Recently I came across A Sewn Wardrobe, the blog of a beginning sewer. She had set a goal for herself almost a year ago to sew everything she wears. It's an admirable goal and as she found out, not that easy to accomplish because it takes time to make clothing. A lot of time. She did end up buying some sweaters and a coat during the year but otherwise, she wore what she sewed. ( I assume she wore things that she already owned that were rtw, but I haven't been following her blog long enough to know for sure). For a beginner coats are probably fairly daunting and definitely time consuming. I haven't done it as a formal goal per se, but recently I realized that I do actually sew all my clothing now. If you want to only wear what you make yourself, the one thing that has to change is the size of your wardrobe. You just can't make as many things as you can buy. For me that isn't a problem. I am not interested in having a huge wardrobe. The only things I buy are underwear and sweaters, and I sew some of those too with sweater knits or wool knits. As A Sewn Wardrobe found out it doesn't save you money to sew everything you wear, especially not if you are buying your clothing at places like H & M or other stores of that ilk. I don't sew to save money, I sew because I love to sew and because I am picky about fit and off the rack clothing just doesn't fit me all that well. The clothing I love and use as inspiration are high end rtw that I could never afford to buy anyway. So do I save money? Not on t shirts for sure, but there are some things that do save you money if you sew it yourself. Even if I were to add in the cost of my time. Coats are expensive to buy and using high quality fabrics and silk for linings I do spend less than something made with equivalent materials would cost. But, lets face it, saving money means putting it in the bank and I certainly can't say that sewing has made my bank account grow! There is a current thread on Pattern Review on whether sewing saves you money and honestly, I never ask this question because it isn't the reason I sew and it never has been.
A question, or several for you. How much of your wardrobe do you sew? Would you like to sew everything you wear or is it even within the realm of possibility for you?
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I would say that about 35-40% of my wardrobe items that I wear are items I sewed. I doubt that I will ever wear 100% of items I sew because I love cardigans, and I can't seem to find any of the lightweight cotton like JCrew uses to make their cardigans.
ReplyDeleteGood post, I don't sew to save money either, I sew because I like it and because of fitting issues. I'm close to 90% in summer, when the only rtw items I wear are cotton camisoles. A bit less in winter, for the same reason Rachel mentions: I like and have to wear sweaters and cardigans to keep warm, and can seldom find the right fabrics to make them myself.
ReplyDeleteI would like to have a few more clothes in my wardrobe (recently thrown out a lot), but have my (limited) sewing time filled with complicated projects. That's my own choice of course.
I sew everything except socks, underwear, and pants which I buy specifically for gardening and other dirty jobs. I do not knit sweaters, but I have a more than adequate supply and I have made shells and cardigans from sweater knits.
ReplyDeleteI still have quite a collection of souvenir tees and other knit tops which I will keep, and hiking pants that are RTW.
I calculate that I save money by sewing, even when I purchase luxurious fabrics, because to purchase a custom made piece of clothing would cost hundreds of dollars. The short winter coat I made last fall would have cost $1,000 if I tried to purchase a custom made one in similar fabrics. You cannot discount the custom fit aspect of your sewn clothes.
I make the majority of what I wear now - probably 75% of it - and I have a (business casual) corporate job as the director of tax. I wear a lot of knit dresses and sweaters that I've knit myself. I sew mainly because I am dissatisfied with RTW fit, being 5'1" and needing to shorten sleeves as well as from shoulder to bust on everything.
ReplyDeleteI make everything I sew, and slowly my old RTW pieces are getting retired out. I used to buy cheapie RTW, the clothes I make now cost more or less the same but the quality is exponentially better. Fit, fibre, stitching. I like lined linen garments the best, a quick google search showed me I can buy them for a few hundred dollars. Not to mention the fit issue. Once you wear something that fits properly, you never go back.
ReplyDeleteI've only got back into garment sewing in the last year & a half or so. I try to wear one or two items I've sewn per week to work. However I'm seriously considering making 2011 my year of sewing not buying. I have a really hard time finding eta pants that fit, and if I can get a good pattern by the end of he year I'm going to go for my clothing shopping ban. I might make an exception for sweaters & tshirts, but maybe not. My goal will be to increase my sewing skills not save money. Fabric shopping will definitely not stop. I also would like to have a smaller wardrobe of great fitting pieces that I love.
ReplyDeleteNancy,
ReplyDeleteLike you , I am on that forever quest of making the perfect pants! :) I sew most everything, except the pants!
~Valerie
I would like to sew everything I wear except knit underwear and socks and athletic gear (bathing suits, running shorts, etc.). And sweaters of course. It's do-able for me because I don't need traditional business attire. Sewing a men's suit -- as I'm learning -- is hard.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. I started sewing almost a year ago and I've averaged 2-3 wearable garments a month (I think - it might be more but many of them haven't worked initially.) I'd love to sew 80% of what I wear. Since I started, I've sewn about 60% of the new garments in my wardrobe. It would be more if my success rate were higher but I'm just learning. Note: I have a large pre-existing RTW wardrobe so it's not like I have a ton of things, just that 60% of the new additions are self-made.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Nancy. I am getting back into sewing albeit very slowly. My plan is to eventually rid my closet of most of my RTW as I sew and increase my sewing skills. I wish it were a case of sewing to save $$ but not so in my case. I am sewing as I do enjoy it (as limited as my time is) but having great fitting clothing is the ultimate for me. However, I am sure that from time to time, I will have to have some RTW in my closet such as cashmere sweaters.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Nancy! I sew about half of my clothes and that is how I like it. I don't want to sew the other half, which would be t shirts and other boring garments. I always have a hard time understanding why someone would enjoy whipping out sweatshirts or tees. You can get them so much cheaper so it is not worth my effort. Like everyone else, my time is valuable and limited so I choose to sew what I love to sew, tailored garments, accessories, elaborate designs. I think you and I are on the same page.
ReplyDeleteI think I *could* make nearly everything I wear (w/ the exception of hosiery, socks and shoes) because I knit as well as sew. It's just hard to avoid the instant gratification of RTW sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI started my sewing odyssey mainly aiming at the "on display" component ie, work clothes. This year, I diversified into casual & at-home clothing: tees, jeans, sweaters. Later this fall I'll be concentrating on strictly "professional yet in the field" clothes. Though I still buy the underpinnings already mentioned, my wardrobe is slowly but surely transforming into all me-made. And yes, I'm sure it saves me tons of money, tens of tons of in-store fitting aggravation, and a more me-appropriate/me-feel-good wardrobe. Not to mention the occasional "I love you" garment I sew for my family :)
ReplyDeleteI sew about 75% of my wardrobe and my 5 year-old daughter's as well. I also sew about 40-50% for my other children - namely, church items and a few other things that they want.
ReplyDeleteI am slowly weeding out RTW in my closet, as it is hard to find things that fit me as well as my clothes that I make.
I sew my children's for modesty and fit - my teen girls prefer up-to-date style, but they are not modest (to the knee & shoulders covered & no cleavage showing), thus by sewing their things, they are cute, hip, and modest!
My younger children are extremly thin - my 8 & 10 year-old son has a waist of a size 5 & 6, respectively, but need a longer length - RTW church things, fall off their waist!
My 5 year old daughter is very petite - RTW size 3-4 is huge width wise on her, yet too short! (and yes, I do feed them - you should see my grocery bill!) So, sewing their clothes allows for nice fitting clothing to wear.
It doesn't matter whether or not it is less expensive - because the fit and quality is better that what I can get RTW.
I sew about half of what I wear. I certainly don't "save" money, but how else could I lounge around in silk pajamas, custom made? Also sewing enbles me to indulge my quirkiness and make stuff I would not be able to buy anywhere.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nancy! I started sewing (again) about a year ago. I had been spending too much time in retail stores trying on clothes and not coming home with any – nothing was fitting correctly. Finally, I bought a bunch of inexpensive fabrics and started sewing. My goal is to have some well-fitting, easy-to-sew patterns that I can use to make the majority of my clothing. Saving money is not a motivator – what I haven’t spent on RTW has been spent on sewing related things: tools, machines, etc. However, I am enjoying most of the things I’ve sewn.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time BK (before kids) when my closet consisted mostly of clothing I made for myself. As I sewed more for my children, the obvious happened. However as I plan for retirement, I'd like to be able to sew what I want to sew and purchase the items I want to purchase.
ReplyDeleteI always say that I sew 95% of what I wear...but if you're going to include underwear than it would be 90%! *LOL* Seriously though, except for coats and some sweaters, I make almost everything I wear.
ReplyDeleteI find months like Self Stitched September interesting because I sew so much that it would be harder to wear RTW for an entire month than garments made by me! And I have a lot of clothes!!!
Mmm, maybe only 10 - 15%. I love to shop and have no trouble getting things to fit. And I have enough money to buy what I want. And I have 3 shopping assistants - 2 daughters and a sister..lol! And my trips to Hong Kong always net me lots of new things. If I sewed more, I would save money. I love the idea of sewing, but getting to it is not happening. Perhaps when the kids have left the nest I will tackle the fabric stash :)
ReplyDeleteLike Sew There, I spent too much time shopping and coming home with nothing. The fit and quality made me want to cry (I think I actually did once or twice) and there are some seasons where nothing that's in says me. So now I make everything except shoes and underwear. I've lately been finding some fabulous sweaters at consignment and thrift stores. Honestly I've never felt more stylish.
ReplyDeleteI would love to make more of my own clothes. I currently make about 5 to 10%, but I am working on increasing that number! I make a lot of my daughter's clothes- and I so save with her clothes since she is only 8 and therefore I need less yardage.
ReplyDeleteI used to believe that I could save money making my own clothes- I think that belief was passed down by my grandmother. She grew up during the Depression and simply couldn't afford RTW. Fabric used to be less expensive and easier to find I think too.
I love the fact that there seems to be more interest in sewing these days (maybe due to DIY shows and blogs!) When I was a kid no one wanted home-made clothes- but now the kids love it!
I used to make all my daughters' clothes until they started wearing jeans and then I just made dresses for church. They are now all grown up so I just make dresses for myself for church. I wear uniforms to work that are provided so I don't sew for work. I won't make jeans. I would like to make some coats and jackets. I also plan to start knitting sometime in the next year or so year.
ReplyDeleteMy motivation for sewing is loosing myself in the designing and creating process. The hours just fly by (too fast!)and seeing the clothes take on little "personas" of their own is so much fun. I'm a slow sewist and do not realistically have time to play with fabric and stitch all that much. I have to work and sometimes my back aches.
ReplyDeleteI'm petite and carry a bit of middle age spread, so RTW do not always fit the way I like. But I have learned to shop smart online for the things I need to look somewhat apropriate.
I sew on my dining table, but ideally, I'd LOVE to have a nice big light filled studio were I could play all day long and create, create, create. I'm sure that would result in more clothes made by me in my wardrobe. And in other people's wardrobes, too.
Nancy, your analysis is spot on! If you sew well you can produce high quality clothing cheaper than you can buy it ready made, but you cannot compete with throw-away fashion from the cheap shops.
ReplyDeleteI have a small wardrobe. I hate clothes shopping and it is more work to trudge into a big shopping centre with two small kids and try stuff on than it is to sew something for myself at home! Fabric shopping is also a lot more fun than rtw shopping. There is never the disappointment of a beautiful garment not fitting. My only complaint is the limited range of fabric available.
Probably 25-30% of my clothes are made by me. As time passes, more and more becomes made by me.
I would guess I sew about 90% of my work wardrobe and almost none of my "play clothes". When I get home from work, I usually change into jeans and knit shirts (which I buy). Like most sewers, I sew because I really enjoy the process, not because it saves money.
ReplyDeleteI sew almost everything I wear. And, I feel the same way you do about the size of my wardrobe. I am very content with a small number of garments. I am getting more disciplined about selecting versatile fabrics and styles.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were at Elliot Berman in August, I noticed your fabric choices were exactly the sort of thing I'd pick nowadays. Versatile. Intersting colors. Top quality. Fortunately, my stash is full of good fabrics, so I am mostly shopping the stash these days.
I sew about 75% of my clothes. Since I work in a Refinery, I've gotten more casual: jeans (mostly RTW) though I've made some of those, too. I think I do save money because my clothes would have to be custom fit, and that costs a bunch! I agree that RTW is instant gratification, but somehow I'm never very happy with the fit and feel for very long. And SEW it Goes!
ReplyDeleteWow, I really feel like a slacker. I hope to one day sew 50% of my clothing, but I am definitely NOT there yet. Not even close. I just don't have the time. Right now I am focusing on sewing high impact pieces (a coat), garments that I can never get a good fit in RTW versions (pants), and garments I can make truly luxe by sewing them myself (lingerie). Saving money? Nope.
ReplyDeleteIn the summer it's 100% because simple tops and skirts in knits are so easy to make. In the cooler seasons it is less mostly because I don't like to sew jeans.
ReplyDeleteNancy, I'm with you on this. Especially where you and I live, we have lots of access to affordable clothing, more so probably than most people. So it doesn't make sense to sew much of our wardrobes. But definitely, things like outerwear and jackets are expensive even when they're marked down. So that's what I sew to add to my wardrobe and save money. Today I'm wearing a jacket I made.
ReplyDeleteKarin's right....you can't compete with the throw-away fashion and I don't try to - nor do I want to. I've tried to alter enough of that stuff, that I don't even try that any more with minuscule seams and poor construction. So I sew for longevity. I have suits that I have that are beautifully tailored that have lasted me decades. OK - I have to come back and take out some of the shoulder and shoulder pads, but that done, it's good for another 20 years! Since I've been sewing for so long, it's hard to pick out the pieces that I haven't made. But I will always buy the t-shirt/top, knit capris, pants and other knock around stuff knowing that it will last - at most - two or three years. So I sew for longevity and classic style.
ReplyDeleteI make close to 100% of what I wear to work; for casual it's less. I wear something I made every day. Not just in September :)
ReplyDeleteZero! Unless you count the things you have made for me in which case, it's about 1%. :-D
ReplyDeleteI have at various times in my life sewn most of my wardrobe and little of it. I never thought I would want to sew most of what I wear but now I feel differently about that. I think I will always buy certain basics and things I deem special or just perfect in their own right, but I would also like to sew a good 75% of my wardrobe or more. In the meantime that would be difficult in my life now so I buy more than I sew, although I am quite happy with a smaller wardrobe. I am sure the distractions in my life that keep me from sewing now, being the primary caregiver for my spouse, will change over time and I will sew more, that eventuality containing a bunch of expectations both good and sad.
ReplyDeleteI made a similar pledge to myself last January. And other than some pants (which I have not mastered yet) and a pair of jeans, I've stuck to it. I hate to shop (except for fabric) and love to sew so this is a no-brainer. However, it is very time-consuming and I am sewing fewer t-shirts, etc these days. I also make about 75% of my 3 granddaughters clothes so I spend a lot of time in my "sweatshop"! As you said, no money being saved, but I'm learning so much and having fun!
ReplyDeleteCissie
I would like to sew everything I wear, but there is just not enough time. The last few years, I did make most of what I wore, but last year I didn't sew as much, so this year I am buying some things. I also realized that I don't want to pressure myself into feeling that I "have" to sew everything. As I remember reading in one of Nancy Erickson's books, "don't make what you can buy." In other words, if you can buy off the rack Tshirts and have them fit well (I can't) then don't make them. Save your sewing time for making exquisite garments (jackets in her opinion) out of fabulous fabrics. Right now I'm trying to sew mostly from my stash, but there are still a lot of neutrals that I will be buying this year.
ReplyDeleteI make nearly everything I wear, including underwear (which fits better and lasts longer than any RTW undies I've ever had). I've made bras too; however, lately I don't need to make those because I've found some RTW that fits me. I don't have a job I have to dress up for, and don't have 4 real seasons each year so my need for suits, coats and winter clothes is minimal. At this point, I have a RTW coat that hardly gets worn and I have no desire to make one.
ReplyDeleteResponding to Nancy W's comments above about Nancy Erickson saying "don't make what you can buy." I disagree with that. I prefer to make everyday stuff because that's what I live in and I want it to fit. If all I sewed were the "exquisite" garments, I'd never have anything to sew. ;-)
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Responding to Peter's blog post yesterday, I would *never* peg you as BI. You're not a SO in the sense that you don't dress to shock. But you definitely do not BI with most other suburban women in our age group, in a good way. You have a noticeable style, and I love it!
The only things I buy are bras and jeans, and those very rarely. So my wardrobe is probably 98% self-made. If I suddenly decided to start wearing pants again I don't know what I'd do--I can't buy any that fit because of my swayback, but I have not been able to figure out a fly zip. I guess I'd have to wear all side or back zip pants!
ReplyDeleteIt was a tough year and I'm glad it's over. ;) I went on a bit of a shopping spree lately!
ReplyDeleteI haven't cracked jacket sewing yet, but wear them everyday for work, so whilst I am often in a Ruth sewn top/dress the jackets are purchased. Once I have that sorted I'll be able to sew my own suits and I'll be away.
ReplyDeleteI make most of what I wear.I make nearly all of the dresses, skirts, tops, underwear and work out pants that I wear. The cardis are either hand me downs or from the thrifts. Jackets tend to just show up, as do coats.
ReplyDeleteAt this point the only RTW in my wardrobe shows up in my building's informal clothing exchanges.