Lately we’ve been doing a lot of sewing. And lately we’ve noticed something:
Every time you want to sew something, it costs money.
And some projects are more expensive than others. So, here are a few tips for pinching your pennies when it comes to sewing.
• Fabric: Don’t buy it. Now, don’t get me wrong here, I do realize it helps to have fabric when you are sewing. I just mean don’t buy fabric from the fabric stores. You can often find good fabric at very inexpensive prices at thrift shops. And here’s another thing – you can use sheets! Generally sheets can be found at thrift stores too, but even some brand new sheets are cheaper than new fabric. Of course, I’m not laying down the law and saying that it’s a sin to go and buy new fabric from the store! That’s fine too. But if you’re pinching pennies and/or don’t have any particular fabric in mind, the options already mentioned just might save you a little cash.
• Buttons: Buttons can really add up especially if you need them for the front of a skirt or dress. Next time you “purge” your closet, before throwing out clothing that is too worn to be given away, rip off any buttons that might be on them. Most button-up sweaters will have 5 or 6 buttons, while dresses and skirts could have 10 or more! If you save these, you will have a handy store of matching sets of buttons for use in your future sewing projects. Oh – and thrift stores come in handy here too. If you have a project where you need a large amount of buttons but don’t have any worn out button-up clothes, head to the thrift store and pick up a dress with buttons that you like (it can be the ugliest dress in the world – as long as the buttons are nice! 
. An average dress at a thrift store would cost between $4 to $10, and 10 brand new buttons would have easily cost you $20 or more.
• Boning: I’m not sure how often you would need boning, but if you’re like me you love making historical costumes – and those generally seem to call for boning. And boning is ex-pen-sive! Well, a friend of ours let us in on a great tip: go to the hardware store and pick up a bag of those plastic tie-wraps. They are about the perfect length for boning in a bodice (and could always be trimmed). You can get a bag of around 100 tie-wraps for less than $10 – and that sure is cheaper than boning!
I hope this is helpful and if I come across any more money-saving tips I’ll be sure to pass them on! Happy sewing!
3 Responses to The Thrifty Seamstress
Martha Artyomenko
Replied on: January 17, 2008, 6:51 pm
A couple of things as I have never had an excess of money and sew! I seem to always have alot of fabric that I never gt the chance to sew into things.
Sheets are not always the best quality for something you want to last after you go into the work of sewing! I have found that if you watch the sales at JoAnn fabrics they will often mark fabric down and sometimes have sales on the discounted fabric where I have gotten nice fabric for $1 a yard for really nice better quality fabric. I will pay $2 for something that is worth alot more or will drape just right!
Notions like buttons, zippers, thread etc. If you do not want to spend alot of money on it, look in discount bins at Joanns or other places and pick up thread. I cannot use cheap thread on my sewing machine, learning the hard way, so I buy cotton covered thread at least. If you watch you can get it cheap.
another place is Home Sew- They have sales and discounts that are great, but also sell bulk bags of buttons for cheap, ribbon, trims etc. Sign up for their newsletter and they often have .99 shipping
You can buy very nice buttons for a pennies a piece!
Gehman Fabrics is also a great place for fabric that will last a long time as well as Stauffers. Stauffers is a Amish mail order company and sell only solids, but the the fabric is well priced and lasts without fading for years with constant washing!
Mrs. Mobunny
Replied on: January 23, 2008, 3:03 am
It is a GREAT idea to shop thrift stores and sales for fabric. I spent $2.75 today and got almost 15 yards of fabric. Gingham, maroon stripe, flower print……one thrift store charges 25cents for each piece, another charged 50cents for each piece………..if it is 8 yards, it is still 25 or 50 cents!
Good thought about the buttons, too! They’re more interesting if you get them off of old clothing.
I also get ric-rac and bias tape sometimes for a dime each!
You didn’t mention patterns……..most I buy are for a quarter or less if I buy them at thrift stores. Most have never even been taken out of the envelope!
Miss Kathryn
Replied on: January 25, 2008, 9:30 pm
Mrs. Artyomenko- I agree that sheets may not be the best idea if you are making something that will be exposed to a lot of wear and tear; however, they do very well for costumes, etc. that you wear very rarely. Thanks for pointing that out though!
Mrs. Mobunny- That’s true about the patterns, I forgot to mention that! Also most large chain stores have $1 pattern sales around holidays where you can get lots of patterns for cheap!
Thank you both for all the extra tips!