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Should You Sew Your Clothing by Nikki Willhite  Sewing is coming back into vogue. Many people are tired of the cookie-cutter type clothing found in retail stores. They want something unique, and want to show off their creativity. Sewing was once considered the economical way to dress. You could buy fabric at JCPenneys, as well as most of your local dime stores. In the last few decades, we've seen fabric pulled from all our department stores and other retailers. Many fabric chains have gone out of business. Those left with fabric are either quilt stores, or lean toward calicos and other quilting fabrics. What happened, and is it still worth sewing my own clothing? As with so many other items, cheap labor abroad has reduced the price on the clothing found in our retail stores. When clothing goes on sale, you can find quality garments at very affordable prices. This has made sewing less desirable. Sewing takes time, and the outcome is not always certain. When you purchase an item in a retail store, you have the luxury of trying it on first, to make sure that the fit is prefect, and that the outfit is flattering on you. When you sew, you don't have that luxury. You must know beforehand that the fabric you are buying is going to work for you, and that the pattern you are making has lines that will both fit and flatter your body type. Added to this is the assumption that you are an accomplished seamstress, and that you will not have any problems with the construction of your garment. Having said this, there are many reasons people may still want to sew their own clothing. The price of a basic sewing machine is still very reasonable. For a few more dollars, you can buy a machine with many extras, like decorative sewing stitches, and computerized features. Sergers give a professional finish to a garment, resulting in increased satisfaction with your work. You may want to sew your own clothing if your figure is hard to fit, or if you have trouble finding colors you like. On the negative side, if you pay full retail price for the notions and fabric you need to sew an outfit, it will be expensive. There is a huge markup in both patterns and fabric. You should never pay full retail price for either. Patterns, marked to sell at over $10, go on sale regularly for a dollar. You can often get them free with the purchase of your fabric. If you are careful with your choice of style, you won't have to purchase as much fabric. Fabric, at stores like JoAnns, is always on sale, usually for at least 50% off retail. If it is not on sale, you can usually access a coupon for 40-50% off one cut of fabric. You can also buy fabric on the Internet. Most Internet stores will have a free shipping sale a few times each year. Another negative can be sewing space. If you don't have a place to sew, other than the dining room table, it will be messy. If you have small children, you are going to have to be very careful, as pins and needles are hard to keep from falling on the floor. If you do have a dedicated sewing space, however, that place may become your haven, and you will thoroughly enjoy every minute you spend there. Sewing can become a passion. Buying fabric can become one of life's greatest joys. ( I quilt- don't ask me about my stash) To me, being frugal has always meant saving money on the things that don't matter to you so that you can have the things that do matter to you. So is it frugal to sew your own clothing? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. I think the real question is "Do you want to do it?" Sewing is a very versatile skill. Even if you don't want to make your own clothing, you have other options. Children clothes are great to make. Just learn a few basic pieces, and you can make them in different fabrics and sizes. Most patterns come in several sizes. Great seamstresses can pull apart adult garments and reuse the fabric for children's' clothing. Special occasion dresses can be very expensive and hard to find in the store. If you fabric is very expensive, make your outfit in muslin first so that you know it will fit. Then, pull it apart and use the muslin as the pattern for your expensive fabric. Sewing for your home can result in significant savings and beautiful, unique decor. Drapery panels are easily made with simple straight stitching lines for hems. The only hard part is dealing with so much fabric. Easier to make are pillow, shams, tablecloths, napkins, table runners and even bedspreads and dust ruffles.   Bottom line- sewing is a great hobby, and can even turn into a home business. If you enjoy it, do it. If you don't, shop the sales and don't feel guilty. Either way, you win. About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!  Article first published at www.allthingsfrugal.com

 

 

 

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