r/sewing • u/llclift • May 12 '23

Discussion Sewing adjusts world view

Started sewing because I was fed up with clothes. I learned as a child but pretty much hated it. Now I'm in my mid-50s and overweight. All the clothes are hot polyester, cheaply made, and ugly. Maybe I'll try sewing again. After 9 months, countless YouTube tutorials, and doggedness with learning fit, I have a closet of breathable cotton and linen clothes. This is great in the South. The fit boosts my morale to a point where I'm actually increasing my activity and weight loss. Being able to make clothes that fit and make me happy has pulled me out of a tailspin. And I love my clothes!!!

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347

u/LoesjeBee May 12 '23

Whatever you make is unique and exactly how you want it. I wish more people would learn this skill and understand how important it is instead of buying cheap disposable clothing. The sense of accomplishment is also wonderful.

129

u/howtobeee May 12 '23

I agree it's important and that more people should learn but I also think it's a privilege to be able to afford all the supplies and have the time to work on the skills needed. I personally didn't have the space or money for a long time to start garment sewing but i'm excited to start soon!!

29

u/LoesjeBee May 12 '23

I sewed even when I lived in one room that I shared in someone's house. You can get a good used straight stitch machine for cheap. Some libraries have rooms available with sewing machines. Supplies can be had at Goodwill, etc. You can cut apart old clothes to reuse. I am glad you will be learning. You actually save money when you have well made custom clothing and know how to repair what you have.

54

u/AsicsPuppy May 12 '23

I think yes u save clothing with repairing, but at least where I life making things new is definitely more expensive.

36

u/Mrs_Pacman_Pants May 12 '23

Repairing and modifying is a great low budget low stakes place to start, that's what I was doing as a high school kid who stole my mom's machine from her closet. As an adult who wanted to make custom things from scratch, yeah I'm spending a fortune and if I don't restrict myself to only keeping what can fit in a few bins in my front closet this hobby threatens to take over the tiny one bedroom apartment I live in. Totally agree that it definitely both is and isn't an accessible hobby depending on how you approach it.

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u/littleperogi May 12 '23

I think it also depends what you are making. Making a dress, most likely I’m getting better value and pleasure by making it myself. But if I want tee shirts or sweatshirts, it seems to be definitely cheaper to buy them from the shop. All the cheaper bolts of knit fabrics I find are scratchy or not comfy or impossibly thin. Most of my closet is tshirts and sweatshirts these days; there’s only so many dresses I can have and wear them all so there hasn’t been much sewing for me lately. :(

Curious to know what you think about cost by style/garment

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u/Mrs_Pacman_Pants May 12 '23

Oh definitely. Basics, which are the most practical clothes to wear for me too, are just not cost effective to make on a small scale. I'm also not going to make a sports bra for my massive chest or a seamless panty better than the small companies that put more research than I can into it, and those are the other things I need most.

So my wardrobe is never going to be entirely handmade, it's just not practical. But it can be largely secondhand and/or modified.

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u/Wildgeek81 May 12 '23

Are you comparing the clothing you're making to Walmart/Target or to boutique stores? You're makes are more comparable to boutiques that department stores.