consider just letting it drop. Is it worth losing a friendship over? But yes, I would definitely never do business with her again. She has shown you that she is not worthy of your business, friendship or not.