Is It Worth Sewing Your Own Clothes?

[@ThatisSewSilvia]

I always calculate the labor for others. And they stop asking me to sew for them. 🎉

[@theresaanndiaz3179]

My answer is that I have a 5 hour minimum at $25 an hour with a nonrefundable $100 deposit plus cost of materials. If they agree then we can write a contract. Most people bow out.

[@lazygardens]

@ For a custom garment, that's actually a bargain.

[@annseabolt6645]

I find it’s gotten to where it’s more expensive to sew every day clothing items (for the most part) than it is to buy them. You can usually still save money making special occasion clothing and home decor items. I once had a woman I worked with ask if I would make her a top like one I had worn to work. When I told her what I would charge she said I could buy a top for that price. I told her to go ahead and buy one. People seem to think you should practically give away your time for almost nothing.

[@ThatisSewSilvia]

@ exactly. Because „you like to sew, it’s not work, it’s hobby“. I’m like nah, not a chance.

[@Elia-DCrea]

same with crochet or knitting, and it take more time. Even my family pay at the very least the yarn I use for the not gift items.

[@shiplesp]

I miss the 1970s-1980s. Back then, before fast fashion, clothing was often expensive but fabric could be very inexpensive. There were lots of fabric stores, fabric departments in the major stores, and discount outlets. Dozens in my city. During that time I sewed just about all of my clothing and it definitely was less expensive for me. It was a fun, practical hobby. Finding quality fabric became more and more difficult as the stores, fabric departments, and outlets shut down. Ordering fabric on line is just not the same thing, and I miss browsing through the bolts and remnants.

[@Julija_Gobere]

I definitely agree that shopping online for fabric is not the same, I had quite a few disappointing purchases where I would not have bought fabric had I touched it before purchasing…

[@vrijheid-ui8bc]

@@Julija_Gobere Buying fabrics online only works, if you just buy a piece you like and then by touching it, to think what to make from it.

[@shiplesp]

What is also missing is the human connection with the shop owners. Back in the day they would often put a bolt or sizeable remnant away for me because they were sure I would love it. Almost always they were right. It was a different time. I shouldn't romanticize it too much - I was pretty poor - but I had my sewing machine and at least I looked rich ;) ​@@Julija_Gobere

[@annseabolt6645]

That is so true. I used to make most of my clothing too. I live in a relatively small town and back in the 70’s when I moved here there were probably 7 or 8 places to buy fabric. Now there are only 2 places and the selection is terrible. Very limited selection for clothing, mostly quilting and craft materials.

[@michellepark778]

Yes it can cost more, but I sew for the fit, individuality, and enjoyment.

[@meacelestin]

I'm very short, and for that reason alone, sewing all my own clothes is worth it. Perhaps people with a body that fits the industry standards and the disposable income, sewing can be a pure hobby. But if you are NOT standard in height, bust cup, overall size, home sewing is a necessity. Also, let's not forget that fast fashion and the exploitation of (mostly women) workers in poor countries have made clothing cheap and disposable so the modern definition of "expensive" is skewed.

[@kkcliffy2952]

I agree 100%! I'm also short and got sick of nothing fitting right off the rack

[@lazygardens]

One way to reduce the cost of patterns is to make the same pattern in several fabrics. One of my skirt patterns was used at least 10 times for office skirts.

[@Julija_Gobere]

Totally agree! Especially for more simple patterns - just by adding a few details they can look completely different and can be made over and over again👍

[@lazygardens]

@@Julija_Gobere Every time you make it, you are faster. Seriously no one looks at basic skirts and pants, so I would buy a tailored suit jacket and make several skirts to go with it.

[@luciatat4084]

I always reuse my patterns. A different fabric and little different details make a different looking garment, it’s such a waste to never reuse a good pattern! Also, they usually come with a few variations and making another one is also a good ideea! :)

[@marikothecheetah9342]

@@luciatat4084 Because the truth is - whatever could be in fashion is already in fashion. Hence come backs of certain styles.

[@johngriffith744]

Love, love, love your calculations. I sew for me, for fun, for relaxation & you are totally correct, you pay less for better quality and no stupid branding.

[@yorkshirehousewife784]

So with you on the branding. I’m not a walking billboard for anyone.

[@valeriejacobsen2516]

Julia, your videos are excellent! And your example of comparing the cost of reading a book vs sewing a garment is genius. Thank you!

[@vrijheid-ui8bc]

If you make more special clothing, like a party dress... means, nobody else is wearing the same. Ones I sew a trenchcoat and people said it looks more nice than the ones you can buy in stores. The look on the face of people when you tell them that you made the garmet yourself... priceless❗

[@helenv2906]

I have been seeing for over 50 years and initially I did it because my mom and grand mother were tailors. I love to be able to make my clothes and for my family so I get my perfect fit, great quality fabric and style that I want. I always have people asking me where I bought my clothes and for that it's a nice way to know that people like my clothes and it's my proof that doing it myself it all worth it❤❤

[@Julija_Gobere]

People asking where you bought your clothes when you made it yourself is one of the best compliments👍

[@sewmytroublesaway]

This is very interesting. I love how you calculated the machine cost and also the free labour concept. Agreed and good food for thought! Thanks for this

[@DeviousKnitter70]

I love to sew, but the problem is finding good quality textiles. Right now, fabric stores are disappearing, and the quality fabrics are not on shelves. I shop for fashion staples in high end stores, and Thrift stores. I do sew Fleece tops, and summer tops. The biggest issue is that on the online stores, and I do not have the luxury to see and touch before purchase. I am a Retired Home Economics Teacher who specialized in textiles and sewing. Buttons are getting scarce too.

[@darkovinster2754]

I totally agree with your conclusion and your comparing cost. However, in my case, i initially wasted lots of fabric because i wasn’t good enough yet! 😅

[@Doctor_Al]

Wasted fabric is just the cost of tuition ...

[@lazygardens]

I wasn't expecting full blown industrial costing! You are thorough!

[@kkcliffy2952]

I lucked into being the only cousin on either side of my family who took up sewing, so I have 5 sewing machines and a serger that are different ages and levels of quality, but I didn't pay a cent for them and they work great! They were all hand-me-downs and serve me well. I've been designing dresses for myself for a few years now and have nearly replaced my entire wardrobe with handmade clothes. The things I make hold up better over time and are easier to repair than store-bought clothes and I can make sure they fit me better than things in stores. I'm spending more per garment (fabric tends to be $8-$12/yard USD), but it will hold up longer and look nicer. Plus, I can add huge pockets!

[@megumim6795]

you're so right. If it's a hobby and I make it for myself, labor doesn't cost.

[@lazygardens]

You could say that you are paying a few Euros an hour for the hobby. It is less expensive then the pub, or skiing.

[@jordanwhite5470]

I wish we could buy the same exact materials that are used in many upper-scale ready-to-wear garments. That, and the fact that many patterns available are designed to broadcast "homemade" vs HANDMADE.

[@yoursewingbestie]

In the US, at Fabric Wholesale direct, 300gsm french terry cotton is $9.99/yard. Mood Fabrics, 440 GSM is $47.99/yard - those are the 2 far ends of the spectrum from I see on a Google search. I'd certainly trust the Fabric Wholesale direct fabric, even though it's lighter than the 450gsm that you used. Really great video and cost analysis. Thank you Julija!

[@Julija_Gobere]

What a significant price difference!😮

[@lazygardens]

@@Julija_Gobere Mood Fabrics is "high street" and Whgolesale Direct is dockside.

[@janem3378]

Definitely need to use a pattern over and over to keep costs down. Here in Canada patterns are a bit pricey. For that reason I have learned to re-use patterns and also taught myself how to alter my existing patterns.

[@EcstaticTeaTime]

A few things I am doing to keep costs down have also reignited my interest in sewing. My father had been winterizing the windows and got bleach on a corner of my sheets. Immediately, I knew I was going to save it to practice sewing. 1) I will use the fitted sheet (the damaged sheet) first. I have taken the elastic out to reuse. 2) I will start by making pajamas out of them because it doesn't matter if they are ugly because I will be the only one to see them. I can get a lot of practice with simple shorts and shirts, maybe even a nightgown. - Some people recommend projects with straight lines first, which I happened to have fabric for making an apron after hand-sewing one for my father's birthday. I made it a weekend ago when I had four days off to refamiliarize myself with my machine (which I picked after a lot of research after I jammed my mother's.) 3) I am going to use free patterns and videos first. Some of the videos on KZbin also show you how to "clone" your clothes. Because you know how they fit on you already, you can pattern them with some practice and save some money. 4) If I feel I need more practice, I will go to the thrift store for more bedsheets or to a shop for a king-sized set; another KZbinr has a cost analysis on the cost. Even a twin-size is cost effective. I crochet as my primary craft so I have many more supplies and have done a cost analysis on one of my shawls before. I use it as an example when people think I should sell my work to demonstrate why no one would buy it. People are used to paying $5-15 for a hat but almost $59 in materials (not including the hook used) and 20hrs of labor means I would either never sell or my labor wouldn't be valued.

[@meacadwell]

What you showed was the cost for a person just starting out sewing, having to purchase a machine and sewing notions. The majority of new sewists wouldn't be making that hoodie right away, they'd probably start off with something easier like cotton pajama pants or a cotton skirt. Many people that decide to make something like this hoodie more than likely already have a sewing machine and the necessary notions to begin with so I'm unsure if the calculations for purchasing a sewing machine and sewing notions are necessary for the hoodie costs. IMHO, I feel it would be more accurate if the cost of the hoodie was modified to show only the use of the machine, not the purchase of the machine. Then add in the cost of electricity used for running all the equipment used for making the hoodie (sewing machine, serger, iron, and overhead lights) and the cost of gas to drive to and from the fabric store. Then there is the contentious cost of time involved for driving to the fabric store, the time spent in the store, then time driving back from the store...as well as the time spent cutting out and sewing the hoodie. You don't have to put a monetary amount on the time involved but adding in the entire time spent should be added in as it is a cost factor even if money isn't involved since this is a hobby project.

[@lazygardens]

A borrowed, inherited or used machine can cut the cost of entry by hundreds or dollars. My last thrift machine cost $25 and does straight, zigzag and a few other stitches.

[@Solidfluids]

When you make your own clothes you have total reign over the quality of the fabric, fitment and finish of the garment (within your skillset of course). It's hard to compare that to a store bought piece. I'm working on making pants now and the sort of pants I'm making are at least twice the price if bought. And then they don't fit properly or they're made from polyester fabrics.

[@Julija_Gobere]

Buying pants is such a headache for me, it’s definitely better to make them myself for quality of fabric and fit👍

[@nedawilmhoff3599]

I firmly believe a good brand used machine is often a better machine than brand new lower quality machine. Machines from the 50’s are wonderful but they don’t come with all the bells and whistles. I’ve had my Bernina for over 30 years and don’t plan on changing ever. Beautiful work. I’ve found a seller in the U.S. that sells fabric that is left from manufacturing and they often put them on sale. Cotton French terry on sale could cost from 18-8$ per yard.

[@Doctor_Al]

Excellent analysis. At a couple of points I wanted to argue, but you brought it home. The point about your time invested in purchasing is not zero is something I never considered. But even if you considered 60 euros for labor, it's still less expensive to make vs buy. Very nicely done.

[@Inga_Ka]

Sewing is a great hobby of mine, so I never calculate the costs. I always buy fabric on sale online, so of course I have a big stash :). I also have two sewing machines, a serger and a coverstitch. It's all worth it. Sewing and wearing self made clothes makes me happy. It's so exciting to try the new piece of garment for the first time. The patterns are relatively cheap, I'm German and it's all the way Burda for me.

[@Julija_Gobere]

I’ve started sewing using Burda and use it a lot to this day, their magazines make all single patterns look so expensive😅

[@yorkshirehousewife784]

Sorry I know it’s off topic, but have you any experience with the Lutterloh golden rule?

[@marathonfortruth4768]

Agreed about Burda. My best garments are made from Burda patterns. Their instructions leave something to be desired, but I think they are worth the trouble.

[@jordanwhite5470]

Burda and other Eurpean pattern companies do a much better job than American companies.

[@lilithmorgenstern6138]

For me it definitely is. I like extravagant things and I also do not fit into the sizes sold at stores. I'd have to get my clothes tailored anyway, so it's just cheaper to make them myself. And I end up with clothes I actually wear (and my clothes have actual pockets, not those fake thingies)

[@Julija_Gobere]

I, too, don’t fit in store sizes, especially pants - I either have to shorten them or take in waist, or both😕 More simple to just sew myself fitting pants from the start😁

[@joycecylkowski6213]

I am tall and big boned. Sewing is a fact of life for me. And I also learned to sew undies and bra. Cannot find a store bought that fits as well.

[@isabellep6119]

Love how you adress the labor issue- and 100% agree with you! ❤️

[@theresaanndiaz3179]

If you compare your garments to high end custom made items you come out ahead. I do historical costuming and re-enacting and it's definitely less expensive than off the rack, if the item even exists. I don't waste my energy making ordinary things, even when I make everyday clothing. I do buy very little new clothing.

[@Elia-DCrea]

I agree on the cost of labor. I don't sew very much (I'm planning to sew more this year) but I crochet and recently I start making myself clothes. I decide that if I was to spend hours and hours on a garnement I want quality fiber even if it cost me more. I prefere less clothes that I love wearing than more that I only like and maybe won't wear.

[@vidarmonia]

I love using old clothes and make something new to wear. So I don't have the cost of fabric ...

[@nikkijohnson552]

This was fascinating! Thanks for calculating fairly!

[@marjawood5097]

You have made some very valid points😊

[@Jane-cr9bp]

Here in Australia French terry 100% cotton is around 27 Euro, and ~330g/m sq, from a reputable fabric store (online). That was for an Aussie made fabric, which is a rarity. Many of our fabrics are imported. Being so far away from the rest of the world, we are used to paying higher prices for things!

[@lakcurious]

Very, very good analysis! Thank you very much for that! Although in my country (Germany) such good material is a bit more expensive, I can only agree with the result. That makes me happy! Nevertheless, I often get annoyed when I see that the market is flooded with goods that are often of good quality and sold below price. These are the well-known mail order companies. We should all work to put a stop to these companies. They destroy jobs and prosperity in our home countries. Buy products from your country and/or neighboring countries; this reduces the ecological footprint and maintains the prosperity of your region.

[@olgamarchevska]

Making a whole hoodie in 3 hours sounds inspiring! Does it include time to buy and prepare fabric as well? As an inexperienced sewist, I spend much more time. I counted my time at local minimum wage, and it results even or up to 30% more expensive to sew.

[@Julija_Gobere]

It didn’t include time for purchasing fabric, because I bought super quick once I saw the quality of the fabric😁 Sewing a hoodie is really a relatively quick task (compared to more complex woven garments), and gets even faster with practise 🙂

[@kerrough]

It's worth it to me because I'm plus size, and it's hard to find things that fit right off the rack. I needed so much alteration sometimes that it felt EASIER to just make stuff myself, which was true. Not to mention that my pieces have proven to be more long-lasting than most store bought stuff ever was

[@SweetRetiredLife]

I just bought some high quality French terry. $36 a metre but on sale 25% off, in CDN$. If I’ve done my math right this coverts to approximately 18 per metre in euro dollars, including the 25% discount.

[@victoriahannah1633]

I might add labor costs if something just wasn’t working out and I spent several days trying to get it right. Also how many times did I undo seams and stitch it over again. It would be my aggravation labor.

[@silvie4518]

I am super jealous of that fabric! Been searching for a similar quality for a while now but most French Terry ends up the thin and stretchy type. Fabric cost in Germany is very similar I think. We get lots of fabric from NL. For French Terry in particular you can find it from 7 Euro or so in a questionable quality up to 30 Euros for special prints. Normal quality uni colored is around 12-15 Euro.

[@praxisfurnaturheilkunde5394]

Nächste Woche ist hier holländischer Stoffmarkt - die Einkaufsliste wird gerade geschrieben 😎😎

[@lakcurious]

Einen solch schweren French Terry wirst Du kaum unter 16-18€ bekommen. Aber mein Termin für den Stoffmarkt steht auch schon im Kalender!

[@pjacksreads536]

Sewing is my passion and hobby. The joy of wearing something I made is priceless. I sew for myself. Occasionally I will gift things as I wish. I’m asked to do alterations or someone asks me to make something for them. They truly have no understanding that it is not cheaper to get something made than to go buy it. I work hard, my profession is outside of the fashion industry. My time is not cheap. I have to tell people all the time, I’m not cheap, so it’s cheaper for them to continue buying their clothes.

[@natashascicluna1262]

Hi that’s very interesting, i have sewn for 30 years and am from Malta, however I have always asked myself, is it worth it to make it as a small business, like for example sewing bags or pockets, etc and selling them? Is it worth it? In my country fabric its not abundant as almost all Maltese buy store items, only for weddings or special occasions they go to a dress maker. So for those cotton fabric and even sweater fabric its a rarity. Can you make us a video please being that you are a professional sewist and an Economist 🫶🏼?

[@yorkshirehousewife784]

You make great points. The Uk 🇬🇧 is very similar. We can get fabrics but have to travel.

[@natashascicluna1262]

Very very similar and we only have 1 fabric shop for all the island 🇲🇹

[@bmill229]

What pattern did you use? Is it coming to your etsy store?

[@loverlyme]

It's now very expensive to sew your own clothes in Australia. We don't seem to have the same bargains, let alone the range and choice, due to our smaller population and the distance. My mum made all my clothes, including school uniforms, when I was a child (in the late 60's and the 70s and most of the 80s). Apart from a few items of underwear, I didn't have store-bought clothes until I was in my 20s. At the time, it was cheaper to make than to buy. Now, it's the opposite. It's not just the fabric, it's the patterns but also all the notions required. You can easily spend $10 just on thread to match your fabric. But I still prefer it as almost all store-bought clothes are not a great fit on me. The thing I wished I'd done as a kid though, is to go into stores to try on clothes. I had no idea what did and didn't suit me and my body-shape. There was no wide-dissemination of information to help me to work this out at the time! I think if I was more body-aware (via trying on a variety of outfits) I would have picked patterns that suited me better.

[@birgitelisabeth9661]

Many people buy inexpensive clothing that is made in China or some other low cost country and no home sewing can compare with that cost wise. You can't even get the fabric for the money that such a garment costs. I sew my clothes for the satisfaction that it gives me to wear clothing that I sewed myself. Also I can customize garments that I sew myself to my own individual style.

[@SparkyOne549]

Good to see another creative lefty!

[@TheWitch]

My sewing is definitely more expensive than what the average person would spend on clothing. But it is hell of a lot cheaper to get the quality and look than what the stores offer. According to the market, I have expensive tastes.

[@glittergoblin]

I want to push back slightly against your statement near the end that by making your own clothes, you know exactly what you are putting in. I think a lot of sewists may be careful about fabric content, but little is known about where that fabric is made or how workers are treated before it comes into our lives. What we do know is our personal working conditions and the amount of waste we create throughout our making process.

[@justanoman6497]

Upfront cost: The problem with high cost barrier to entry with a *hobby* is that you don't know if you are going to stick with it long enough for the per usage cost to drop that low. This means depending on which stage of the hobby one is in, the hour estimate might need to be significantly reduced which in turn means the hourly cost greatly increases. Labor value: This depends on *why* someone takes up sewing as a hobby. If you simply enjoy sewing, great, it can be 0. But if it is under a general "DIY is productive" sort of mindset, then the value generation is *part* of the hobby and cannot be 0. Yeah... time to shop is... a huge variable. I've gone shopping with a family member and they could spend hours or days browsing without buying anything... Me.... about 5-10 min, most of that is travel and/or finding the section (per item. I rarely buy just one item, so it could be a half hour travel then 1 min per item for about 5 items). Overall, i'd say your valuation is fair... for you. But it is probably incorrect for anyone who would actually ask such a question in the first place. Because anyone who is asking about this question probably is not fully committed to the hobby and is at least to some extend concerned about the value. You probably have heard of the saying "if you have to ask, you can't afford it". This is kind of similar--if you have to ask, it's probably not worth it. And that's my stance on most hobbies--you shouldn't worry about the cost, because the moment you do is when you know in your heart that it is no longer worth it and is just trying your hardest to find justifications.

[@marikothecheetah9342]

If you get into any hobby just for the money then frustration will be your constant companion. I would say the best approach is do it because you enjoy it and if you happen to make it an additional income - great! but if not -you can still enjoy it as much.

[@anitaturcsanyiova2439]

Hello Julia, thanks a lot for sharing. I can not buy such a high grammage in my country. Normally what is offered is a 250 g/sqm for a price around 8€. So you got a great price and a quality selection at home 😊

[@Julija_Gobere]

I do have to say that fabric of this weight is very rare in my country, too! I typically don’t buy fabric in advance before knowing exact project, but I bought this fabric (and matching rib knit) in 3 different colors immediately, just in case they run out😁

[@elsafischer3247]

Here I. Switzerland it would cost €38

[@LonelyPiligrim]

I bet it will cost me way more than 3h to sew such hoodie 😅

[@fortmacmom3122]

If I can buy it, I’m not sewing it. It’s unlikely to be worth the time, fabric, and effort. But I can make special items that cannot be bought or cannot be bought reasonably.

[@yorkshirehousewife784]

I agree with you and love your calculations. But would like to add additional details into your calculations. 1, Electricity. 2, servicing and maintenance of your sewing machines throughout their lifespan. I recently paid £110 to have my combined embroidery/sewing machine serviced.

[@marikothecheetah9342]

1. With modern machines you'd have to sew for 12 hours every day to feel those costs. 2. Comes with the machine, I guess. Since you have combined machine I assume it's one of the professional types and quite expensive, so why assume service would be any different? :/

[@Huismusje77]

Where did you buy the fabric? I can't find that weight French Terry in my European country.

[@Julija_Gobere]

I bought the fabric from local Lithuanian online store called ‘audiniai Drim’ - they have a very wide knit fabric selection, but I don’t think they ship internationally, unfortunately…

[@Huismusje77]

@Julija_Gobere Thank you

[@Huismusje77]

@Julija_Gobere They ship to other European countries 🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@karinjcollstrup7360]

You forgot to calculate the cost of learning to sew. The cost of all the practicemateriel and the garments that go wrong becourse you are still learning....😂 And the cost of bying more fabric then you actually need. There should allso be calculated the cost of transport to the fabricstore (unless you walk there) or shipping.

[@yorkshirehousewife784]

Good points, I learned to sew with old bedding. Or popping to the charity shop for some King size sheets. It’s surprisingly economical and also good practice for working with new patterns

[@marikothecheetah9342]

Tell me about it. Resizing and refitting when you begin is a given and lots of fabric goes into that. Luckily I sew for dolls. :P

[@lakcurious]

@@yorkshirehousewife784Old bedding is good for sample cuts, I often get something from the charity shop. And I've also found clothes for thrift flips there.

[@elsafischer3247]

I’m going to your country this spring, could you subject where I could go, in your capital to buy fabrics thank you

[@elsafischer3247]

But I enjoy making my own clothes

[@molliemoxie5276]

If you have a dedicated sewing room, consider the cost of the square footage of the room. My requirements when we purchased our current home is for me to have an extra room dedicated to only sewing . My sewing hobby had a 15 year mortgage! Expensive but so worth it.

[@Julija_Gobere]

Sewing room is such a dream!🤩

[@tkdasar6190]

❤❤