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I agree. I used to sew for fun and to save money, but then it got too expensive, especially when things didn't turn out looking that great and I didn't wear them. Of course, children's halloween costumes and things like that are better made with love. Anymore, with Walmart and other cheap clothing places, the only things that I sew are decorative. It is still cost effective to sew drapes, slipcovers, pillow covers and things like that.
To the OP: If you are not concerned with fashionable, and you are in an area where you have access to sale fabrics, or buy online, you might still save money. My problem is I am fashionable and I never knew if I would like something until it was done, and half the time I didn't.
I used to do some sewing for the kids when they were younger, especially for my daughter. It was so easy to whip up a dress. But, when Walmart is selling shirts and shorts for $2-4 how can you compete? My daughter is now 13 and hates the current style and wants some pretty girly dresses.
Unless it is a specialty item that can't be found elsewhere, the costs are way above retail. We went into a fabric store a few months back and the fabric prices were crazy, and when DW looked at the cost of patterns she went into shock.
Consignment shops and yard sales are far far less expensive.
Thrift stores are so much better. The cost of sewing includes pattern, notions, equipment and fabric. It is expensive. Now if you are wearing custom woman's clothes or are artistic AND you have the ability to tailor, it can be less expensive but rarely.
The only way sewing is frugal is if you are concentrating on couture patterns. If that designer outfit for 1000 bucks is something you have to have (and you have the sewing skills to make it) sewing it yourself is the way to go.
Even then, I don't think a lot of designers out there work with pattern companies anymore... butI haven't sewn garments for a long time. I went to quilting.
My mom sewed nothing but Vogue designer.... my sister went to her prom in a creamy white Yves St Laurent silk halter top that my mom had made and it was GORGEOUS.....
I used to sew a lot. I even tailored things and made my husband sport jackets. But now, the price of patterns is out of this world and the material is just outrageous. There's no way I would spend all the time and energy on sewing now.
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