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I'm sorry your area doesn't have quality material to create your own clothing.
IT DOES SAVE.
It would on high end designer things, but honestly, the people who wear those thing have the money to purchase them and have them tailored. No one I know dresses like that on a regular basis.
And you do bring up a huge issue. A number of places don’t have good fabric stores, other than quilt stores. They have JoAnns.
The people I know who sew and do so quite often, make seriously beautiful clothes. They spend a lot because beautiful fabrics and designer notions happen to cost a lot (silks, linens, wool, etc). Some are in the wearable art world, a couple are in advanced pattern making and drafting world. I know one woman who makes all her clothes, from coats and jackets to dresses and suits...basically anything she wants and a lot of what I would consider couture. She uses retro Vogue patterns and has a nice collection of retro fabrics in her stash. There's nothing 'frugal' about it. If you get into sewing, you're doing it for the love of it as well as the ability to create unique items.
Cheaper to buy new at stores like Ross Dress For Less now. But, I do sew my own pillows, and mend clothes, and alter things. If you don't need to buy a pattern, you can still save money with a sewing machine for some things, and mending, etc.
If you think buying good quality clothing and wearing it for years is frugal, then sewing is still a bargain. If you think that buying the cheapest new trendy clothing at Target, intending to replace it in 6 months when the trend becomes stale is frugal, then sewing is definitely not a bargain.
Also, there is a middle ground - knowing about sewing means that you can recognize and buy good quality clothing in thrift shops, and resize/restyle/repair it - and wear it for years.
Another thing that no one has mentioned yet: it is nearly impossible to sew clothing if you don't have occasional help. No one can mark their own hem on a skirt and it sure helps to have some one to pin adjustments in fit.
Oh, I supposed you could have one of those custom made dress forms, but that's both expensive and a bit of a storage problem. If you can even still buy custom fit dress forms. (dress maker's dummy)
Another thing that no one has mentioned yet: it is nearly impossible to sew clothing if you don't have occasional help. No one can mark their own hem on a skirt and it sure helps to have some one to pin adjustments in fit.
Oh, I supposed you could have one of those custom made dress forms, but that's both expensive and a bit of a storage problem. If you can even still buy custom fit dress forms. (dress maker's dummy)
I've owned a chalk hem marker. It worked well enough for most skirts, but for anything that was very wide, not so much.
A cheap way to have custom made form is a "duck tape double." 2 sewing friends and I did that back in 2001. It was fun and worked out well.
Will you explain that to me?
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Solly says — Be nice!
