Sunday, October 31, 2010


What a shock!
I went with my daughter to buy a sewing pattern for her apparel class. A pattern costs $16.00 !!! It was on sale though for $10.00. Does anyone else remember when sewing your own clothes was an economical alternative to buying them in the store? If we are lucky the pattern will cost 10, the fabric will cost about 15, then add on buttons, interfacing and thread. This blouse will cost $30.00 to make.
Anyone know of an less expensive way to buy patterns or websites to suggest?

9 comments:

Anna said...

Hancocks has pattern sales each month....usually 99cents...you can look at their sales flyer online for dates of sale

Amanda said...

I remember being just as shocked when I retired and decided to go back to making my own clothes to save money. Huh! It's way more expensive to make your own.

Anonymous said...

I wait until Hobby Lobby sells them for 99cent. :-) But then..don't sew many clothes anymore either. That really was sticker shock!!

Chookyblue...... said...

I got a couple of new patterns a few weeks ago and was shocked at the price...........will be interested in the answers here.......

Judy S. said...

You either have to have coupons or shop for patterns during the sales, but it's no longer easy to save by sewing your own stuff. Those days seem to be gone, sadly.

Carrie P. said...

whoa! it would be cheaper to buy it at a store if you could find one like it. When I buy a pattern which is rare I usually get it at Jo Anns when they have there sale. I remember when they cost about $1.50

Vicky aka Stichr said...

10 cents at the thrift store. none of the patterns I picked up one day had been used.

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

I had the same shock when I went to buy a pattern earlier this year. It was unbelievable to see the prices. I will stick to quilting, hated sewing garments anyway.

Anonymous said...

In the UK it is more expensive to make your own clothes. I do it as a last resort when I can't find exactly what I'm looking for in the shops.

Sometimes I make up my own clothes patterns. If I have a fav item I can often use it as a template or transfer it onto wallpaper to make a strong paper pattern. I have a half circle skirt pattern I love like that.

Charity shops can often be a good source of fabric. Wool blankets can be dyed to the right shades for example.