tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post8349229965495098504..comments2024-03-20T14:03:40.992-04:00Comments on Polka Dot Overload | Sewing, knitting & embroidery projects by Mikhaela Reid: Does Sewing Save You Money—Or Bust Your Budget? (With Poll)Mikhaela Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-46647526378395457932013-11-20T06:08:35.096-05:002013-11-20T06:08:35.096-05:00I find it very strange to ask a question like this...I find it very strange to ask a question like this - does sewing save you money or bust your budget? First of all sewing usually is a hobby and most hobbies are not for free - unfortunately. I find the question quite odd since no one would ask a hobby painter if he thinks that painting will save him money or bust his budget and suggest he should rather buy a mass produced soulless painting from Ikea. I think this "painter example" shows the ridiculousness of the question. <br />A hobby should be fun! And yes one shoud be able to afford the hobby. But to ask if a hobby is economic? Weird.........unless one is a really soulless dead person inside just focused on money. Well, then choosing to become a hobby stock broker would be a better idea then.Sorry but I am being frank here,<br /><br />How much money one spends on sewing depends on a person´s buying habits and how good they are at controlling the amount of money they spend.<br />Sewing isn´t expensive at all if one buys a used sewing machine and the few basic things one needs for sewing. No one really needs to spend money on a computerized sewing machine which offers hundreds of stitch functions for example. And no one needs a serger either. Sergers are for industrial clothes production, mass production, used for clothes that are not special at all. <br />Pret a porter would never use a serger and Haute Couture is sewn by hand.<br />Many blogs, sewing experts and the sewing industry websites recommend loads of unnecessary and really expensive stuff (inlcuding sergers) since they make money from it or they have been brainwashed into believing they cannot live without all these expensive items. Welcome to capitalism - shop til you drop......it´s all about profit. There´s nothing new here. <br />It´s easy to see through all this. Use your brian and stop believing everything you read on sewing blogs or the sewing industry´s websites. There is a lot of useless stuff one does not need and if one is not able to see through all the consumer advertising well then sewing can become very very expensive.<br />Sewing will only bust your budget if you let it. If you only sew what you really need, buy only the fabric you really need and use a good used sewing machine that can do a perfect straight stitch and a zig zag stitch then sewing can be a really cheap hobby. And no you do not need a serger for jerseys, a sewing machine will do and if you know how to do it properly it will look professional, not "mass produced professional" but rather " pret a porter expert professional".<br />So as usual it´s all up to you ladies and gents. No one forces you to shop till you drop.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-20533803672401170312013-09-08T14:25:21.868-04:002013-09-08T14:25:21.868-04:00between knitting and spinning and now sewing...i s...between knitting and spinning and now sewing...i spend wayyyy too much money on materials, patterns, notions, etc... a small fortune. and it makes me feel bad : frustrated i cant get to it all, frustrated to see it taking up so much space, frustrate i dont have the money instead lol. i have honed my stashes quite a bit and am trying to really not add to it! Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13010386613557001028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-32402129819998896602013-09-08T03:18:59.766-04:002013-09-08T03:18:59.766-04:00Ha! I only just subscribed to the craftsy newslet...Ha! I only just subscribed to the craftsy newsletter, and it's dangerous! But I'll mostly wait to buy a class until I'm actually ready to do it, even if it costs $10 more then. Because overall, that results in me buying fewer classes. But that doesn't keep my wishlist on that site from getting pretty long!<br /><br />I've also been giving myself mini-challenges like <a href="http://heteronormativelovefest.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/okay-seriously/" rel="nofollow">this one</a>, which really cuts down on the impulse spending. Taking a temporary break from buying things while I finish this project/get to the end of this month/etc. is a great way to be more mindful about what I'm spending money on.Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05225955815132987959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-45102118413360199472013-08-30T16:40:08.156-04:002013-08-30T16:40:08.156-04:00And I also want to echo the comments above. The va...And I also want to echo the comments above. The value of clothing and other textile goods is seriously, insanely deflated due to global unethical labor practices. Even if I don't account for the value of my labor (which is a bit weird) I can't compete with highly skilled seamstresses who are churning out relatively high quality goods (let's face it, we can complain about fast fashion, but there is real skill that goes into those products - heavily exploited real skill) for a dollar a day, you know? When most seamstresses say "I made this for less than it would cost to buy it," they STILL aren't taking their time and labor and cost of basic supplies (machines, etc.) into account. If they included their own labor and the depreciation on their equipment into the equation, it really wouldn't be cheaper than storebought anymore. But that's because the world is screwed up and people are being exploited. So I try not to hold myself to an impossible standard. Realistically, hobby sewing is not about saving money, it's about having a fun hobby.Inder-ifichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09724667602427496583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-20040358385675951202013-08-30T16:33:05.996-04:002013-08-30T16:33:05.996-04:00I think of sewing and knitting as a long game (nea...I think of sewing and knitting as a long game (nearly 50 years for me so far) and long term, I think it works out as a frugal activity. I DO darn my socks (even the cotton ones from the big box store), but I stash fabric and buy the machines when I have money, because, inevitably, there will come times when I don't have money, but need clothes. There is some very old yardage in my collection, but that's OK. This summer, I sewed some shirts and made muslins from 50-year-old fabric from my mom's stash.<br /><br />In budgeting, I think you have to separate the learning projects from the "necessary garments" projects. When I'm making something in my comfort zone with a tried 'n true pattern, I save money. When I'm learning to use a new tool or testing new patterns for fit and style, there's not necessarily a useful product. I'd classify that as "education cost." <br /><br />Inevitably, you have more of these when you're new to the craft, but I have these periods too. (I recently switched from working away from home once a week to full-time teaching--no clothes, and no good ideas what to wear! Lots of patterns tried, few of them chosen.)<br /><br />While it's always good to spend consciously, I hope you don't beat yourself up for not being frugal or environmentally friendly enough. (Remember, fabric doesn't spring cleanly from the earth--big agriculture, petrochemicals, and poor labor practices go along with textile mills, too.) We do the best we can at the time. And in the long run, you're going to get so much pleasure from your sewing and knitting (and you're bound to add other cool skills too) that it will be well worth it.<br />Rebecca Claytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06494730619850791609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-14880437459112800892013-08-30T16:18:01.602-04:002013-08-30T16:18:01.602-04:00I have thought about this a lot! There are months ...I have thought about this a lot! There are months when I spend too much money, and months when I go on "fabric diets" to force myself to sew what I have. It's not a cheap hobby. If it were just about the clothes, I could buy second hand or at Target and DEFINITELY spend less. <br /><br />But it's not just about the outcome, or the money. Looking back over the years, I can't say I regret my purchases of beautiful, quality fabrics. Sewing probably does not save me money, but it does bring great enjoyment and value to my life. There is no price you can put on that. I probably could save money by sourcing cheaper fabrics, etc., but if I'm going to be putting my valuable time into making a garment or item rather than buying it, I want it to be lovely and made with good materials. My TIME is valuable - if it were about the money, I should spend less time sewing and more time being a lawyer (my career). But it's not just about the money. <br /><br />And another reality - to the extent that sewing keeps me busy at home and out of the mall, it might be a net gain! I spend money on fabric, yes, but I don't spend much money on other things - sewing stuff is my main, and in most cases, only weakness. So I think it's a complicated calculus, actually! In any given month, it may be straightforward - I have only so much to spend and I either come out ahead or behind. But over the long run, the hobby of sewing, while not free, has many benefits and paybacks.Inder-ifichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09724667602427496583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-18414204498527191652013-08-29T10:42:37.245-04:002013-08-29T10:42:37.245-04:00Very interesting thread. Up until this past year ...Very interesting thread. Up until this past year I would have said I have everything under control. I certainly spend more on sewing supplies than I ever did on clothes, but it's my main form of entertainment and has mostly replaced previous forms of entertainment spending (books, art supplies, etc). Plus I more than made up for my sewing spending by selling artwork every year during open studios. But this past year I skipped the art show (because I was looking for a new job) and our housing costs went up considerably. So now I keep starting at my stash and thinking I have way too much fabric. (It's also a significant amount of storage space.) I think the thing I worry most about is buying fabric as a form of therapy when I'm stressed or bored at work. I don't have much free time and buying can be done when I don't have the time or attention to make, but it often leaves me feeling kind of icky. Although I've also noticed that the urge to buy and the urge to make are linked so when I'm not feeling motivated to make things I buy very little but my productivity is also down. Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08204959729929501946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-87549308622677926812013-08-29T10:23:48.500-04:002013-08-29T10:23:48.500-04:00Not sure what's wrong with the poll, maybe you...Not sure what's wrong with the poll, maybe your browser? Over 130 people have voted so far.<br /><br />Just to be a little contrary, you're right that sewing your own clothes shouldn't be compared to mass-produced environmentally damaging cheap clothes produced under bad labor conditions.<br /><br />But that's NOT the only way to buy or acquire clothes if, like me, you are on a very tight budget. Personally, I was comparing the cost of occasionally buying just the most essential durable basics my family needs at a thrift store... to my regular binges on brand new sewing supplies/magazines/books/fabric/notions.... Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-87833447025193998972013-08-29T10:20:44.847-04:002013-08-29T10:20:44.847-04:00Oh, the Stash, it is a hungry monster. :)Oh, the Stash, it is a hungry monster. :)Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-88013210827462164162013-08-29T10:19:50.355-04:002013-08-29T10:19:50.355-04:00Oh, and I definitely agree sewing is a hugely valu...Oh, and I definitely agree sewing is a hugely valuable skill and an investment in yourself. For sure!Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-70383463501600590282013-08-29T10:19:22.996-04:002013-08-29T10:19:22.996-04:00Actually, since I cut back on buying knitting supp...Actually, since I cut back on buying knitting supplies way too far ahead, and vowed to buy no more than ONE project ahead, knitting has actually cost me a bit less than sewing because I knit so much more slowly than I sew.<br /><br />The last sweater I made for myself cost $120 in organic merino yarn... but it took me a year to finish it, so that's just $10 a month. <br /><br />The sweater I'm knitting now is stash yarn from over five years ago when I DID used to binge too much on yarn. <br /><br />The last baby sweater I made was maybe $35 in supplies, but it was less than I would have spent on a purchased baby gift.Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-49135073373874025942013-08-29T10:16:58.770-04:002013-08-29T10:16:58.770-04:00Stash accumulation is a HUGE part of the problem, ...Stash accumulation is a HUGE part of the problem, so true. Because I'm buying future clothes I may not make for years with the money I need to be using in my life RIGHT NOW. Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-89401710401162354532013-08-29T10:15:43.503-04:002013-08-29T10:15:43.503-04:00I'm glad that's true for you! It wasn'...I'm glad that's true for you! It wasn't for me, sadly—most of my previous leisure time before I got sewing obsessed was reading books from the library. :)Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-49429076429533518802013-08-29T09:49:32.377-04:002013-08-29T09:49:32.377-04:00It's OK, I'm glad you're angry about t...It's OK, I'm glad you're angry about this too! I definitely would never say fast fashion was a "bargain" compared to sewing, given its horrific effects on workers and the planet.<br /><br />Personally, I was comparing the cost of occasionally buying durable basics at the thrift store to my regular binges on sewing supplies/magazines/books/fabric/notions.... Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-9615979758815628792013-08-29T05:16:08.148-04:002013-08-29T05:16:08.148-04:00That's an excellent question. I think I defini...That's an excellent question. I think I definitely spend quite a lot of money on my sewing hobby, specifically on fabric and books, and occasionally on a new snappy little gadget. But I also spend almost absolutely nothing on shopping for clothes. I buy underwear and socks and the occasional sportswear or outdoor item and that's it. If I wanted to dress the way I do in my handmade clothes but store-bought I'd spend way more time and money shopping. So in this sense, my hobby doubles up as a hobby and the necessity of clothing oneself. <br /><br />Buying clothes is cheaper than sewing your own, only when you are happy with shoddily made, mass-produced, ill-fitting and child-labor involving clothes.<br /><br />By the way, I couldn't get the poll above you posted to work. Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998216871239619397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-85557131811784406132013-08-29T02:45:01.808-04:002013-08-29T02:45:01.808-04:00I absolutely agree with you - the irony that I avo...I absolutely agree with you - the irony that I avoided buying clothes (and held on to garments way beyond their useful life) but would happily accumulate fabric and notions is not lst on me!<br /><br />I'm working through my stash and, having sewn for a year or so now, am getting better at being selective. I'm trying my hand at refashioning, held clothes swap parties with friends (great fun and a charity fundraiser to boot), and am learning to patchwork so that all those little scraps I can't bring myself to throw out can be put to good use. <br /><br />I guess an element of consumption is unavoidable. I really like your list of how you keep it all in check, very helpful :)Jacq Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04720788276272548617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-47769662196911917322013-08-29T01:45:08.868-04:002013-08-29T01:45:08.868-04:00I hoard fabric, but not nearly as badly as a lot o...I hoard fabric, but not nearly as badly as a lot of other sewists. Most of my stash is fabric that was either given to me or I found super cheap at a thrift store or somewhere similar. While I do sew a lot from new fabrics that I buy, my main three rules for purchase keep my stash from being a crazy money suck. Those rules are as follow:<br /><br />- I have to know exactly what the fabric will be used for (ex. the pair of jeans that I've been planning for a while or the clearance fabric that I found that I knew I HAD to make into a blazer).<br /><br />OR<br /><br />- The fabric has to be really cheap (ex. a limited time sale on a fabric that I've wanted for a while or fabric that I get from thrift stores).<br /><br />OR <br /><br />- I know I won't get the chance to buy that specific fabric ever again or for a very long time (ex. souvenir fabric on vacation or when I make the trek out to the big fabric store an hour away- if I see a fabric there that I know I'll use and is a good price and I know I can't get anywhere else, I'll try to get it).<br /><br />Those three rules seriously curb my fabric spending and keep my stash small. The longest a fabric has stayed in my stash un-sewn was a bird print jersey that I HAD to have when I saw it online and that I knew would sale out quickly. It stayed in my stash for about three months and then recently I made it into a shirt and a dress. <br /><br />And regarding thrift store shopping, I've taken to asking myself, "Do I want this because it's a good deal or because I legitimately like it?" I'd rather spend $15 on new fabric that I know will create a garment that I'll love and wear extensively, than spend $2 on a garment that I'm lukewarm about and will probably not wear much. Those $2 add up over time!Mary Neasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02232340636165501595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-66109406484831301422013-08-28T21:49:22.799-04:002013-08-28T21:49:22.799-04:00I see now that you made this same point in one of ...I see now that you made this same point in one of your comment responses above. Phew, I get heated about fast fashion. But you're right -- we should compare the price of our handmade garments to other ethically made or higher quality garments, not H&M. Unfortunately those ethically made garments are few and far between!Andrea (four square walls)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16918273093902968654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-37271301669293676692013-08-28T21:43:23.301-04:002013-08-28T21:43:23.301-04:00We must remember that RTW clothing is one of the r...We must remember that RTW clothing is one of the rare industries that has made its product cheaper over time (compared to other basic needs such as housing, gas, education, health care). Comparing the price of my handmade dress to the price of an H&M dress is pointless, because H&M is one of the many clothing chains that have implemented atrocious manufacturing processes in order to drive the price of their clothing to the ground. Not to be the hippie here, but I try to factor in the environmental and social cost benefit of sewing, too. At least I can have some control over the resources and labor involved in the making of my clothes, which is a priceless feeling. Maybe my hobby of making clothes is more "expensive" than buying clothes off the rack, but whose hobby ISN'T? A paperback novel costs more than a Target dress, geez.Andrea (four square walls)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16918273093902968654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-47881039899760699352013-08-28T21:39:23.950-04:002013-08-28T21:39:23.950-04:00I have the same time limitations, but I don't ...I have the same time limitations, but I don't think I've been quite as disciplined as you sound like you've been. I definitely WAS breaking the bank in some months when I looked back at it, just lots of little purchases adding up (I've had to unsubscribe to the Craftsy sale newsletter, for one!)Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-25695310112737841662013-08-28T21:37:49.741-04:002013-08-28T21:37:49.741-04:00I think I was doing that same justification and it...I think I was doing that same justification and it was fine before I got into my budget crunch but now ... not working as well for me. Sewing IS a gift to yourself, and if you don't spend money on other things, it definitely leaves more room for sewing.Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-8145638812500775862013-08-28T21:36:39.506-04:002013-08-28T21:36:39.506-04:00Time is money, that's for sure. And I really H...Time is money, that's for sure. And I really HATE shopping for RTW, especially hunting for jeans that actually fit.Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-80291944484774674152013-08-28T21:15:19.047-04:002013-08-28T21:15:19.047-04:00It's definitely about prioritizing and decidin...It's definitely about prioritizing and deciding your values. If sewing is your biggest passion and entertainment, it makes sense to allocate a larger portion of budget in that direction.<br /><br />And it would be hard to put a price on your amazing wardrobe!<br /><br />The trouble I'm having right now is that medical bills and childcare costs are even MORE important! In a few years when my daughter goes to public kindergarten (and next year when I will NOT be needed urgent surgery) I will breathe a big sigh of relief. Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-35258620342875466942013-08-28T21:13:09.344-04:002013-08-28T21:13:09.344-04:00That's so true about luxurious natural fabrics...That's so true about luxurious natural fabrics... it's so hard to find nice wool clothes ANYWHERE, and silk is similar. <br /><br />In fact, I can't say I've ever seen any children's sweaters for sale that weren't acrylic or cotton, even though wool is far superior for warmth and many other reasons.Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-36729771969414864072013-08-28T21:10:41.044-04:002013-08-28T21:10:41.044-04:00Sewing is far cheaper than therapy for sure. And i...Sewing is far cheaper than therapy for sure. And it feels so good to actually save for something and remind yourself you're not saving money because you have a big goal in mind!Mikhaela Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817367214920267825noreply@blogger.com