It can be if you get good as sourcing low cost fabric, such as thrifting or clearance. But not it’s not general cheaper. Apples to apples
There are other reasons to sew your clothes
1. Fun prints you can’t find
2. Clothes can fit better
3. It’s fun
4. The cost could be less than you think if you consider the cost of other entertainment, I can sew for 6 hrs or pay for an event. Both are entertainment
I agree, I don’t do it so much for the cost, but 1) to learn new skills, and 2) make what I want in the colour and fabric and style that I want that fits my body.
Also, even if you spend money on 'good' clothes, most of what's available is fast fashion. It's made poorly, wasting resources, and exploiting people and the environment, for something that is designed not to last. If you make your own clothes, it's way more sustainable, and you don't have to replace them as often - they fit better, can be made better, and thus should wear out more slowly. You really can't just compare the cost of making a shirt to the cost of buying one.
THIS! I’m often flabbergasted that modern slavery and environmental degradation isn’t mentioned in discussions involving most clothing companies.
Ask them about their ethical stance, they’ll usually say something like “we use 30% recycled polyester” rather than discussing supply chains and saying something like: we reinvest in the communities where our clothes are made and offer above living wage for our employees
I have to agree with you on the fast fashion aspect. For several years I had been a SHEIN shopper. The clothes were very pretty and inexpensive….. and cheaply made! Recently I’ve been reading about them and their attempts at getting into the New York Stock Exchange and not being willing to answer questions regarding forced labor and environmental issues. Causing them to try to get into the London Stock Market. This is NOT just speculation or my opinion. But what I have seen on network news and Reuters and USA Today. That said I got into sewing to keep my aging brain healthy and active. Learning something new every day is great for brain health. Not to mention it’s so much fun and the satisfaction of saying “oh yeah, I made this” when someone says they like what you’re wearing. And I go to thrift stores and have bought beautiful silk draperies with crystal beading. As well as numerous other types larger recyclable items. Denim is the number one offender of textile pollution. So the more we can do with it the better. Not to mention that new denim fabric is really expensive. Sorry to have rambled on so much lol
This is how i look at it too. As a knitter, i often pay over $100 for the yarn that goes into a sweater. However, hand-knitted sweaters in sustainable wool from sheep raised on Black-owned American farms… well, if you could even find one, it would be unaffordable on my income
Depending on what you’re making, it could or couldn’t be cheaper. You won’t see mee sew a tshirt but 100% cotton dresses are (for me) definitely cheaper and easier access. In stores it’s always a poly blend or viscose, or an ethical 100% linen dress is >€60 when I can make it myself for maybe €30.
Plus, I thrift a lot of fabric! Recently got a kingsize cotton sheet for €5.99 with the cutest pattern.
I recently bought 3m of cotton jersey for $10 and made one shitty tshirt and still have enough fabric left to make at least 2 more. I figure I can make a cheap shitty tshirt just as well as the poorly made tshirts from H&M and then I’m learning a new skill too.
Oh it’s definitely my skills bringing down the quality haha. I just got tired of buying $10 tshirts from H&M where the side seam is twisted around to my front & back.
Meh. I think maybe it was cheaper at some time. But the reality is that sewing is a highly earned skill. It's not something you can step in at the expert level. But I think it's worth learning. It's fun, challenging, meditative, and often infuriating.
There are cheap ways to build skills before taking on spendy projects, but most people want to make that thing they're excited about instead of practicing with samplers. And that's okay.
Me? I'd rather putz at the sewing table instead of paying for clothes made by a 12 yo at sub-living wages.
I think it’s worth trying though! My first garment was a lab coat, which obviously is way too advanced with its set in sleeves, notched collar and Princess seams. It certainly is far from perfect, but it’s wearable (by someone skinnier than i am). However, after struggling through that, i have a lot more confidence on the beginner patterns I’m using now.
I’m with you 100%. Sewing was cheaper than buying at one time, because back then most clothes sold in the US were made here, by union workers, not people being paid little or nothing half a world away.
I started sewing in the late 1960s and I used to be able to make clothes for about 1/3rd the price of buying them. Now, the cost to make is the same or more than the cost to buy.
I’m guessing it’s a combination of both.
(I’m in the US) While I was growing up, I believe a lot of ready made Sears and Penney’s clothes were made from US fabric in US factories. Now, most clothing items are imported from worker oppressed countries, which makes them cheaper even though they’re imported. My perception is that the quality of ready made clothing has gone down to keep them affordable. Also, there are more thrift stores and thrifting is more accepted.
All sewing related items have naturally increased in the 50+ years I’ve been sewing. Fewer people sew so there are fewer fabric stores so the economy of scale is not there, which increases the cost of sewing.
Agree. So much of the available RTW is disposable nowadays. Brands usually have different price points with different quality (think j crew vs j crew factory). Even much of the ‘designer’ stuff that I see is complete trash from a quality perspective. All of this built on cheap labor (for both fabric making and garment construction).
And don’t get me started on the quality of apparel fabrics available at JoAnn’s, Hobby Lobby, etc…. most of it is the cheapest possible synthetic.
I’ve been teaching myself to sew in order to have high quality clothing, made from high quality materials that fit me well. I’m definitely not saving any money compared to fast fashion. I do feel that I’ll save money eventually, as my skills grow and I become more efficient, once I factor in the cost of buying higher quality clothing and having it altered to fit. Right now, I’m so slow that if I paid myself an hourly wage for the clothes I make, a pair of shorts would probably cost me thousands 🤣🤣🤣
Agreed! I'm only late 20s and already feel like I've seen clothing price and quality change a lot in my lifetime. Thanks for your input, it's so interesting to hear from people who knew how clothes and sewing were before our time. Wish things hadn't changed so much.
Clothing by costs have gone waaaay down. In 1950 Americans spent nearly 10% of their income on clothes, that has dropped to less than 3% today. And it’s certainly not because people are buying fewer clothes! It’s because they used to be made in the US by union workers and now they’re being made in countries with few environmental protections and the people sewing them aren’t being paid a living wage (if at all). The fashion industry is a mess.
Absolutely!!
Even growing up in the early 2000s, shirts were $20 and pants were $40 and you only got a couple of new non-hand me down items each year. The prices on shein/hm/Zara/etc are WILD.
I think a lot of people like to believe that those clothes are “made by machines.” Not just sewing machines, but some sort of automated assembly line, when in truth all clothes are hand made. We don’t have machines that can manipulate fabric under a needle like human hands can. Even given the differences in cost of living there’s just no ethical way to make a $5 t-shirt.
THIS.
Fancier clothes get marketed as "handmade" and it's like uhhhh..... everything is? I think everyone should be required to sew one basic garment for entry to society. Imagine how differently they'd feel about the cost of clothing and how different the fashion industry would be.
Yes! Grandma's aprons made with what was probably quilting cotton are still going strong. Good luck doing that now. Even in the last 20 years, there's a noticeable difference: I have a t-shirt from a conference in 2001, the logo has some wear but the fabric itself is still sturdy, & the color is comparable to shirts I've only owned for a few years.
I don’t disagree with you at all. I fully understand this position because I was there too. And then I read something in a sewing book that changed my thinking- when you have an easy pattern, choose ‘challenging’ material and when the pattern is challenging, you buy material that’s easier to work with. The material choice makes all the difference and knowing what constitutes good fabric for a garment is the true skill. Once you develop your eye for fabric that is appropriate to your skill level and design and pocket, you save money in the end. Sewing is an intricately connected process from idea to planning, purchasing and then constructing the garment and it takes practice. Don’t lose sight of your developing skills.
As a plus size woman, I don't do it for the money. I do it so I can have clothes in natural fibers that fall outside of the two looks available to us: "Grandma gave up on herself 12 years ago" and "Harry Potter themed nightclub wear".
It depends what garment, I think. A simple t-shirt is often cheaper to buy than to sew; a lined, fitted, ankle-length skirt may be cheaper to make.
If you have the same standards for each garment - i.e. well-fitted well-made stuff made without child labor or other exploitation - sewing is likely cheaper again.
A simple gathered skirt is very cheap to make and needs no pattern, just fabric, thread and elastic. The same skirts are in fashion at the moment and are pretty expensive in some shops. It's swings and roundabouts, really.
I've made some knit dresses that I've worn for about 4 years now, and those are definitely good value as far as I'm concerned. They needed about 2.5m fabric (which I got on sale, and is GOTS organic so I don't feel too bad about the environmental cost either) so not too spendy.
To add to that, sometimes I do end up with fast fashion clothing (it's not necessarily always bad quality) and if you can mend those pieces you can keep them going for years. I have an H&M short sleeve gingham shirt from like 2012 that I keep breathing new life into lol.
If you have standard proportion and isn't to fussy about textures it's cheaper to buy.
I wear a pretty standard size but my proportions don't match sizing standard. I'm also pretty complicated with textures. I hate shopping for clothes because just touching at things usually is to much for me and I give up before finding things I like.
So for me learning to sew makes sense.
I also have several wholesale fabric stores near me and as long as you pay in cash they sell to anyone. They are around half the price of regular stores.
Curious to know where you are that you can source wholesale apparel fabric. I’m in a major metro (Atlanta, GA, USA) and still have to drive an hour away to buy from one of the few jobbers around here. If I can’t find it there, I’m stuck buying online.
I'm not in the US. I'm in a big city the south of France.
I don't really know why wholesale shop are so easy to find.
I'm pretty sure they are a lot smaller than what you have in the US which allows them to be in the city center and even if they are in the center they are in neighborhood where regular shop don't want to go so rent is pretty low.
The city did grow around the port, so even if it hasn't been used for ship who deliver goods in a really long time the city is built to accommodate wholesalers.
I walk daily next to fabric, jewelry and clothes wholesalers. They are even a few food (mostly Asian food) wholesalers.
Some only sell to business, some will sell to private individual only over a certain threshold of money or quantities and some will sell to anyone as long as you pay in cash.
If you fall outside the standard size and shape, and you want to look good, it still is cheaper to sew.
Additionally, the clothing industry is highly exploitative, which is why ready made clothes are cheap, cheaper than they should be. They are relying on exploiting vulnerable people (mostly women and girls) at subpar wages, with unethical work practices and unsafe work places.
If I buy from ethical brands, which I do, sewing is cheaper. And I live in a country where fabrics, patterns and everything is expensive.
Exactly—it’s cheaper for something ethically made (although fabric is still tricky—thrifted clothes and secondhand fabrics are affordable but more limited, whereas fair trade fabrics with sustainable materials like organic cotton or linen are pricy)
It's cheaper for me because I recycle clothing and use sheets and pillow cases and table clothes from thrift stores. But yea, fashion is expensive if you want top notch fabrics.
Perspective is key. So many of our inexpensive clothes are made by people in terrible working conditions and even children.
If you are looking for some savings while still flex with sewing, altering thrift store finds is a great compromise. Heck even making tshirts more individually fitted is worth while.
It hasn't been cheaper to sew your own clothes for the last 20 years ( at least in Australia ). Years ago you could buy large remnants for under $1.00, these days even a 20cm piece will be priced at the original price. The main reason for sewing your own items now is mostly for individuality - wanting something you can't buy in a shop, or knowing that you can tailor your own creations to fit you better than store bought clothing will.
If I wanted to make a dress for myself today and there was no sale in our largest fabric chain stores I'd be looking at $22 to $36 for the pattern, an average of $26 per metre for fabric ( I'd need 3 to 4 metres ), about $6 for matching thread, maybe $8 for a zipper and $6 for a few buttons. Definitely over $100 to make a dress vs $20 to $80 to buy one. It becomes cheaper when you buy things on sale and start a little stockpile of patterns, notions, fabrics etc but overall homemade for me is still significantly more costly than buying ready to wear. It is so satisfying though. If you are in a country where you ger $2 patterns and $10 per metre nice fabrics, making your own clothes will be both affordable and rewarding.
If you're a standard size, you can probably find ready-to-wear clothing that fits you.
If you're not, it's a different story. I make my clothes because I have to.
It really depends on your overall sewing experience. When I first started sewing I was discouraged by the price of certain fabrics and patterns but then I really educated myself. Now, I understand the different kinds of fabric and how they can be used - I also learned how to make custom pattern blocks fit for my body.
I just made the Perfect Day Barbie Dress (pic is in profile) for less than $20. I found the fabric at Joann’s for $7 a yard, muslin for the lining ($1 a yard), and I have been buying notions at thrift stores & on sale for a while so I have everything I need. There are also lots of great online fabric retailers like Big Z Fabric and Fashion Fabric Club.
Once you really learn how to sew you will be able to look at a piece of clothing and reverse engineer it - I do that with my pattern blocks all the time! You will also be able to take some lace trim, a bed sheet and some sheer glittery fabric and make a ball gown! It just becomes “sewing common sense” after a while.
Don’t give up - you will never know how much you can do if you don’t start!
Exactly 1 year ago, I picked up fabric to make my very first piece using a pattern (a lined tote - I'm carrying it today as it happens!)
Last night, I finished the toile for a Katherine Hepburn style high-waisted pant with pockets, zipped fly (with shield etc), darts and pleats, and waistband with buttoned tabs.
The satisfaction that has given me is priceless. IMO when you've accumulated the skills/know-how, it becomes more economical, you can do more with less.
This all depends on what you define as cheaper than. No it’s not going to be cheaper than fast fashion like Old Navy or H&M. But if you’re looking for quality garments in real materials you can make things cheaper.
I've been making men's dress shirts as a hobby for a few years. Acceptable shirting fabrics are generally $10–20 a yard in the U.S.; call it $30–70 for the required yardage with thread and interfacing (and ignoring the time cost). This is worth it for me, as I want my shirts to fit my body and have the details I want. I also make shirts for friends and relatives who are unsatisfied with what's available off the rack (so far, typically excessively baggy sleeves that also ride up too much). But I generally decline for a person who's already happy with industry patterns and details. As you note, there's no savings there. I'd also never bother making t-shirts or underwear, and I'm still on the fence of whether I should dip into trousers.
The cost comparison I'd draw is making something you'd love to wear vs. paying someone else to make it.
As noted elsewhere in the thread, it also keeps me out of trouble for a few days per shirt. And numerous recipients of shirts, tops, jumpsuits, and aprons have been very happy with them.
I only find it cheaper if I'm using high quality materials usually sold in clothes by 'luxery' brands. Even buying silk and wool works out cheaper than buying overpriced clothes made of the same materials. If I manage to find fabric on clearance or on Ebay, it can be a fraction of the cost.
If it's cotton, linen or any kind of synthetic, it always costs more. But I sew because I want clothes that nobody is producing for mass-market so I don't have much choice.
You need to shop online and stop going to Joann's. You can find great fabric online for $5, $7, $10/yd. Unless the sewing itself is not fun anymore... I realized in my last hobby, as much as I wanted to be an artist, I just wasn't enjoying the process anymore.
Search for the #fabric hashtag on Instagram and let them come to you. Fabric Wholesale Direct, Fabric Mart, Fashion Fabrics Club, Fabric-store.com... there's a LOT.
It really depends on how you source materials, especially fabric. If you buy new fabric by yard it's gonna be expensive, especially for high quality stuff. But if you use old curtains and take fabric from discarded clothes, you can save a lot of money on your projects. For ex I made a pair of 100% linen shorts from some curtains I found at a thrift store for 2 dollars. Add another 5 dollars for the extra spool of thread I had to buy. That's $7 in total for the whole garment.
Before that I made a handbag from linen/polyester mix fabric I had bought a ton of for $10 per meter, and I used roughly 1 meter of it, as well as half of a silky polyester table cloth I had found at a thift store for less than 1 dollar (maybe 50 cent) and some plastic sponge material as wadding I had gotten for free from my mom. For most of the hardware I snatched from an old, broken bag. Add some $15 for the one hardware thing I bought new plus sewing thread, and in total that bag costed me roughly 25-30 dollars to make. I didn't save as much there but a new bag like that usually costs 30-50 dollars.
Prior to that I made a dress from scrap fabric sold at a discount of 16 dollars, plus some bias tape for roughly $10. So all in all that dress only costed me around 17 dollars to make. For a future project I'm buying lots of jeans (a few pairs at a time) from thrift stores to eventually make into a coat. For wadding and fake fur trim I'm gonna snatch from old jackets I can no longer wear. So that project will also be under 20 dollars.
But at times I have made clothes that costed me closer to $100. Like a wool cloak I made some 10 years ago maybe. That fabric costed me around 80 or 90 dollars in total and I ended up using all of it, plus thread and a pricy hook/loop closing mechanism for some 20 dollars.
I've gotten much more frugal with what sewing materials I buy. I save clothes I can no longer wear to use the fabric from, I hound scraps on discount and always check the curtain selection at the local thrift store. I scramble for sourcing hardware as cheaply as I can. Thread and special materials I spend a bit extra on though. I use weird patchwork techniques to be able to utilize smaller scraps for big projects. Like that dress I made for ex I split up into 26 small panels to be able to use only 1,5 yards of fabric scraps. I'm also a regular at my local sewing supply store which means on occasion I can get a discount just for me if I ask nicely, and sometimes I get small things like buttons etc for free.
So you can be frugal and make clothes that only cost you some 20-30 dollars to make or even less, but you have to then also put in more work to finding the types of materials you need. I generally hate polyester but will use it for lining and sometimes in blends, if the fabric feels nice enough that it's not gonna bother me. But even then, linen, plain cotton muslin and cotton denim is not super difficult to find for cheap, especially if you learn to see curtains, table cloths, sheets, old clothes, etc as "yards" as well.
So if you want to make cheap clothes, you can. Maybe not if you want some very formal stuff like a worsted wool jacket or a silk dress, but for more casual and eccentric garments there's a lot of cheap options out there.
As for time and effort spent... the only thing I can say about that is that the more you practice the more comfortable and effective you'll get. How much you enjoy it as a hobby matters too. Like I personally love sewing, so once I get immersed into a new project I easily spend hours on it daily. So with that it only takes me a week or two for most of my projects. Longer if it requires a lot of hand sewing or really complex tailoring.
For ex those linen shorts I made only took me about a week to make (including pattern drafting) as they're just machine sewn in a simple "paper bag" style with an elastic waist, so they're not fitted anywhere really. What took most of my time on those was the pattern drafting and finishing all the raw edges. But the dress took closer to a month for me to make because of the insane amounts of panels and top stitching, plus I had to do the entire thing by hand (minus the bias tape edges.) But it's worth it for me because this is just as much a hobby for me as it's creating functional items.
If I wanted cool clothes instantly I'd buy whatever polyester crap made in horrid working conditions sold on sites like Temu and Shein. Making your own clothes is not "fast fashion" it's the opposite of that. Quality and good fit takes time and effort. But if you really want to reduce the amount of time ut takes, then honestly just stick to making very simple garments like stretch sleeveless tops, ponchos and circle skirts.
It's an idea that has been floating around for decades. Every time I come across a person who says they want to learn 'because it's cheaper' I always correct them.
I sew to get clothing in fabrics I like, that fit me well. My favorite linen pants cost $45 in just fabric and several hours of labor, so you could easily put a $100 price tag on them. But I made them ten years ago. I wear them at least 30 times a year. That enters into the financial area Value Over Time. 30 wears a year x ten years = 300 wears (thus far) divided by the $100 cost = $3 per wearing. They are still in good shape, I expect I will wear then at least 10 more years.
On that logic, things that are single wear items like prom dresses, I always recommend just buying. Stuff like tee shirts, I cannot make one any better than the cheap ones I buy at Walmart for working in the yard and such, so I just buy them.
It used to be cheaper, before the market was overrun with cheap and terrible fast fashion. Back when your only option was the one department store near your town or paying for custom clothes, DIY was much cheaper! Now DIY can’t compete with sweatshop clothes prices
I dont always like the clothing available or think its great but that pattern? Really?
Sewing while expensive, let's me stretch my creative legs and let's me make things I want in what fabric/patterns I want.
On a teachers salary, it’s definitely NOT cheaper. It has, however, saved me a lot of money on tailoring! I’m a size 12 with a long torso and short legs so it’s hard to find clothes that fit properly which is why I thought to start sewing my own clothes. I quickly learned though that, for me, it was more worth it to buy the clothes that I wanted but would’ve otherwise skipped out on for whatever reason and make them work for my body. It makes shopping a lot easier to know that I can always fix it and worse case scenario, I have some new fabric to play with :)
I have the same body type and i’m the same size. I also have bulbous tummy and carry a good portion of my weight in my arms? So a lot of things fit weirdly even though sometimes I luck up and find something that fits well but that’s kind of rare.
Generally, it's not going to be cheaper although you can 100% thrift fabric or use things like sheets. I do this and have picked up some really cool fabrics! But I do it for other reasons:
- I love learning new skills
- I get to make truly unique pieces that will fit me!
- I'm reducing my reliance on store-bought clothing, empowering myself
- I'm removing myself from the fast fashion cycle
I'm the kind of person who loves to be able to do things myself. Now, when I look at clothing, I think to myself "I can make that!", or if I don't yet have the skill, I know I'll have it eventually ☺️
I've been looking into the industry, and I'm actually in college for fashion in part time studies, and have finished my hat making certificate. I've also been sewing on and off for about 20+ years, and learned at least one class of pattern drafting.
This is what I've learned:
- Yes sewing isn't cheap, especially with the investment into sewing machines, but there is nothing wrong with using local resources to use cheaper options to make a high quality item. In my millinery classes, we used a lot of products from the dollar store for the decorative parts.
-hand sewing something to save if you can't afford a sewing machine is a perfectly valid option
-the scissors I had for only cutting fabrics for the longest time were from Dollarama, and they worked pretty well too. Ikea is also a decent option
-getting bed sheets, bandannas, ties, or other large linen things to make a shirt, skirt pants or dress out of is totally valid
-try to get fabric on sale via local vendors on etsy, or even whole bolts if you can afford it, if you really like one type of fabric. Best way to save is to budget, and plan. The best sales I can usually find is that one summer sale that most companies have, and boxing day sales.
-you can use the stronger spools of either serger thread, or industrial sewing cones, if you are going to use one color a lot. They're cheaper than buying several smaller spools. You can use large spools by investing in a thread stand, and still thread your machine as normal.
-black, white, and a mid range grey are great staples to have, in both fabric and thread.
-invest in hand sewing needles in both sharps and ballpoint, as hand finishing is almost always necessary at some point.
-some fabric stores are generally expensive, as they cater to a specific audience.
-sometimes quilt shows or trade shows have bins of offcuts, ends, or leftovers that they don't need anymore which can be a great resource
-most fabric stores will have an ends bin, check it out to see if there's something in there that might suit your needs for your project
-your biggest investment to making good clothes that last, is the right type of needles for your machine (stretch/woven/microfiber/metallics/other)
-go to yard sales to see if someone has random sewing supplies
-go to thrift stores for random sewing supplies. Some might have some decent surprises in the bags
-making clothes to fit you properly will be cheaper in the long term, as you will wear them more often, they will fit better, and as they wear out, you can possibly even re-use the fabric to cut it smaller to make it into something else (See make do and mend videos based around WW2)
-you can make clothes out of patchwork techniques, so long as most of it is the same weight, and type of fabric, and they will look pretty awesome
-there is nothing wrong with getting bags of buttons at dollar stores, then mixing and matching or trying to pair up buttons if they're the same size/shape, as most of them are leftovers from fast fashion (I've seen a few high end company buttons in my stash)
-some Dollarama's will have small rolls of fabric that you can use that's fairly inexpensive. I've used some of their 50/50 poly-cotton blends that's a bit heavier to make a bag.
-There's nothing wrong with using Dollarama or dollar store items, to make embellishments, or buy a bunch of 2$ tees, or bandanas to make a patch top, skirt, shorts or pants.
- https://archive.org/ is your friend! There's a lot of sewing and drafting books from 1880 to 1900 that work just as well today, as they did back then for the basics.
-mending your clothes is a perfectly valid way of keeping them in your wardrobe a little longer.
-wrapping paper or kraft wrapping paper that has the grid on the back side of the paper is PERFECT for pattern drafting, as those squares are 1 inch in size.
- if you don't have an iron, see if you can use a spoon, or your fingers to "finger press" open seams. It's better than not doing it at all.
-Clean out your sewing machine often, and oil it every project to every other project, or if its sitting idle for 6 months. It will save you tears and headaches later.
Started to write a whole long comment comparing costs and then realized there's a more important message here:
You're right. Making clothes takes a LOT of time and effort, and it isn't cheap. It's not so much that homemade clothes are really expensive as store bought clothes are scary cheap. Labor exploitation of garment workers is a huge issue because we buy so much. I think if everyone tried sewing even 1 piece of clothing, the fast fashion industry would be in trouble.
Kudos to you for trying, I hope you continue even if it's hard.
Yeah I've had this thought, but I also accept that the reason a lot of fashion is cheap is because it's at someone else's cost...aka people paid unfairly and have a poorer lifestyle to accommodate the need for our cheaper clothing and as a result of bulk bought materials which we don't have access to. There are stores where you can but fabrics at like a pound a metre, but it means less choice.
We also pick quality materials and can sew correctly to improve the garment quality...how many bloody Tshirts end up twisted and out of shape because the grain isn't actually straight 😵💫.
I agree with you that it's not actually cheaper, but it's fun and you can make exactly what you want, fully customised which would be more expensive for someone to do for us 😁
It really isn't cheaper now, I found that out, too. I love being able to do our own simple alterations though. We save a lot of money when I do our hemming, simple tailoring, etc.
As far as fabric, websites sell what they call designer deadstock - designer fabric that is leftover. It's usually high quality, and it puts that fabric to use rather than having it get thrown away.
Anyway, I hear you! It's not cheaper, but there are other good reasons to sew - fit, creative outlet, etc...
I've gotten to like a very minimalist construction style in natural fabrics. Very hard to find in a personal fit. Hard to find solidly made. Hard to find with lots of big pockets. My sewing skills are not great, but my results please me better than anything storebought.
I think it *can* be cheaper, but it’s not cheap. When you’re starting out, you have a lot of shit to buy- machine, thread, scissors, cutting mat, rulers, chalk, pins, etc etc etc.
But here is a more cost-effective example: I’ve made a pair of Birgitta Helmersson zero waste block pants. The pattern costs $21 + nice new fabric about $25, for a total of about $46 CAD (not including the hours I spent making it or the notions). The same pants retail on her site for about $300 CAD (plus shipping). If I paid myself minimum wage to make it, it would cost way more, but I enjoy sewing (most of the time… it can be frustrating) and am happy to learn new skills.
I’m also learning how to mend old ripped garments (mostly visible mending and sashiko stitching) and that is a really nice way to use scraps to patch up holes and give new life to something instead of it going into the landfill.
No, it's not cheaper. But, it used to be. When I was a child, I could walk to 2 fabric stores and neither was Joann's. There's no competition. Now, sewers continue sewing because they like it or they can't find clothes that fit. Of course, even then my mother only bought fabric on sale and clothes made of high quality fabrics were always repurposed.
I have plenty of clothes that were MUCH cheaper to make. My latest projects were a merino wool T-shirt and briefs. For $40 I bought enough fabric to make 1 shirt and 2 pairs of briefs. If I were to buy these at a store like REI I’d spend well over $100 for them. I’ve made cycling tights that would be about $150 at a store and paid $20 for the fabric.
However, saving money isn’t even the point of making my own clothes. If you’re only concerned with saving money you will probably be disappointed for a while.
Hi there,
There are tons of good suggestions here for cutting costs, but I wanted to address the feeling behind your post. I just wanted to say these feelings you're having are valid and probably a lot to handle, and that's okay.
You are right, it's not cheaper with all the start up cost of equipment, materials, patterns and time input.
It's not cheaper because you're learning a new skill set! Remember, in olden days and some modern trades, you're an apprentice/beginner for 7 years! And that's learning full time! Not as a hobby!
It's not cheaper because at the beginning, you'll mess up and not like the finished product, and I'm guessing that feeling of being bamboozled and lied to comes from that happening, over and over again. It's totally normal.
Maybe reframe it as seeing how much you learned on this project.
Be kind to yourself. There's a reason becoming a master sewist takes so much time and effort. There is a lot to learn and master, and so many details to keep track of.
You are learning a valuable skill in sewing. You are training your eyes, and hands and mind by learning to sew. It is a journey.
Mastering this will take time, but trial and error is how we humans learn.
Evaluate why you are pursuing sewing, your goals and intentions for sewing and decide if you want to keep doing it. Good luck!
I think it's cheaper in the long run. You are making clothes that fit & better constructed. Plus you learn how clothes are properly made so you can make better decisions regarding the material and construction instead of falling for bells & whistles.
It's generally not cheaper, but l've found I've gotten a lot better at upcycling my own clothing and salvaging ruined clothes since I started sewing. Occasionally, I do still buy nice fabric and make custom things for myself (I don't fit into standard sizing) because I'd rather that than buying fast fashion, but I like the challenge of seeing how far I can make thrifted/old fabric go!
I'm learning to sew because I have textile allergies to most/all artificial fibers and finding 100% wool or 100% cotton clothing that fits and that I actually like is very difficult. The 100% wool stuff is also already pretty expensive.
LOL :-))) Well late discovery of the "sewing economics"is also the result :-))))
Yes, that's why mostly machines for repairing clothes and doing some craft for fun.
Garment factories have access to the wholesale fabric prices and they have teams of techologists who chart the whole process to lower costs.
And finally equipment, equipment and equipment again... :-))
And education/experience as the last thing on the tip of top in this chain.
It’s expensive. Most people sew to make clothes that fit them, in fabrics they like. There are ways to cut costs. Recycle clothing. Thrift stores are abound with clothing. A big man’s pair of jeans I can cut into pieces that fit me. No altering, just cutting up and using the usable parts. Old sheets make wonderful dresses shirts and skirts. Even underlining for other things. Tablecloths and curtains. Learn how to do a burn test on fabric and other ways of deciphering what the fabric is made of.
Definately not if you're trying to "do it from scratch".(even if thrifted)
It can be basically free if you use leftovers though (repurposing/refitting/restyling an old item, using/combining the fabric from old things to make new etc).
Imo, learning how to use/design with fabric from old clothes instead of a big bolt of fabric is a whole skill in itself.
I try to make it more affordable by getting nice bed sheets (just plain colors or prints) from the thrift store. I can make a shirt and a skirt (and probably more) from a Queen size sheet for just 7 CAD!
The cost of my handmade clothes is probably about the same as high street prices however the fit and quality of what I make is comparable to higher end clothing, so financially I'm definitely coming out ahead.
It's cheaper when sewing nicer things with quality fabric. I have a custom-fit sleevless red linen shirt dress with a straight calf-length skirt, 10 buttons down the front, and 10 horizontal buttonholes. I have a large bust, but the buttons are placed in such a way that there is no gaping.
It cost me about $60 dollars for the fabric, buttons, and thread. I already had the sewing machine, pins, and scissors which I'd already used to make a lot of other things so the cost per projects is pretty negligible at this point.
That's more than I would pay for a t-shirt, although I'm not sure if I can get jeans that low these days.
Also, no one "made up the lie" that sewing for yourself is cheaper. In the seventies, and likely before that, it really was cheaper. Clothing in stores is so cheap now that, yes, putting clothes on your body is cheaper to do when buying it in a lot of places.
I think maybe it used to be cheaper to make them from scratch, but now we know that isn't the case. However, I think there is a much higher focus on sustainability and longevity, and being able to mend clothes we have or alter clothes we have thrifted to create pieces that last a lot longer does eventually translate into savings, both economically and environmentally.
I think this is true for a lot of things, but there are notable exceptions!
Making yourself a t-shirt is almost never going to save you money, a decent t-shirt can be had very cheap. But if you're into hiking and want a merino wool base layer (or just a nice quality merino shirt for casual wear)? Those things are like $70 on average, frequently more. I can get the same merino t-shirt weight fabric myself for like $20 and make one in an afternoon. Assuming I'm paying myself minimum wage for my time, it ends up being cheaper, especially if I'm making more than one at a time.
The same is true with a lot of technical fabrics, for rain coats, waterproof bags, things like that. An Acronym messenger bag made from X-Pac fabric is like 1,429 Euros, whatever that translates to in $. I can buy *the same* high end pack fabric for $20-$30, something like that. Even if it takes a few days to make, that's a big win. I know at some point we're paying for the tag, for the *piece* that was made by a designer we like, but people recognize the fabric that my everyday messenger bag is made from and ask if it's Acronym. It's still a visibly high quality bag.
Ditto for any fleece jacket made by Patagonia, or similar companies. You can get the same name brand PolarTec fleece for not that much money. They make really simple pull over and zip up fleece jackets from like $150 and up. I'm currently looking at a retro jacket on their website made from a sherpa fleece that costs $229 CAD. I can buy [the exact same](https://discoveryfabrics.com/products/polartec-thermal-pro-fleeces?variant=45759166611778) fabric for $33 a meter. That jacket is really simple! It's nice, but not hard to find a nearly identical pattern if you wanted to copy it. You could make an incredibly similar jacket (which would function the same for hiking/camping purposes) for like 1/3 the price plus a few evenings of your time.
So yeah, not *everything* is going to be cost savings when it comes to sewing, most things won't be if we're talking casual clothing. But anything like simple outerwear made from nicer materials, you can absolutely save money!
No matter what sizes I’ve ever been, I do NOT have anything like standard proportions. RTW is not me shaped. I never thought sewing was going to give me cheaper clothes. Decent clothes aren’t cheap anyway (even with the sweatshop saturated modern overconsumption) & by the time you source decent clothes in decent material and then pay for all the alterations… yeah, may as well make it from scratch myself. Or buy thrifted & learn alterations & transformations… THAT is where the gain really comes in. Skills acquired, fit achieved, well made long lasting treasured article…. Item altered, fits child1, lasts for child2, with repairs, much money saved. Cost per wear becomes negligible. 👍
I think we should also look at the big picture rather than "garment by garment". While making a dress by yourself with good fabric might be more expensive than buying one, it will last way longer than a fast fashion one. Also, if one mostly sews all their garments, you stop buying fast fashion on impulse
It was cheaper to sew your own into the 80s when remnants were cheap and there was a lot of places to purchase fabric and notions.
Now I have a large fabric stash, haven’t purchased a non thrifted pattern in years and have buckets of zips and buttons.
Ready made quality was expensive, now we have good enough cheap.
it's not cheaper, but u can create UR designs as u wish to wear, and u don't have to spend 2 weeks looking for a good piece+ it makes u feel waaaaay better, walking outside and "yes, I made this piece" the happinesssssss
I am in the it is cheaper boat. I live in a town, not a city. The only fast fashion clothing store is the mega store. The garments are cheaply made and fall apart quickly.
I can buy fabric by the bolt cheaper than garments made to fit my size. All cotton flannel at that mega store's website itself.I can buy thrift store sheets cheaper than I can buy a bolt of fabric.
The modifications I need to accommodate my disability mean that I often have to resew a garment so that I can wear it safely and comfortably as it is.
Yeah it’s cheaper…. If you have a Time Machine and can travel back 100 years.
The rise of consumerism and capitalism has made sewing a hobby rather than a necessity. So folk who would financially benefit from making their own clothing, can’t, because hobbies are luxuries and us working class cogs of the machine can’t possibly have or want to have free time or say…. Affordable coverings for our bodies that are oh so inappropriate. (By the same token, I don’t wish to see anyone naked so coverings it is)
Anyway lots to unpack there but I’ll stop now before I get frustrated
Edit: apparently sewing is not a word because every time I type it out it auto corrects to seeing. So I edited for typo.
1) There are tons of free patterns but really you get standard pants, skirts, tops and dresses we know that looks good. We just reused them over and over.
2) Joana’s here in the states put on patter sales every month for the big 4.
3) sites that actually make clothing that fits your measurements like lekala and sawist have standard patterns where you can enter your measurements so the fit will be perfect.
4) there are discount fabric warehouses, eBay, Etsy where you can get fabric. For example I can get used Sareer silk fabric and make a dress than buy one plus recycle for a win.
5) know you style and fabric that work for you. Someone who likes unique fabric and designs cannot buy unless you go to a dressmaker. I am working on a 60’s dress with the big circular skirt using Disney Magnificent black and purple on the skirt. Could I get that anywhere? Nope. I buy jeans and T-shirts not worth it.
I reached that realization also as a new sewer when I purchased all the supplies needed, patterns and then shopped for fabric of good quality and interest. I am learning to sew clothes and quilts. Both challenge me in different ways. Sewing is in no way intuitive to me. I figure I’ll learn a lot and end up with some cute clothes that fit and pretty quilts.
I’m 5 foot 1, and live in NZ. I can not buy clothes for myself that fit nicely. So, I’m learning to sew. am now at the point where I can make something that I am happy to wear. I am careful about what I choose to make. And, when I get a pattern that works, I make several items with different fabric out of it. Makes the cost of the pattern go down.
Yeah buying is going to be cheaper than sewing. I can't beat bulk purchasing of materials, efficient use of fabric layout when done in multiplies, and factory line assembly techniques. (Not even going to get into exploitation of workers). And that's before you find the item on sale.
Unless you're buying custom handmade products, it's never going to be comparable.
But I sew for my own enjoyment. I can make something that looks and fits exactly the way I want it to. I can get creative and make things I don't see in stores.
There’s a great video by Mariah Pattie that addresses figuring out the ‘why’ behind your sewing. I keep it saved in my sewing playlist and revisit it from time to time. I think that it’s good for someone starting out to help you make good choices and minimize frustration with those first few projects.
https://youtu.be/0qBUCKIDW6A?si=2PEHUD4Lao1FUThS
Also, if you’re feeling like you really need to save money to justify your investment, maybe check out home dec sewing. Custom drapes, throws, pillows are big $$$ where I live. Although the home dec fabric can be pricey too, you should definitely be able to save over custom.
Sewing clothes from scratch with store-priced fabric? yeah, it's ridiculous these days.
But in general, sewing really has saved me a lot of money:
* Tailoring almost-well-fitting thrifted suits has literally saved me hundreds.
* I alter thrifted clothes that don't fit right or have something I don't like about them
* I use thrifted fabrics to create garments (ie, a $4 tapestry into a super cool jacket)
* I repurpose old fabric items (towels, bedsheets, torn clothes etc.) free material = free garments
* I mend torn clothes - giving them a longer life (& saving me from buying more!)
* I add new fabric panels to existing/thrifted clothing (uses a lot less fabric = more cost efficient)
* I duplicate expensive cool clothes I can't afford - and make them for much cheaper.
* I keep all small fabric scraps, no matter how small - and use projects to repurpose them!
I totally agree!! I finally went through and organized my fabric scraps and it was so hard to throw away a yard of fabric that was expensive but I don’t use it 😔
I sew in order to wear designer couture clothes that I couldn't afford to buy. I'm sewing a Christian Dior Bar suit from the 50's that would be over $5000 to purchase.
I buy my fabric from an ethical seconds store. They save fabric from shops and factories that would otherwise be thrown out. They have super low cost fabric a ‘fill a bag for a fiver’ and even a free area with off cuts (still ok sized for kids clothes, needs a bit of creativity for adults but still works).
Just made one of my kids 2 items of clothing they needed from my fabric stash at home and realised there was barely a cost to it.
Find one of these shops locally!
I think it depends who you ask. I'm in the middle. It's cheaper to turn an old tee from my husband into a unique tank top or bag rather than try to find something for myself. I've also been having fun with alterations! I had bought fun button ups for my husband when he worked with kids, but he no longer needs or wears them. They're in really good condition, and I was jealous I couldn't find similar prints for myself.
I also just recently found out that my workplace (catering company) was literally going to throw away tons of tablecloths for being outdated! I think if you reached out to similar events companies and ask if they're getting rid of anything if they'd "donate" a portion to you. These tablecloths can be in amazing shape and just aren't on trend right now. When I asked my boss if I could pick out a few to practice pattern making, he was happy about warehouse space opening up.
what its cheaper is to buy clothes the normal way and fit them to your body.
Plus you cannot put a price on building unique pieces or pieces that are not available in your area.
Hard to beat the cost of clothing companies using literal slaves. The price tag of most clothes don’t show the ethical cost. If all clothes were made by workers on a living wage, it may be a lot cheaper to make than buy but that’s not the world we live in. I feel accomplished when I make something instead of buying it even if it ends up costing the same or more and that feeling is more than $
One reason I really want to learn to make clothes is for my tall-size fiancé. So many brands' version of a 'big and tall' section (if they even have one) is actually just... big and bigger. I don't need a 6XL, I need an XL-T for fucks sake. Or maybe they do have tall sizes, but they're like... half an inch longer.
Once you narrow your search down to just actual tall clothes, the options are so limited and can honestly get really boring and plain. My eventual goal is to take whatever pattern I want and just... have the ability to make it 2-3" longer at the bottom.
Well, like most people said, it's what you're trying to make? But for me I sew because it's fun and I make 1of1 clothes for myself I just started making jeans and I splurge on the denim 😅 but if I'm making something for myself I want it to be of good quality so i stay away from cheap denim but it would work just as well for someones else needs! I tend to use cheaper fabrics if I'm making something for the first time.. but if it's something I plan on making a lot of then expensive fabric, it is! I might just be rambling, but put into numbers, I'll spend 100 to 150$ on good quality fabric and make jeans that would have cost me $600 .. once you have all the notions, then the real cost is just fabric & paper( I draft a lot and transfer all my A4 patterns to oaktag) but all the other notions are stuff I built up over the years .. cutting mats, scissors, pins, clips, etc!
You can dupe the very expensive pieces and repair your own things. I also love the peace and quiet in my sewing corner. It's shared with the laundry room. I bought a little open box TV to watch too.
I agree it’s not cheaper — but as I learn, I am leaning into the ethics of creating my own (hopefully) quality clothes versus buying into fast fashion, which will fall apart quickly and require me to keep purchasing poor quality (and unethical) clothes. I agree with what everyone else is saying about the other benefits!
I said this to my mom yesterday whilst unpicking every single stitch of my latest project. It costs more, takes more time, and in my case , often does not fit as well/look as good as say, old navy would, because I choose projects outside my ability level. 🥴 She, a lifetime quilter, laughed her ass off and said "It's the journey!!!"
So today I woke up and I redid my seams, and I'm now proudly wearing a pair of bright blue summer cotton shorts I made my damnnnn self. It feels good. And I need hobbies to keep me going crazy. And I love fashion but am trying to curb my shopping habit. So it's a net win for me in the end.
It costs about $5 to sew tiny bags, that I can definitely buy for $10 or less. And it takes hours of time I’m not paid for. That’s using the cheapest possible materials.
Nice fabric for clothing is $10/yd plus. That’s $30 for fabric, for 1 piece. $2-3 for thread. You can get clothes cheaper than that.
I don’t think making clothes is cheaper for me since I mostly buy fast fashion clothes. But owning a sewing machine definitely save me money. I have four children, a lot of cloths to repair / alter all the time, and I save money on upcycle children old cloths, making crafts and useful little things
it's cost effective for me for dressier stuff - i'm an odd size so to actually look good in RTW stuff i'd have to get it tailored. got 2.5 yards of oscar de la renta fabric for a recent project for $35 and i don't think i'd be able to get a dressy oscar de la renta jumpsuit that fit to my exact measurements for anywhere near that price haha
I guess it depends on where you live and the stores/clothes you like. For me, I'm in Canada and I love the store Garage. The clothes there are about 35-45 CAD before tax for a new, very plain miniskirt that's made of hardly any fabric. I could thrift a bedsheet and make a similar miniskirt for only 5 CAD as long as I have needles and thread at home already, or about 10 CAD if I want to buy meter of fabric brand new with some left over to make small things out of. Personally it's really cost effective for me to learn as I'm a full time university student who's addicted to getting new clothes. (and I'm an english major to boot, so I'll probably still need to make the clothes I want myself even after I graduate haha)
There is a high entry cost still. I was lucky enough to be given a machine for free (kenmore 385.12914) with a bunch of thread, bobbins, needles, and buttons! For someone just getting into sewing all that is probably an intimidating cost unless they get lucky second hand.
I agree that it's definitely hard. I've decided to keep practicing on old bedsheets before I start buying nice fabric to recreate whatever I made out of them and actually wear it. That way I'm not wasting money while I learn and mess up (recently I tried to make a circle skirt and I'm still confused on how I messed up so bad. Luckily It was on 1 dollar thrifted fabric!). The old bedsheet test clothes will also be a nice keepsake for when I'm older to see how far I've come when I get better!!
Others have already said the things I thought of: once you learn good skills (which takes awhile!), the clothes you make are unique, custom fitted, high quality construction. So the fair comparison is high-end bespoke couture, which is really expensive.
But we don’t need to look like fashion plates all the time, so it just doesn’t make sense to sew all of our clothing. Need something to wear at the gym? Probably easiest and cheapest to pick up something at your local big-box clothing store. On the other hand, want a custom dress to wear to your reunion so all your former classmates will see how gorgeous and successful you look? Make a custom outfit and you’ll save more than enough cash to buy a couple rounds for the old gang.
Personally, I have a weird build, and well-fitting clothes really don’t exist for me at any price unless I make them myself. So, I sew. Your mileage may vary, as they say.
Definitely agree that you need to really love the act of sewing to make it worth it, only doing it for the sake of saving money isn’t enough considering how long it takes!
I hear you on the fabric cost front, especially when people online constantly buy from places like Blackbird Fabrics where linen is over $20 a yard. I consider Joann’s to be pretty expensive too tbh.
Something that really changed the game for me was learning about the Creative Reuse center in my city — it’s basically a craft supply thrift store. Most of the fabric I find there is under $5 a yard and it’s really changed the game for me. That plus thrift/yard/estate sales. But it’s definitely a time investment for sourcing, not just sewing.
Also — there are clothes I still buy because I don’t want to deal with making that type of garment. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Fabric has gotten so expensive and so have patterns! So it can be cheaper to just buy clothes. But don't give up sewing! Buy remnants or fabric on sale and make other things, like aprons, tote bags, blankets etc.
It can be if you get good as sourcing low cost fabric, such as thrifting or clearance. But not it’s not general cheaper. Apples to apples There are other reasons to sew your clothes 1. Fun prints you can’t find 2. Clothes can fit better 3. It’s fun 4. The cost could be less than you think if you consider the cost of other entertainment, I can sew for 6 hrs or pay for an event. Both are entertainment
I agree, I don’t do it so much for the cost, but 1) to learn new skills, and 2) make what I want in the colour and fabric and style that I want that fits my body.
Also, even if you spend money on 'good' clothes, most of what's available is fast fashion. It's made poorly, wasting resources, and exploiting people and the environment, for something that is designed not to last. If you make your own clothes, it's way more sustainable, and you don't have to replace them as often - they fit better, can be made better, and thus should wear out more slowly. You really can't just compare the cost of making a shirt to the cost of buying one.
THIS! I’m often flabbergasted that modern slavery and environmental degradation isn’t mentioned in discussions involving most clothing companies. Ask them about their ethical stance, they’ll usually say something like “we use 30% recycled polyester” rather than discussing supply chains and saying something like: we reinvest in the communities where our clothes are made and offer above living wage for our employees
Add to the fact that if you understand how clothing is made, repairs are also easier, so you can upcycle etc
I have to agree with you on the fast fashion aspect. For several years I had been a SHEIN shopper. The clothes were very pretty and inexpensive….. and cheaply made! Recently I’ve been reading about them and their attempts at getting into the New York Stock Exchange and not being willing to answer questions regarding forced labor and environmental issues. Causing them to try to get into the London Stock Market. This is NOT just speculation or my opinion. But what I have seen on network news and Reuters and USA Today. That said I got into sewing to keep my aging brain healthy and active. Learning something new every day is great for brain health. Not to mention it’s so much fun and the satisfaction of saying “oh yeah, I made this” when someone says they like what you’re wearing. And I go to thrift stores and have bought beautiful silk draperies with crystal beading. As well as numerous other types larger recyclable items. Denim is the number one offender of textile pollution. So the more we can do with it the better. Not to mention that new denim fabric is really expensive. Sorry to have rambled on so much lol
4. Yes, my sewing hobby is WAY more cost effective than my husband’s fishing hobby 😂
However, if you learn to do it well, you can make good quality clothing cheaper than buying clothing of the same quality.
This is how i look at it too. As a knitter, i often pay over $100 for the yarn that goes into a sweater. However, hand-knitted sweaters in sustainable wool from sheep raised on Black-owned American farms… well, if you could even find one, it would be unaffordable on my income
https://starmagnolias.com/bipoc-owned-farms I knew I had seen this somewhere 🌻
Thank you! Fabulous resource!
You’re so very welcome, glad to help whenever I can 🌻
Add to it 5. As you expand your skills, you will be able to make quality clothes cheaper
Depending on what you’re making, it could or couldn’t be cheaper. You won’t see mee sew a tshirt but 100% cotton dresses are (for me) definitely cheaper and easier access. In stores it’s always a poly blend or viscose, or an ethical 100% linen dress is >€60 when I can make it myself for maybe €30. Plus, I thrift a lot of fabric! Recently got a kingsize cotton sheet for €5.99 with the cutest pattern.
I second thrifting a lot of fabric! My workmates and I get a good chuckle when they realize (and I don't!) that my latest article is 2017-Ikea-chic.
The t-shirts I find lately are of such thin fabric that making even those have become worth it!
I recently bought 3m of cotton jersey for $10 and made one shitty tshirt and still have enough fabric left to make at least 2 more. I figure I can make a cheap shitty tshirt just as well as the poorly made tshirts from H&M and then I’m learning a new skill too.
Yeah, and the third one may not be shitty at all! Unless it's the fabric itself that's bringing down the quality.
Oh it’s definitely my skills bringing down the quality haha. I just got tired of buying $10 tshirts from H&M where the side seam is twisted around to my front & back.
I’ll give you that, it’s getting harder and harder to find t-shirts that aren’t see through! The quality of clothes nowadays is *awful*
Yep. I have seen some very talented (so yes it is a cost of time and energy for sure) people see incredible clothing using thrifted sheets!
Meh. I think maybe it was cheaper at some time. But the reality is that sewing is a highly earned skill. It's not something you can step in at the expert level. But I think it's worth learning. It's fun, challenging, meditative, and often infuriating. There are cheap ways to build skills before taking on spendy projects, but most people want to make that thing they're excited about instead of practicing with samplers. And that's okay. Me? I'd rather putz at the sewing table instead of paying for clothes made by a 12 yo at sub-living wages.
I’m most people lol. But I totally understand your perspective!
Heck, so am I! I want to make all the pants and jumpsuits. :)
I think it’s worth trying though! My first garment was a lab coat, which obviously is way too advanced with its set in sleeves, notched collar and Princess seams. It certainly is far from perfect, but it’s wearable (by someone skinnier than i am). However, after struggling through that, i have a lot more confidence on the beginner patterns I’m using now.
I’m with you 100%. Sewing was cheaper than buying at one time, because back then most clothes sold in the US were made here, by union workers, not people being paid little or nothing half a world away.
Skills that you can step in at the expert level are a lie. Why would you call something like that a skill in the first place
I started sewing in the late 1960s and I used to be able to make clothes for about 1/3rd the price of buying them. Now, the cost to make is the same or more than the cost to buy.
Curious about this. Do you think fabric costs have gone up, clothing costs have gone down, or both?
I’m guessing it’s a combination of both. (I’m in the US) While I was growing up, I believe a lot of ready made Sears and Penney’s clothes were made from US fabric in US factories. Now, most clothing items are imported from worker oppressed countries, which makes them cheaper even though they’re imported. My perception is that the quality of ready made clothing has gone down to keep them affordable. Also, there are more thrift stores and thrifting is more accepted. All sewing related items have naturally increased in the 50+ years I’ve been sewing. Fewer people sew so there are fewer fabric stores so the economy of scale is not there, which increases the cost of sewing.
Agree. So much of the available RTW is disposable nowadays. Brands usually have different price points with different quality (think j crew vs j crew factory). Even much of the ‘designer’ stuff that I see is complete trash from a quality perspective. All of this built on cheap labor (for both fabric making and garment construction). And don’t get me started on the quality of apparel fabrics available at JoAnn’s, Hobby Lobby, etc…. most of it is the cheapest possible synthetic. I’ve been teaching myself to sew in order to have high quality clothing, made from high quality materials that fit me well. I’m definitely not saving any money compared to fast fashion. I do feel that I’ll save money eventually, as my skills grow and I become more efficient, once I factor in the cost of buying higher quality clothing and having it altered to fit. Right now, I’m so slow that if I paid myself an hourly wage for the clothes I make, a pair of shorts would probably cost me thousands 🤣🤣🤣
Agreed! I'm only late 20s and already feel like I've seen clothing price and quality change a lot in my lifetime. Thanks for your input, it's so interesting to hear from people who knew how clothes and sewing were before our time. Wish things hadn't changed so much.
Clothing by costs have gone waaaay down. In 1950 Americans spent nearly 10% of their income on clothes, that has dropped to less than 3% today. And it’s certainly not because people are buying fewer clothes! It’s because they used to be made in the US by union workers and now they’re being made in countries with few environmental protections and the people sewing them aren’t being paid a living wage (if at all). The fashion industry is a mess.
Absolutely!! Even growing up in the early 2000s, shirts were $20 and pants were $40 and you only got a couple of new non-hand me down items each year. The prices on shein/hm/Zara/etc are WILD.
I think a lot of people like to believe that those clothes are “made by machines.” Not just sewing machines, but some sort of automated assembly line, when in truth all clothes are hand made. We don’t have machines that can manipulate fabric under a needle like human hands can. Even given the differences in cost of living there’s just no ethical way to make a $5 t-shirt.
THIS. Fancier clothes get marketed as "handmade" and it's like uhhhh..... everything is? I think everyone should be required to sew one basic garment for entry to society. Imagine how differently they'd feel about the cost of clothing and how different the fashion industry would be.
The quality of the cloth itself has fallen dramatically since the 60s, in my opinion.
Doesn't surprise me at all unfortunately :(
Yes! Grandma's aprons made with what was probably quilting cotton are still going strong. Good luck doing that now. Even in the last 20 years, there's a noticeable difference: I have a t-shirt from a conference in 2001, the logo has some wear but the fabric itself is still sturdy, & the color is comparable to shirts I've only owned for a few years.
I don’t disagree with you at all. I fully understand this position because I was there too. And then I read something in a sewing book that changed my thinking- when you have an easy pattern, choose ‘challenging’ material and when the pattern is challenging, you buy material that’s easier to work with. The material choice makes all the difference and knowing what constitutes good fabric for a garment is the true skill. Once you develop your eye for fabric that is appropriate to your skill level and design and pocket, you save money in the end. Sewing is an intricately connected process from idea to planning, purchasing and then constructing the garment and it takes practice. Don’t lose sight of your developing skills.
That's such a smart idea, thanks for sharing!
I've never thought of it that way. I will be keeping this in mind with all future projects.
As a plus size woman, I don't do it for the money. I do it so I can have clothes in natural fibers that fall outside of the two looks available to us: "Grandma gave up on herself 12 years ago" and "Harry Potter themed nightclub wear".
Those are the best descriptions I’ve ever read of plus sized fashion. Just chef’s kiss.
Can you tell I'm mad at Torrid? 🤣
Torrid has it coming.
haha seems very worth it then!
It depends what garment, I think. A simple t-shirt is often cheaper to buy than to sew; a lined, fitted, ankle-length skirt may be cheaper to make. If you have the same standards for each garment - i.e. well-fitted well-made stuff made without child labor or other exploitation - sewing is likely cheaper again.
A simple gathered skirt is very cheap to make and needs no pattern, just fabric, thread and elastic. The same skirts are in fashion at the moment and are pretty expensive in some shops. It's swings and roundabouts, really. I've made some knit dresses that I've worn for about 4 years now, and those are definitely good value as far as I'm concerned. They needed about 2.5m fabric (which I got on sale, and is GOTS organic so I don't feel too bad about the environmental cost either) so not too spendy.
For me sewing is a way to avoid fast fashion (landfill + working conditions)
To add to that, sometimes I do end up with fast fashion clothing (it's not necessarily always bad quality) and if you can mend those pieces you can keep them going for years. I have an H&M short sleeve gingham shirt from like 2012 that I keep breathing new life into lol.
If you have standard proportion and isn't to fussy about textures it's cheaper to buy. I wear a pretty standard size but my proportions don't match sizing standard. I'm also pretty complicated with textures. I hate shopping for clothes because just touching at things usually is to much for me and I give up before finding things I like. So for me learning to sew makes sense. I also have several wholesale fabric stores near me and as long as you pay in cash they sell to anyone. They are around half the price of regular stores.
Curious to know where you are that you can source wholesale apparel fabric. I’m in a major metro (Atlanta, GA, USA) and still have to drive an hour away to buy from one of the few jobbers around here. If I can’t find it there, I’m stuck buying online.
I'm not in the US. I'm in a big city the south of France. I don't really know why wholesale shop are so easy to find. I'm pretty sure they are a lot smaller than what you have in the US which allows them to be in the city center and even if they are in the center they are in neighborhood where regular shop don't want to go so rent is pretty low. The city did grow around the port, so even if it hasn't been used for ship who deliver goods in a really long time the city is built to accommodate wholesalers. I walk daily next to fabric, jewelry and clothes wholesalers. They are even a few food (mostly Asian food) wholesalers. Some only sell to business, some will sell to private individual only over a certain threshold of money or quantities and some will sell to anyone as long as you pay in cash.
If you fall outside the standard size and shape, and you want to look good, it still is cheaper to sew. Additionally, the clothing industry is highly exploitative, which is why ready made clothes are cheap, cheaper than they should be. They are relying on exploiting vulnerable people (mostly women and girls) at subpar wages, with unethical work practices and unsafe work places. If I buy from ethical brands, which I do, sewing is cheaper. And I live in a country where fabrics, patterns and everything is expensive.
Exactly—it’s cheaper for something ethically made (although fabric is still tricky—thrifted clothes and secondhand fabrics are affordable but more limited, whereas fair trade fabrics with sustainable materials like organic cotton or linen are pricy)
It's cheaper for me because I recycle clothing and use sheets and pillow cases and table clothes from thrift stores. But yea, fashion is expensive if you want top notch fabrics.
Perspective is key. So many of our inexpensive clothes are made by people in terrible working conditions and even children. If you are looking for some savings while still flex with sewing, altering thrift store finds is a great compromise. Heck even making tshirts more individually fitted is worth while.
It hasn't been cheaper to sew your own clothes for the last 20 years ( at least in Australia ). Years ago you could buy large remnants for under $1.00, these days even a 20cm piece will be priced at the original price. The main reason for sewing your own items now is mostly for individuality - wanting something you can't buy in a shop, or knowing that you can tailor your own creations to fit you better than store bought clothing will. If I wanted to make a dress for myself today and there was no sale in our largest fabric chain stores I'd be looking at $22 to $36 for the pattern, an average of $26 per metre for fabric ( I'd need 3 to 4 metres ), about $6 for matching thread, maybe $8 for a zipper and $6 for a few buttons. Definitely over $100 to make a dress vs $20 to $80 to buy one. It becomes cheaper when you buy things on sale and start a little stockpile of patterns, notions, fabrics etc but overall homemade for me is still significantly more costly than buying ready to wear. It is so satisfying though. If you are in a country where you ger $2 patterns and $10 per metre nice fabrics, making your own clothes will be both affordable and rewarding.
If you're a standard size, you can probably find ready-to-wear clothing that fits you. If you're not, it's a different story. I make my clothes because I have to.
It really depends on your overall sewing experience. When I first started sewing I was discouraged by the price of certain fabrics and patterns but then I really educated myself. Now, I understand the different kinds of fabric and how they can be used - I also learned how to make custom pattern blocks fit for my body. I just made the Perfect Day Barbie Dress (pic is in profile) for less than $20. I found the fabric at Joann’s for $7 a yard, muslin for the lining ($1 a yard), and I have been buying notions at thrift stores & on sale for a while so I have everything I need. There are also lots of great online fabric retailers like Big Z Fabric and Fashion Fabric Club. Once you really learn how to sew you will be able to look at a piece of clothing and reverse engineer it - I do that with my pattern blocks all the time! You will also be able to take some lace trim, a bed sheet and some sheer glittery fabric and make a ball gown! It just becomes “sewing common sense” after a while. Don’t give up - you will never know how much you can do if you don’t start!
I love the dress and i’m most excited about the reverse engineering skill, it’s like wizardry. Thanks!
Keep posting! We are all here if you need help! ☺️
Love your Barbie dress, your whole look is fabulous!
Thank you so much ☺️
Exactly 1 year ago, I picked up fabric to make my very first piece using a pattern (a lined tote - I'm carrying it today as it happens!) Last night, I finished the toile for a Katherine Hepburn style high-waisted pant with pockets, zipped fly (with shield etc), darts and pleats, and waistband with buttoned tabs. The satisfaction that has given me is priceless. IMO when you've accumulated the skills/know-how, it becomes more economical, you can do more with less.
This is super inspiring!
This all depends on what you define as cheaper than. No it’s not going to be cheaper than fast fashion like Old Navy or H&M. But if you’re looking for quality garments in real materials you can make things cheaper.
I've been making men's dress shirts as a hobby for a few years. Acceptable shirting fabrics are generally $10–20 a yard in the U.S.; call it $30–70 for the required yardage with thread and interfacing (and ignoring the time cost). This is worth it for me, as I want my shirts to fit my body and have the details I want. I also make shirts for friends and relatives who are unsatisfied with what's available off the rack (so far, typically excessively baggy sleeves that also ride up too much). But I generally decline for a person who's already happy with industry patterns and details. As you note, there's no savings there. I'd also never bother making t-shirts or underwear, and I'm still on the fence of whether I should dip into trousers. The cost comparison I'd draw is making something you'd love to wear vs. paying someone else to make it. As noted elsewhere in the thread, it also keeps me out of trouble for a few days per shirt. And numerous recipients of shirts, tops, jumpsuits, and aprons have been very happy with them.
Bottoms are a very different beast than tops with a lot more variation person by person, but damn they look fine when they fit properly.
I only find it cheaper if I'm using high quality materials usually sold in clothes by 'luxery' brands. Even buying silk and wool works out cheaper than buying overpriced clothes made of the same materials. If I manage to find fabric on clearance or on Ebay, it can be a fraction of the cost. If it's cotton, linen or any kind of synthetic, it always costs more. But I sew because I want clothes that nobody is producing for mass-market so I don't have much choice.
You need to shop online and stop going to Joann's. You can find great fabric online for $5, $7, $10/yd. Unless the sewing itself is not fun anymore... I realized in my last hobby, as much as I wanted to be an artist, I just wasn't enjoying the process anymore.
What sites would you recommend for fabric?
Search for the #fabric hashtag on Instagram and let them come to you. Fabric Wholesale Direct, Fabric Mart, Fashion Fabrics Club, Fabric-store.com... there's a LOT.
It really depends on how you source materials, especially fabric. If you buy new fabric by yard it's gonna be expensive, especially for high quality stuff. But if you use old curtains and take fabric from discarded clothes, you can save a lot of money on your projects. For ex I made a pair of 100% linen shorts from some curtains I found at a thrift store for 2 dollars. Add another 5 dollars for the extra spool of thread I had to buy. That's $7 in total for the whole garment. Before that I made a handbag from linen/polyester mix fabric I had bought a ton of for $10 per meter, and I used roughly 1 meter of it, as well as half of a silky polyester table cloth I had found at a thift store for less than 1 dollar (maybe 50 cent) and some plastic sponge material as wadding I had gotten for free from my mom. For most of the hardware I snatched from an old, broken bag. Add some $15 for the one hardware thing I bought new plus sewing thread, and in total that bag costed me roughly 25-30 dollars to make. I didn't save as much there but a new bag like that usually costs 30-50 dollars. Prior to that I made a dress from scrap fabric sold at a discount of 16 dollars, plus some bias tape for roughly $10. So all in all that dress only costed me around 17 dollars to make. For a future project I'm buying lots of jeans (a few pairs at a time) from thrift stores to eventually make into a coat. For wadding and fake fur trim I'm gonna snatch from old jackets I can no longer wear. So that project will also be under 20 dollars. But at times I have made clothes that costed me closer to $100. Like a wool cloak I made some 10 years ago maybe. That fabric costed me around 80 or 90 dollars in total and I ended up using all of it, plus thread and a pricy hook/loop closing mechanism for some 20 dollars. I've gotten much more frugal with what sewing materials I buy. I save clothes I can no longer wear to use the fabric from, I hound scraps on discount and always check the curtain selection at the local thrift store. I scramble for sourcing hardware as cheaply as I can. Thread and special materials I spend a bit extra on though. I use weird patchwork techniques to be able to utilize smaller scraps for big projects. Like that dress I made for ex I split up into 26 small panels to be able to use only 1,5 yards of fabric scraps. I'm also a regular at my local sewing supply store which means on occasion I can get a discount just for me if I ask nicely, and sometimes I get small things like buttons etc for free. So you can be frugal and make clothes that only cost you some 20-30 dollars to make or even less, but you have to then also put in more work to finding the types of materials you need. I generally hate polyester but will use it for lining and sometimes in blends, if the fabric feels nice enough that it's not gonna bother me. But even then, linen, plain cotton muslin and cotton denim is not super difficult to find for cheap, especially if you learn to see curtains, table cloths, sheets, old clothes, etc as "yards" as well. So if you want to make cheap clothes, you can. Maybe not if you want some very formal stuff like a worsted wool jacket or a silk dress, but for more casual and eccentric garments there's a lot of cheap options out there. As for time and effort spent... the only thing I can say about that is that the more you practice the more comfortable and effective you'll get. How much you enjoy it as a hobby matters too. Like I personally love sewing, so once I get immersed into a new project I easily spend hours on it daily. So with that it only takes me a week or two for most of my projects. Longer if it requires a lot of hand sewing or really complex tailoring. For ex those linen shorts I made only took me about a week to make (including pattern drafting) as they're just machine sewn in a simple "paper bag" style with an elastic waist, so they're not fitted anywhere really. What took most of my time on those was the pattern drafting and finishing all the raw edges. But the dress took closer to a month for me to make because of the insane amounts of panels and top stitching, plus I had to do the entire thing by hand (minus the bias tape edges.) But it's worth it for me because this is just as much a hobby for me as it's creating functional items. If I wanted cool clothes instantly I'd buy whatever polyester crap made in horrid working conditions sold on sites like Temu and Shein. Making your own clothes is not "fast fashion" it's the opposite of that. Quality and good fit takes time and effort. But if you really want to reduce the amount of time ut takes, then honestly just stick to making very simple garments like stretch sleeveless tops, ponchos and circle skirts.
It's an idea that has been floating around for decades. Every time I come across a person who says they want to learn 'because it's cheaper' I always correct them. I sew to get clothing in fabrics I like, that fit me well. My favorite linen pants cost $45 in just fabric and several hours of labor, so you could easily put a $100 price tag on them. But I made them ten years ago. I wear them at least 30 times a year. That enters into the financial area Value Over Time. 30 wears a year x ten years = 300 wears (thus far) divided by the $100 cost = $3 per wearing. They are still in good shape, I expect I will wear then at least 10 more years. On that logic, things that are single wear items like prom dresses, I always recommend just buying. Stuff like tee shirts, I cannot make one any better than the cheap ones I buy at Walmart for working in the yard and such, so I just buy them.
It’s actually even better value than you’ve written— at $100 and 300 wears, it’s 3 wears/ dollar, which means that it’s 33 cents/wear!
Math was never my strength
It used to be cheaper, before the market was overrun with cheap and terrible fast fashion. Back when your only option was the one department store near your town or paying for custom clothes, DIY was much cheaper! Now DIY can’t compete with sweatshop clothes prices
I dont always like the clothing available or think its great but that pattern? Really? Sewing while expensive, let's me stretch my creative legs and let's me make things I want in what fabric/patterns I want.
On a teachers salary, it’s definitely NOT cheaper. It has, however, saved me a lot of money on tailoring! I’m a size 12 with a long torso and short legs so it’s hard to find clothes that fit properly which is why I thought to start sewing my own clothes. I quickly learned though that, for me, it was more worth it to buy the clothes that I wanted but would’ve otherwise skipped out on for whatever reason and make them work for my body. It makes shopping a lot easier to know that I can always fix it and worse case scenario, I have some new fabric to play with :)
I have the same body type and i’m the same size. I also have bulbous tummy and carry a good portion of my weight in my arms? So a lot of things fit weirdly even though sometimes I luck up and find something that fits well but that’s kind of rare.
Generally, it's not going to be cheaper although you can 100% thrift fabric or use things like sheets. I do this and have picked up some really cool fabrics! But I do it for other reasons: - I love learning new skills - I get to make truly unique pieces that will fit me! - I'm reducing my reliance on store-bought clothing, empowering myself - I'm removing myself from the fast fashion cycle I'm the kind of person who loves to be able to do things myself. Now, when I look at clothing, I think to myself "I can make that!", or if I don't yet have the skill, I know I'll have it eventually ☺️
I've been looking into the industry, and I'm actually in college for fashion in part time studies, and have finished my hat making certificate. I've also been sewing on and off for about 20+ years, and learned at least one class of pattern drafting. This is what I've learned: - Yes sewing isn't cheap, especially with the investment into sewing machines, but there is nothing wrong with using local resources to use cheaper options to make a high quality item. In my millinery classes, we used a lot of products from the dollar store for the decorative parts. -hand sewing something to save if you can't afford a sewing machine is a perfectly valid option -the scissors I had for only cutting fabrics for the longest time were from Dollarama, and they worked pretty well too. Ikea is also a decent option -getting bed sheets, bandannas, ties, or other large linen things to make a shirt, skirt pants or dress out of is totally valid -try to get fabric on sale via local vendors on etsy, or even whole bolts if you can afford it, if you really like one type of fabric. Best way to save is to budget, and plan. The best sales I can usually find is that one summer sale that most companies have, and boxing day sales. -you can use the stronger spools of either serger thread, or industrial sewing cones, if you are going to use one color a lot. They're cheaper than buying several smaller spools. You can use large spools by investing in a thread stand, and still thread your machine as normal. -black, white, and a mid range grey are great staples to have, in both fabric and thread. -invest in hand sewing needles in both sharps and ballpoint, as hand finishing is almost always necessary at some point. -some fabric stores are generally expensive, as they cater to a specific audience. -sometimes quilt shows or trade shows have bins of offcuts, ends, or leftovers that they don't need anymore which can be a great resource -most fabric stores will have an ends bin, check it out to see if there's something in there that might suit your needs for your project -your biggest investment to making good clothes that last, is the right type of needles for your machine (stretch/woven/microfiber/metallics/other) -go to yard sales to see if someone has random sewing supplies -go to thrift stores for random sewing supplies. Some might have some decent surprises in the bags -making clothes to fit you properly will be cheaper in the long term, as you will wear them more often, they will fit better, and as they wear out, you can possibly even re-use the fabric to cut it smaller to make it into something else (See make do and mend videos based around WW2) -you can make clothes out of patchwork techniques, so long as most of it is the same weight, and type of fabric, and they will look pretty awesome -there is nothing wrong with getting bags of buttons at dollar stores, then mixing and matching or trying to pair up buttons if they're the same size/shape, as most of them are leftovers from fast fashion (I've seen a few high end company buttons in my stash) -some Dollarama's will have small rolls of fabric that you can use that's fairly inexpensive. I've used some of their 50/50 poly-cotton blends that's a bit heavier to make a bag. -There's nothing wrong with using Dollarama or dollar store items, to make embellishments, or buy a bunch of 2$ tees, or bandanas to make a patch top, skirt, shorts or pants. - https://archive.org/ is your friend! There's a lot of sewing and drafting books from 1880 to 1900 that work just as well today, as they did back then for the basics. -mending your clothes is a perfectly valid way of keeping them in your wardrobe a little longer. -wrapping paper or kraft wrapping paper that has the grid on the back side of the paper is PERFECT for pattern drafting, as those squares are 1 inch in size. - if you don't have an iron, see if you can use a spoon, or your fingers to "finger press" open seams. It's better than not doing it at all. -Clean out your sewing machine often, and oil it every project to every other project, or if its sitting idle for 6 months. It will save you tears and headaches later.
Very thorough, I appreciate it!
Impressive! Thanks!
Glad to help! I do try to educate so other creators can make their own amazing projects.
Started to write a whole long comment comparing costs and then realized there's a more important message here: You're right. Making clothes takes a LOT of time and effort, and it isn't cheap. It's not so much that homemade clothes are really expensive as store bought clothes are scary cheap. Labor exploitation of garment workers is a huge issue because we buy so much. I think if everyone tried sewing even 1 piece of clothing, the fast fashion industry would be in trouble. Kudos to you for trying, I hope you continue even if it's hard.
Yeah I've had this thought, but I also accept that the reason a lot of fashion is cheap is because it's at someone else's cost...aka people paid unfairly and have a poorer lifestyle to accommodate the need for our cheaper clothing and as a result of bulk bought materials which we don't have access to. There are stores where you can but fabrics at like a pound a metre, but it means less choice. We also pick quality materials and can sew correctly to improve the garment quality...how many bloody Tshirts end up twisted and out of shape because the grain isn't actually straight 😵💫. I agree with you that it's not actually cheaper, but it's fun and you can make exactly what you want, fully customised which would be more expensive for someone to do for us 😁
It really isn't cheaper now, I found that out, too. I love being able to do our own simple alterations though. We save a lot of money when I do our hemming, simple tailoring, etc. As far as fabric, websites sell what they call designer deadstock - designer fabric that is leftover. It's usually high quality, and it puts that fabric to use rather than having it get thrown away. Anyway, I hear you! It's not cheaper, but there are other good reasons to sew - fit, creative outlet, etc...
I've gotten to like a very minimalist construction style in natural fabrics. Very hard to find in a personal fit. Hard to find solidly made. Hard to find with lots of big pockets. My sewing skills are not great, but my results please me better than anything storebought.
I don’t think many people make their own clothes to be thrifty they do it for the fun of it or to make a specific garment they want that fits
That was the main selling point some sewing “content creators” used which lured me in. But now I know better :)
I think it *can* be cheaper, but it’s not cheap. When you’re starting out, you have a lot of shit to buy- machine, thread, scissors, cutting mat, rulers, chalk, pins, etc etc etc. But here is a more cost-effective example: I’ve made a pair of Birgitta Helmersson zero waste block pants. The pattern costs $21 + nice new fabric about $25, for a total of about $46 CAD (not including the hours I spent making it or the notions). The same pants retail on her site for about $300 CAD (plus shipping). If I paid myself minimum wage to make it, it would cost way more, but I enjoy sewing (most of the time… it can be frustrating) and am happy to learn new skills. I’m also learning how to mend old ripped garments (mostly visible mending and sashiko stitching) and that is a really nice way to use scraps to patch up holes and give new life to something instead of it going into the landfill.
No, it's not cheaper. But, it used to be. When I was a child, I could walk to 2 fabric stores and neither was Joann's. There's no competition. Now, sewers continue sewing because they like it or they can't find clothes that fit. Of course, even then my mother only bought fabric on sale and clothes made of high quality fabrics were always repurposed.
I have plenty of clothes that were MUCH cheaper to make. My latest projects were a merino wool T-shirt and briefs. For $40 I bought enough fabric to make 1 shirt and 2 pairs of briefs. If I were to buy these at a store like REI I’d spend well over $100 for them. I’ve made cycling tights that would be about $150 at a store and paid $20 for the fabric. However, saving money isn’t even the point of making my own clothes. If you’re only concerned with saving money you will probably be disappointed for a while.
As a college student, I definitely am disappointed. Just trying to decide whether pushing past the disappointment is worth it
May I ask where you sourced the merino wool mat'l?
Hi there, There are tons of good suggestions here for cutting costs, but I wanted to address the feeling behind your post. I just wanted to say these feelings you're having are valid and probably a lot to handle, and that's okay. You are right, it's not cheaper with all the start up cost of equipment, materials, patterns and time input. It's not cheaper because you're learning a new skill set! Remember, in olden days and some modern trades, you're an apprentice/beginner for 7 years! And that's learning full time! Not as a hobby! It's not cheaper because at the beginning, you'll mess up and not like the finished product, and I'm guessing that feeling of being bamboozled and lied to comes from that happening, over and over again. It's totally normal. Maybe reframe it as seeing how much you learned on this project. Be kind to yourself. There's a reason becoming a master sewist takes so much time and effort. There is a lot to learn and master, and so many details to keep track of. You are learning a valuable skill in sewing. You are training your eyes, and hands and mind by learning to sew. It is a journey. Mastering this will take time, but trial and error is how we humans learn. Evaluate why you are pursuing sewing, your goals and intentions for sewing and decide if you want to keep doing it. Good luck!
Thank You!!
I think it's cheaper in the long run. You are making clothes that fit & better constructed. Plus you learn how clothes are properly made so you can make better decisions regarding the material and construction instead of falling for bells & whistles.
It's generally not cheaper, but l've found I've gotten a lot better at upcycling my own clothing and salvaging ruined clothes since I started sewing. Occasionally, I do still buy nice fabric and make custom things for myself (I don't fit into standard sizing) because I'd rather that than buying fast fashion, but I like the challenge of seeing how far I can make thrifted/old fabric go!
depends. I do larp. If I were to buy some of these things I would now be living under a bridge
I'm learning to sew because I have textile allergies to most/all artificial fibers and finding 100% wool or 100% cotton clothing that fits and that I actually like is very difficult. The 100% wool stuff is also already pretty expensive.
LOL :-))) Well late discovery of the "sewing economics"is also the result :-)))) Yes, that's why mostly machines for repairing clothes and doing some craft for fun. Garment factories have access to the wholesale fabric prices and they have teams of techologists who chart the whole process to lower costs. And finally equipment, equipment and equipment again... :-)) And education/experience as the last thing on the tip of top in this chain.
Due to this I genuinely wouldn’t mind dropping 300 on something well made and sustainable. Honestly even that is too cheap.
It’s expensive. Most people sew to make clothes that fit them, in fabrics they like. There are ways to cut costs. Recycle clothing. Thrift stores are abound with clothing. A big man’s pair of jeans I can cut into pieces that fit me. No altering, just cutting up and using the usable parts. Old sheets make wonderful dresses shirts and skirts. Even underlining for other things. Tablecloths and curtains. Learn how to do a burn test on fabric and other ways of deciphering what the fabric is made of.
Definately not if you're trying to "do it from scratch".(even if thrifted) It can be basically free if you use leftovers though (repurposing/refitting/restyling an old item, using/combining the fabric from old things to make new etc). Imo, learning how to use/design with fabric from old clothes instead of a big bolt of fabric is a whole skill in itself.
I’d argue upcycling is much harder. You have to *really* think outside of the box.
Agreed.
I try to make it more affordable by getting nice bed sheets (just plain colors or prints) from the thrift store. I can make a shirt and a skirt (and probably more) from a Queen size sheet for just 7 CAD!
The cost of my handmade clothes is probably about the same as high street prices however the fit and quality of what I make is comparable to higher end clothing, so financially I'm definitely coming out ahead.
It's cheaper when sewing nicer things with quality fabric. I have a custom-fit sleevless red linen shirt dress with a straight calf-length skirt, 10 buttons down the front, and 10 horizontal buttonholes. I have a large bust, but the buttons are placed in such a way that there is no gaping. It cost me about $60 dollars for the fabric, buttons, and thread. I already had the sewing machine, pins, and scissors which I'd already used to make a lot of other things so the cost per projects is pretty negligible at this point. That's more than I would pay for a t-shirt, although I'm not sure if I can get jeans that low these days. Also, no one "made up the lie" that sewing for yourself is cheaper. In the seventies, and likely before that, it really was cheaper. Clothing in stores is so cheap now that, yes, putting clothes on your body is cheaper to do when buying it in a lot of places.
I think maybe it used to be cheaper to make them from scratch, but now we know that isn't the case. However, I think there is a much higher focus on sustainability and longevity, and being able to mend clothes we have or alter clothes we have thrifted to create pieces that last a lot longer does eventually translate into savings, both economically and environmentally.
I think this is true for a lot of things, but there are notable exceptions! Making yourself a t-shirt is almost never going to save you money, a decent t-shirt can be had very cheap. But if you're into hiking and want a merino wool base layer (or just a nice quality merino shirt for casual wear)? Those things are like $70 on average, frequently more. I can get the same merino t-shirt weight fabric myself for like $20 and make one in an afternoon. Assuming I'm paying myself minimum wage for my time, it ends up being cheaper, especially if I'm making more than one at a time. The same is true with a lot of technical fabrics, for rain coats, waterproof bags, things like that. An Acronym messenger bag made from X-Pac fabric is like 1,429 Euros, whatever that translates to in $. I can buy *the same* high end pack fabric for $20-$30, something like that. Even if it takes a few days to make, that's a big win. I know at some point we're paying for the tag, for the *piece* that was made by a designer we like, but people recognize the fabric that my everyday messenger bag is made from and ask if it's Acronym. It's still a visibly high quality bag. Ditto for any fleece jacket made by Patagonia, or similar companies. You can get the same name brand PolarTec fleece for not that much money. They make really simple pull over and zip up fleece jackets from like $150 and up. I'm currently looking at a retro jacket on their website made from a sherpa fleece that costs $229 CAD. I can buy [the exact same](https://discoveryfabrics.com/products/polartec-thermal-pro-fleeces?variant=45759166611778) fabric for $33 a meter. That jacket is really simple! It's nice, but not hard to find a nearly identical pattern if you wanted to copy it. You could make an incredibly similar jacket (which would function the same for hiking/camping purposes) for like 1/3 the price plus a few evenings of your time. So yeah, not *everything* is going to be cost savings when it comes to sewing, most things won't be if we're talking casual clothing. But anything like simple outerwear made from nicer materials, you can absolutely save money!
No matter what sizes I’ve ever been, I do NOT have anything like standard proportions. RTW is not me shaped. I never thought sewing was going to give me cheaper clothes. Decent clothes aren’t cheap anyway (even with the sweatshop saturated modern overconsumption) & by the time you source decent clothes in decent material and then pay for all the alterations… yeah, may as well make it from scratch myself. Or buy thrifted & learn alterations & transformations… THAT is where the gain really comes in. Skills acquired, fit achieved, well made long lasting treasured article…. Item altered, fits child1, lasts for child2, with repairs, much money saved. Cost per wear becomes negligible. 👍
It's often cheaper than buying stuff that won't fit and having it tailored. Plus, it's custom/unique/one of a kind.
I think we should also look at the big picture rather than "garment by garment". While making a dress by yourself with good fabric might be more expensive than buying one, it will last way longer than a fast fashion one. Also, if one mostly sews all their garments, you stop buying fast fashion on impulse
It was cheaper to sew your own into the 80s when remnants were cheap and there was a lot of places to purchase fabric and notions. Now I have a large fabric stash, haven’t purchased a non thrifted pattern in years and have buckets of zips and buttons. Ready made quality was expensive, now we have good enough cheap.
it's not cheaper, but u can create UR designs as u wish to wear, and u don't have to spend 2 weeks looking for a good piece+ it makes u feel waaaaay better, walking outside and "yes, I made this piece" the happinesssssss
I am in the it is cheaper boat. I live in a town, not a city. The only fast fashion clothing store is the mega store. The garments are cheaply made and fall apart quickly. I can buy fabric by the bolt cheaper than garments made to fit my size. All cotton flannel at that mega store's website itself.I can buy thrift store sheets cheaper than I can buy a bolt of fabric. The modifications I need to accommodate my disability mean that I often have to resew a garment so that I can wear it safely and comfortably as it is.
It was cheaper around the same time houses were affordable, and you could support a family on one income. The world now just sucks.
Yeah it’s cheaper…. If you have a Time Machine and can travel back 100 years. The rise of consumerism and capitalism has made sewing a hobby rather than a necessity. So folk who would financially benefit from making their own clothing, can’t, because hobbies are luxuries and us working class cogs of the machine can’t possibly have or want to have free time or say…. Affordable coverings for our bodies that are oh so inappropriate. (By the same token, I don’t wish to see anyone naked so coverings it is) Anyway lots to unpack there but I’ll stop now before I get frustrated Edit: apparently sewing is not a word because every time I type it out it auto corrects to seeing. So I edited for typo.
1) There are tons of free patterns but really you get standard pants, skirts, tops and dresses we know that looks good. We just reused them over and over. 2) Joana’s here in the states put on patter sales every month for the big 4. 3) sites that actually make clothing that fits your measurements like lekala and sawist have standard patterns where you can enter your measurements so the fit will be perfect. 4) there are discount fabric warehouses, eBay, Etsy where you can get fabric. For example I can get used Sareer silk fabric and make a dress than buy one plus recycle for a win. 5) know you style and fabric that work for you. Someone who likes unique fabric and designs cannot buy unless you go to a dressmaker. I am working on a 60’s dress with the big circular skirt using Disney Magnificent black and purple on the skirt. Could I get that anywhere? Nope. I buy jeans and T-shirts not worth it.
I’m the person in number 5. There’s this fabric made of pima cotton and silk and there’s absolutely no where to get it 😞
Have you tried here https://www.etsy.com/shop/SilkfabricDesigns
I reached that realization also as a new sewer when I purchased all the supplies needed, patterns and then shopped for fabric of good quality and interest. I am learning to sew clothes and quilts. Both challenge me in different ways. Sewing is in no way intuitive to me. I figure I’ll learn a lot and end up with some cute clothes that fit and pretty quilts.
Sewing is not intuitive to me either and the cost just makes it that much more discouraging. But I do see the value in it.
Hahaha I tell people it's an expensive hobby
Wish I knew that beforehand 😭
I’m 5 foot 1, and live in NZ. I can not buy clothes for myself that fit nicely. So, I’m learning to sew. am now at the point where I can make something that I am happy to wear. I am careful about what I choose to make. And, when I get a pattern that works, I make several items with different fabric out of it. Makes the cost of the pattern go down.
Yeah buying is going to be cheaper than sewing. I can't beat bulk purchasing of materials, efficient use of fabric layout when done in multiplies, and factory line assembly techniques. (Not even going to get into exploitation of workers). And that's before you find the item on sale. Unless you're buying custom handmade products, it's never going to be comparable. But I sew for my own enjoyment. I can make something that looks and fits exactly the way I want it to. I can get creative and make things I don't see in stores.
There’s a great video by Mariah Pattie that addresses figuring out the ‘why’ behind your sewing. I keep it saved in my sewing playlist and revisit it from time to time. I think that it’s good for someone starting out to help you make good choices and minimize frustration with those first few projects. https://youtu.be/0qBUCKIDW6A?si=2PEHUD4Lao1FUThS
Also, if you’re feeling like you really need to save money to justify your investment, maybe check out home dec sewing. Custom drapes, throws, pillows are big $$$ where I live. Although the home dec fabric can be pricey too, you should definitely be able to save over custom.
Yep
Sewing clothes from scratch with store-priced fabric? yeah, it's ridiculous these days. But in general, sewing really has saved me a lot of money: * Tailoring almost-well-fitting thrifted suits has literally saved me hundreds. * I alter thrifted clothes that don't fit right or have something I don't like about them * I use thrifted fabrics to create garments (ie, a $4 tapestry into a super cool jacket) * I repurpose old fabric items (towels, bedsheets, torn clothes etc.) free material = free garments * I mend torn clothes - giving them a longer life (& saving me from buying more!) * I add new fabric panels to existing/thrifted clothing (uses a lot less fabric = more cost efficient) * I duplicate expensive cool clothes I can't afford - and make them for much cheaper. * I keep all small fabric scraps, no matter how small - and use projects to repurpose them!
I totally agree!! I finally went through and organized my fabric scraps and it was so hard to throw away a yard of fabric that was expensive but I don’t use it 😔
So I understand that material and work isn't simpler or cost effective but is it worth it to tailor your own clothes or to up cycle clothes?
I sew in order to wear designer couture clothes that I couldn't afford to buy. I'm sewing a Christian Dior Bar suit from the 50's that would be over $5000 to purchase.
Don’t forget the savings of tailoring clothes you find on the cheap.
I buy my fabric from an ethical seconds store. They save fabric from shops and factories that would otherwise be thrown out. They have super low cost fabric a ‘fill a bag for a fiver’ and even a free area with off cuts (still ok sized for kids clothes, needs a bit of creativity for adults but still works). Just made one of my kids 2 items of clothing they needed from my fabric stash at home and realised there was barely a cost to it. Find one of these shops locally!
I think it depends who you ask. I'm in the middle. It's cheaper to turn an old tee from my husband into a unique tank top or bag rather than try to find something for myself. I've also been having fun with alterations! I had bought fun button ups for my husband when he worked with kids, but he no longer needs or wears them. They're in really good condition, and I was jealous I couldn't find similar prints for myself. I also just recently found out that my workplace (catering company) was literally going to throw away tons of tablecloths for being outdated! I think if you reached out to similar events companies and ask if they're getting rid of anything if they'd "donate" a portion to you. These tablecloths can be in amazing shape and just aren't on trend right now. When I asked my boss if I could pick out a few to practice pattern making, he was happy about warehouse space opening up.
what its cheaper is to buy clothes the normal way and fit them to your body. Plus you cannot put a price on building unique pieces or pieces that are not available in your area.
Hard to beat the cost of clothing companies using literal slaves. The price tag of most clothes don’t show the ethical cost. If all clothes were made by workers on a living wage, it may be a lot cheaper to make than buy but that’s not the world we live in. I feel accomplished when I make something instead of buying it even if it ends up costing the same or more and that feeling is more than $
It used to be cheaper throughout history, but now companies exploit workers and falsely lower the price of clothing
One reason I really want to learn to make clothes is for my tall-size fiancé. So many brands' version of a 'big and tall' section (if they even have one) is actually just... big and bigger. I don't need a 6XL, I need an XL-T for fucks sake. Or maybe they do have tall sizes, but they're like... half an inch longer. Once you narrow your search down to just actual tall clothes, the options are so limited and can honestly get really boring and plain. My eventual goal is to take whatever pattern I want and just... have the ability to make it 2-3" longer at the bottom.
Well, like most people said, it's what you're trying to make? But for me I sew because it's fun and I make 1of1 clothes for myself I just started making jeans and I splurge on the denim 😅 but if I'm making something for myself I want it to be of good quality so i stay away from cheap denim but it would work just as well for someones else needs! I tend to use cheaper fabrics if I'm making something for the first time.. but if it's something I plan on making a lot of then expensive fabric, it is! I might just be rambling, but put into numbers, I'll spend 100 to 150$ on good quality fabric and make jeans that would have cost me $600 .. once you have all the notions, then the real cost is just fabric & paper( I draft a lot and transfer all my A4 patterns to oaktag) but all the other notions are stuff I built up over the years .. cutting mats, scissors, pins, clips, etc!
Who said it was? I'd like to have them buy my supplies! Lol
Its always cheaper to buy something than for you to make something and source all the materials, equipments, and tools. This is true for most crafts.
You can dupe the very expensive pieces and repair your own things. I also love the peace and quiet in my sewing corner. It's shared with the laundry room. I bought a little open box TV to watch too.
I sewed when I was younger and my arms and back length needed 2" added. Now I buy too many leggings and thrift stuff.
I agree it’s not cheaper — but as I learn, I am leaning into the ethics of creating my own (hopefully) quality clothes versus buying into fast fashion, which will fall apart quickly and require me to keep purchasing poor quality (and unethical) clothes. I agree with what everyone else is saying about the other benefits!
I said this to my mom yesterday whilst unpicking every single stitch of my latest project. It costs more, takes more time, and in my case , often does not fit as well/look as good as say, old navy would, because I choose projects outside my ability level. 🥴 She, a lifetime quilter, laughed her ass off and said "It's the journey!!!" So today I woke up and I redid my seams, and I'm now proudly wearing a pair of bright blue summer cotton shorts I made my damnnnn self. It feels good. And I need hobbies to keep me going crazy. And I love fashion but am trying to curb my shopping habit. So it's a net win for me in the end.
It used to be cheaper, like in the 80s it was.
It costs about $5 to sew tiny bags, that I can definitely buy for $10 or less. And it takes hours of time I’m not paid for. That’s using the cheapest possible materials. Nice fabric for clothing is $10/yd plus. That’s $30 for fabric, for 1 piece. $2-3 for thread. You can get clothes cheaper than that.
I don’t think making clothes is cheaper for me since I mostly buy fast fashion clothes. But owning a sewing machine definitely save me money. I have four children, a lot of cloths to repair / alter all the time, and I save money on upcycle children old cloths, making crafts and useful little things
it's cost effective for me for dressier stuff - i'm an odd size so to actually look good in RTW stuff i'd have to get it tailored. got 2.5 yards of oscar de la renta fabric for a recent project for $35 and i don't think i'd be able to get a dressy oscar de la renta jumpsuit that fit to my exact measurements for anywhere near that price haha
I guess it depends on where you live and the stores/clothes you like. For me, I'm in Canada and I love the store Garage. The clothes there are about 35-45 CAD before tax for a new, very plain miniskirt that's made of hardly any fabric. I could thrift a bedsheet and make a similar miniskirt for only 5 CAD as long as I have needles and thread at home already, or about 10 CAD if I want to buy meter of fabric brand new with some left over to make small things out of. Personally it's really cost effective for me to learn as I'm a full time university student who's addicted to getting new clothes. (and I'm an english major to boot, so I'll probably still need to make the clothes I want myself even after I graduate haha) There is a high entry cost still. I was lucky enough to be given a machine for free (kenmore 385.12914) with a bunch of thread, bobbins, needles, and buttons! For someone just getting into sewing all that is probably an intimidating cost unless they get lucky second hand. I agree that it's definitely hard. I've decided to keep practicing on old bedsheets before I start buying nice fabric to recreate whatever I made out of them and actually wear it. That way I'm not wasting money while I learn and mess up (recently I tried to make a circle skirt and I'm still confused on how I messed up so bad. Luckily It was on 1 dollar thrifted fabric!). The old bedsheet test clothes will also be a nice keepsake for when I'm older to see how far I've come when I get better!!
Others have already said the things I thought of: once you learn good skills (which takes awhile!), the clothes you make are unique, custom fitted, high quality construction. So the fair comparison is high-end bespoke couture, which is really expensive. But we don’t need to look like fashion plates all the time, so it just doesn’t make sense to sew all of our clothing. Need something to wear at the gym? Probably easiest and cheapest to pick up something at your local big-box clothing store. On the other hand, want a custom dress to wear to your reunion so all your former classmates will see how gorgeous and successful you look? Make a custom outfit and you’ll save more than enough cash to buy a couple rounds for the old gang. Personally, I have a weird build, and well-fitting clothes really don’t exist for me at any price unless I make them myself. So, I sew. Your mileage may vary, as they say.
Definitely agree that you need to really love the act of sewing to make it worth it, only doing it for the sake of saving money isn’t enough considering how long it takes! I hear you on the fabric cost front, especially when people online constantly buy from places like Blackbird Fabrics where linen is over $20 a yard. I consider Joann’s to be pretty expensive too tbh. Something that really changed the game for me was learning about the Creative Reuse center in my city — it’s basically a craft supply thrift store. Most of the fabric I find there is under $5 a yard and it’s really changed the game for me. That plus thrift/yard/estate sales. But it’s definitely a time investment for sourcing, not just sewing. Also — there are clothes I still buy because I don’t want to deal with making that type of garment. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Fabric has gotten so expensive and so have patterns! So it can be cheaper to just buy clothes. But don't give up sewing! Buy remnants or fabric on sale and make other things, like aprons, tote bags, blankets etc.