Save Money and Be Creative By Sewing
Sewing Is a fun way to go creative!
When I was first married and had two babies, I made all of their clothes and mine. This was a while ago and fabric was quite inexpensive and so were patterns. Over the years fabric has become more and more expensive but I believe you can still save money by making your own quality clothing. The important thing is, do you like to sew? If it's something that you feel creative and happy doing, it's worth it even if you don't save money because you're clothes will actually fit!
There are some extremes where you can save a ton of money if you're willing to put in the time. Was born in Russia and wore very attractive clothes to the office and we all wondered where she bought them. I asked her one day and she told me she made all of her own clothes, including underwear! She came from a poor family and learned to sew at a very young age. Their method of making patterns was to lay on the floor, on top of large sheets of paper and her sister drew around her to make patterns! From that one pattern she was able to create her entire, unique and very attractive clothing. She said she also bought thrift shop clothing and cut her pattern pieces from it because often the vintage fashions were made of excellent fabrics but often had stains or worn spots, etc. She also saved all the buttons and trims from these items.
You need not make your own patterns to save money, however. Look for fabric and patterns garage sales, church rummage sales and thirft shops, such as the Goodwill, Salvation Army. You will often find vintage patterns from as far back as the 1940's and create vintage style clothing with your own flare. I made a jacket from a wool coat I found at the Goodwill. It was part cashmere and the softest, most beautiful fabric I've ever worked with.It must have been kept in storage as it was like new! I bought the coat on half-price day for $4 and the unique buttons were an extra bonus!
It will take you quite a while to recoup your money if you buy one of the new uber sewing machines that can embroider your linens and figure your taxes at the same time. For many years I used an old treadle machine that someone had attached a motor to. Embroidery looks so much nicer when it's done by hand anyway. I now have a table-top Kenmore from the sixties and it still works great!Newer, less fancy machines are very affordable as well.
I love to be creative, and choose the colors I like, rather than pick from the two or three, or sometimes one, offered by factory-made clothing. Recycling is a big thing for me, so reusing a piece of clothing and giving it a new life makes me feel great!
If you'd like to try sewing, go to your local fabric store, or JoAnne fabrics and talk with the sewing teachers. They are very helpful and you can work there or rent machines to see if you like them before making a major commitment.
Sewing Machines Need Not Be Expensive
