amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Pixie's~Mama · 03-30-2003, 05:19 PM

Well, I guess it depends how you do it. If you do like Heather suggests and buy an extra yard to make a second item to sell, you'll make your money back. That said, I *might* save a little money, if I don't count the fabric I buy for my business. However, I find it hard to separate these two things (besides patchwork).

That said, for ME, saving money isn't why I sew. I do it because I love it. It's one of the few areas in my life where I truly get to be creative and shine. So few people sew these days, especially people our age. I feel so proud when I complete something and then get to show it off on Sophie. I just love it when people ask where I got the dress/shirt/pants and I say that I made it!

Diapers definbitely save money. I haven't bought a diaper in months and I'm slowly thinning to my stash to have diapers I really like. And the fact is, I *really* prefer my diapers!

oceanna · 03-30-2003, 05:34 PM

Just gotta chime in here

...

Sewing clothes can be expensive, or it can be super cheap...just depends on the materials you're using, or the type of clothes you're buying.
It seems to me like once I really started sewing, everyone I met felt the need to give me the fabric they'd been hoarding...so I just can't beat "free"!

Also, lots of thrift stores just throw away clothing that's ripped, hasn't sold for a long time, etc...so I've picked up a lot of free fabric (especially corduroy) that way, too (think patchwork!).
However, I do have a fabric addiction. lol! So I've bought lots of fabric I just had to have that was expensive--and thus some of my sewing does cost me more than rtw clothing. I try to make myself feel better about it by rationalizing--at least the clothes I make don't contribute so much to sweatshop labor, etc.

pmjmomma · 03-30-2003, 05:53 PM

Another person saying "it depends" here too. . .

I just made 2 things for my 9 month old, a terry romper and a tank style dress with a gathered skirt. The terry was I think $3 per yard from a co-op (so figure shipping too) and I used 3/4 yard of that. Since I had ordered 3 yards of it planning on using about 1 yard per girl, (the older ones are getting tees) I'll get an extra tee out of it, as well as scraps for washies. so, that looks pretty good, right? Well - I don't really like the way the romper went together, I think I am still too new at sewing to try snap fronts and snap legs. She'll wear it, but I'm frustrated, yk? The tees will come out fine, though, I'm getting pretty good at those.

Moral of this story? If you are really interested in being frugal, it may pay to stick with stuff you are pretty sure of, until your skills progress. . .

Now, I tried something new on the dress, too, and LOVED it. In fact, this new trick is going to save me time and fuss (I gathered the skirt using lastin instead of pulling bobin thread) as well as give me an easy way to use wovens, which I find to be less expenzive than knits, and really light for our hot humid summer. The dress I made, btw, cost $4. I could have gotten one for less at a garage sale, but this has that nice, new crisp look, and it is exactly the style I like on the baby.

Moral of this story (contradictory to the one above) sometimes it pays to take risks. Of course, it's pretty easy to rip off a skirt and re-do, so that wasn't a big risk. . .

I also factor in time. . . as my girls get bigger, it's taking a lot more time to find bargain clothes. I sew when they are asleep, or when the baby is asleep and the big girls are playing nicely. Taking them all to the thrift store or garage sales is just too hard anymore.

You also have to know yourself. . . you seem like you have a pretty thrifty personality to begin with. wish I did. . . You can go to Joann's and go straight to the sale section and pick up a few yards to make a few dresses. I tend to pile my cart high with the rationalization that it's on sale. . . but I still have more than one season's worth of clothes in there, yk?

One disclaimer. . . I really had no idea how much thread I'd wind up buying. . . my machine seems to suck that stuff up! That is making sewing seem a little more expensive than I thought it would be.

mommy2maya · 03-30-2003, 05:56 PM

I definitely think that sewing can be cheaper than buying! Also, you get to pick the styles you want, which, with little girls I am sure you know that what is in stores is not always what you want your children to wear.

As far as start up costs go, it can be really cheap- especially if you get a machine for $30-40. The bare minimums would be a couple of packs of needles ($3-4 ofr a five pack), a few colors of thread ($2-3 spool), some fabrics, and a few patterns. If you have a Joanns around you, they do half off notions, and all every few weeks, also, there patterns go on sale for $1 every few weeks too, that is a great time to stock up!

You can definitely get carried away with buying fabrics & such, but you can also save a ton of money too! For example, for $5, I just made 3 Gymboree-style cotton knit 2-sided blankets, which would have been $75 at Gymboree.

Nutmeg · 03-30-2003, 06:48 PM

Everything said--well I've had the same thoughts!! LOL!!

But here is my experience:

1. I love to sew, it's like therapy for me. I also knit and love it too, but hand knit items take muuuuuuuuch longer and I'm not always patient.

I have to sew to maintain sanity I guess. It's my creative outlet.

2. There is a fabulous store here in Sacramento called Sak's. I have found Hanna opp. stripes for 1.15, Gymboree for around a dollar as well as Laura Ashley, American Girls etc. They also have adult clothes which I love--retro and regular. I got a leather coat there for 5.00. BUT they are second hand, and that bothers some people (not me LOL!!) So if I can get prices like that, I'm all for it. This is cheaper than sewing them myself, and I have extra time to hang with the family.

3. My daughter has such pride in me when I make her something. Nice ego boost. It would be fun to make something special for your step daughter! I made my dd (who is 11) a patchy pesant blouse (now all her friends want them LOL!! But the fabric was 10.00 a yard so that's not happening) and a scarf which she calls her 'hug' from me. Also, it might be a fun project to do With your step daugher, there are some great books for kids.

4. I have a random sewing machine that I'm not too happy with. However, it would cost at least 150.00 to bring up to speed, and so I'm stuck trying to figure out if I want a new one or fix that one. If you do get a second hand machine, factor in 100. for parts and labor to make sure it's working. A new one might be a better option for you (or maybe your mom's old one?? Maybe she needs a new one LOL!!)

5. Join my fabric trade group! Maybe you can get a super deal!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FabricTrade/

So that's my few cents!

Meg

Momof6 · 03-31-2003, 11:23 AM

Meeshi,

Sewing saves our budget! I mostly sew just for the girls because boys clothes are easy to find in good condition at tag sales.

Just for my current example. Here is what I've made or have cut out and ready to sew for the girls (they wear the same size) for this spring/summer:

*9 peasant tops

*1 pair of capri pants (to mix and match with two of the peasant tops)

* 2 pair of shorts to mix and match with the peasant tops.

The clothes look like boutique stuff. They really do. I spent a total (I'm going to estimate since I don't have my receipts here in front of me) of about $20 and this includes pattern, notions, fabrics etc.....

I really saved a lot.

One good place to check out is rummage sales. I found the coolest fabric that was in a skirt for a woman and I bought it for pennies and turned it into a peasant top. It is the neatest fabric that the girls call the "gypsy top".

My biggest expense if having my maching checked up each year. (It is about $60) but my husband and I are going to try to do it ourselves next year.

My machine is a inexpensive no-frills one. I really really really long for a serger but that is a ways down the road.

I think the best thing is seeing how much $$ you save and knowing that the clothes you make truly are one-of-a-kind.

Asia went off to school today in the cutest outfit I finished yesterday. The fabric looks like a red/white checkered picnic table and it has black ants walking all over it. Asia said "Mom, I really do have ants in my pants!!!" *lol*

I made a pair of capri pants for her out of this with contrasting black patch pockets and a matching capri top. I am also going to make some coordinating clothes to go w/this theme.

Hugs and Bright Blessings,

Michelle

owiebrain · 03-31-2003, 11:26 AM

definitely saves money for us. i buy $1/yd fabric 99% of the time, though. i also have a couple of bigger kids so it's difficult to find decent clothes for them (that aren't badly worn). i do shop the clearance sales, though, and snatch up RTW clothing i find for a buck or two. whatever gets us by cheaply.

xheathers · 03-31-2003, 11:32 AM

Hmmm, is it cheaper? Well, overall I think it is.

Could I clothe my children cheaper? Probably. But DH grew up living in hand me downs and he hated it. The Walmart around here is quite a drive, plus its dirty and sloppy, so I RARELY go there. In fact, I heard of these great little cases to store embroidery thread and DH almost committed me when we were in the neighborhood and I asked to stop by. K-Mart around here is about the same story. Target clothes are okay, but sometimes they are not. I used to buy quite a few things from Target when my oldest was a baby. One time I bought 2 pairs of shorts and 2 tshirts. Total bill was about $20. Well, one of the pairs of shorts, the hem started unraveling within a month and one of the shirts, when I washed it, the neck became so small that I could not fit it over my baby's head. Seriously, it would not go. Of course I did not have my receipt anymore (I had purchased these in the spring) and Target would not take them back. So I would consider that money wasted. So we switched to higher quality clothing.

And I really agree with Shecki. There are so many horrible fashion trends out there for little kids. My girls LOVE dresses. In the summer, they live in dresses, in the winter, they like to have a few in their wardrobe. When my oldest was 4 we went looking. She was not out of that "toddler" size. We spent days looking for something that I liked. Something that was no too short, so pleatherly, too belly baring, too tight, etc. I like loose, longer skirts since she sits cross legged at school and those will not ride up. And then try and find little girl's jeans that fit well and don't have rhinestones, feathers, fu-fu stuff on them. I ended up buying jeans in the boy's section. And who's brilliant idea was it to make baby pants hip huggers??? I bought some cute fleece pants for my little one at the Gap outlet. I just picked up her size. I got them home and OMG, they were hip huggers with flared legs. She was learning how to walk and was tripping over the flares and her diaper showed above the waistline. So I started making a lot of my own stuff. It may not be cheaper than yard sales, but I get boutique look clothes for a lot less. And since I love to sew, this satisfies this. My latest kick, summer dresses for the girls out of Hanna Anderssen fabric. I love the Hanna look, but the prices are steep. The fabric is so nice and I have made several dresses for the girls already. Now my capitol expenses are expensive. I have very nice machines and lots of accessories. But I also work a few hours a week at a sewing dealer, so I need to keep sewing to be better at my job.

Heather

herc · 03-31-2003, 12:34 PM

my advice--- keep your ear to the ground-- you can def find a machine cheap! I picked up a 20 year old Singer Stylist at a yard sale for 9.00 that has absolutely nothing wrong with it! I may get it serviced down the line, just because, but it runs fine now, and sews well. It has all the basics, including a zig-zag stitch. Now it isnt as easy to thread as a new machine, and it doesnt really have the fancy decorative stitching, or 10 different stitches, but it does what it has to! And I also have a friend's serger on "extended loan". It had lived in her attic for about 10 years, and I mentioned I was looking for one, and she told me she'd loan me hers. Now if I could just get her to part with her Elna machine

As far as fabric goes, I usually pick up a yard or two off of the dollar table whenever I see something I like. Two is all you will ever need to make kids clothes. And heck, most dresses don't even need fastners! Wait for a co-op and get some thread-- everything else besides patters are super cheap, and those can be, if you either buy when they are 99 cents, buy off ebay, or make your own

Good luck-- I am just getting into sewing alittle myself-- maybe we can be support buddies --lol
heather

fw221 · 03-31-2003, 12:42 PM

I don't have time to read through all of the replies right now, but I'd like to add that the money you'll save on DIAPERS alone will more than make up for the rest. LOL. I've got an inexpensive source for MM fleece, so all of Lydia's dipes are made from it.

Once you get a stash going, you can trade fabric that you get at thrift stores / yard sales for stuff you like/want/need.

Good luck, mama!

waterlily · 03-31-2003, 05:28 PM

I'm new at this but I definately think it saves $ if what you would be buying is decent quality clothing. I am thrilled that I can make a boutique quality outfit for under $10.

I wouldn't do it simply to save $ though. It's a lot of work too. One thing no-one mentioned yet is what it costs you in time. It's not for everyone and it does take a fair amount of your spare time. If you enjoy it and feel it's time well spent then I say go for it. It's a creative outlet that I needed and a hobby I can do it from home and don't need childcare for (important to me) so it works great for me.

When you start sewing you realize just how much goes into making a garment. I never *understood* before how little sweatshop wages really are and how rtw and wahm clothing really should cost a lot more because you aren't just paying for fabrics, you are paying for time.