Want to sew a wallet, bag, or clothes? Not sure if you’ll be wasting your time and money? This post contains source your sewing tips.
Introduction
Sewing can be an expensive hobby. Will you make something for less than the cost of buying it, or will your material costs be high. Will you make something that has features store bought items don’t have. Time is money too. Your skills will have the biggest impact on the amount of time a sewing project will take you. Here are some of the ways you can save time and/or money sourcing your sewing.
1) Patterns
Planning is an important part of every sewing project. A pattern is a detailed plan with instructions. Think of it like a recipe; a list of things you need, notes on how to prepare them, and instructions on how to assemble them to create the final product.
Paper
Paper patterns vary in price. Tissue paper patterns tend to cost less than patterns printed on sturdier paper. Sometimes you can find paper patterns in the second hand market.
Digital Downloads
Several pattern developers make patterns for similar projects so digital downloads for the same type of item (for example sling pack) are available in a variety of price points. Piece together the pattern pieces if all the pages in the download are letter sized or A4. I usually use letter-sized paper from my scrap paper bin. This can be time consuming. Some digital downloads include a file for printing all the pattern pieces on a large piece of paper at a print shop. Print shop prices vary
DIY
My mom and maternal grandmother sewed clothes by making their own patterns. I’ve cloned a few clothing items and created my own patterns for some bags. There are also free online tutorials and video tutorials with instructions for creating patterns. Gridded pattern paper is an option but it’s less expensive to use brown packing paper, flip-board pages, gift wrapping paper (some are gridded on the undecorated side) or any other appropriately sized pieces of paper you have on hand.
2) Fabrics
Fabric is a key component of any sewing project and there are many more choices than just knitted or woven.
Fabric stores
Some fabric stores have remnant sections or bargain sections where the last pieces from fabric rolls end up. You may also find “seconds” which are fabrics that have manufacturing errors or damage from being transported to the retailer.
Second Hand
Thrift shops and garage sales often have fabrics and/or fabric goods you could use for your project.
Cheap
Dollar chain stores and liquidation stores often have craft sections. Fat quarters and jellyrolls may be available for your smaller projects. Other items to consider include table clothes, table runners, place-mats, blankets and sheets.
Free
Got a disused item you could upcycle into your new project? Items you already own are always a good source of materials.
Piece Together
Piecing together small pieces of woven fabric to create a half-yard or yard of fabric is less expensive than buying a new piece of woven fabric. Keep in mind that it’s both thread and time intensive. Using random lines of straight stitching could be faster than zigzagging the perimeter of each fabric fragment.
Interfacing
Fusible fleece and fusible interfacing that has been fused can’t be removed and reused. Small pieces of unfused fleece and interfacing can be pieced together and fused. I’ve had success zigzagging small pieces of fusible fleece into a larger piece then fusing it to my fabric. I’ve also fused small pieces of fusible interfacing to larger piece of fabric by overlapping the fusibles a few millimetres. Not using any interfacing is even more economical.
3) Marking Tools
Your pattern my have darts, or placement marks that you need to transfer to your fabric.
Fabric pencils, pens & markers
These pens and markers leave marks that are easy to wash out, can be removed by heating with an iron or hairdryer or can be turned clear by covering with the “erasing” side of the marker. Fabric pencils can be brushed off or rubbed gently with a damp cloth.
Pencils, Pens & Markers
The everyday pencils, pens and markers you have at home may also mark fabric. Pencil marks can be removed from many fabrics easily. Ink can be difficult to remove so avoid using it on the right side of your fabrics. Highlighters and markers can also stain and may bleed through your fabric. Washable children’s markers are less likely to stain.
Chalk
Fabric chalks (tailor’s chalks) are less crumbly than chalkboard chalk and makes sharper lines than chalkboard chalk and is easier to wash out. They are available as rectangles and triangles than you sharpen by hand and as narrow sticks that go inside a mechanical pencil. A thin piece of soap can also mark dark fabrics and is easy to wash out. Chalkboard chalk can also be substituted, but may leave permanent marks.
4) Cutting Tools
Most sewing projects require you to cut your fabrics.
Fabric Scissors & Shears
Fabric scissors and fabric shears have extremely sharp blades, which allow them to easily cut through resistant and textured materials and quickly clip threads. Scissors have two parallel blades and shears have an asymmetrical design with a bent handles. The bend in the handle stabilizes cutting and is more ergonomic. Fabric scissors have sharper, longer, and thicker blades than regular scissors, allowing them to cut through strong, resistant fabrics swiftly and cleanly. Good-quality sewing scissors are sharp, durable, and corrosion resistant. All-purpose crafting scissors can cut fabric and are more affordable. Dollar chains carry an assortment of scissors. Keep in mind that poor quality scissors won’t last long for any task.
Rotary cutters
Rotary cutters are like small pizza wheels for fabric and crafts. They are extremely sharp. A self-healing mat is necessary to protect your work surface. Hobby & craft stores, office supply stores and, hardware stores sell multiple sizes of self-healing mats at a variety of price points. Rotary cutters are available in a few sizes and several price points. Ergonomic models are often more expensive. Metal rulers and metal edged rulers are a big help if you plan to use your rotary cutter for long, straight cuts.
Department stores with sewing sections often stock budget models of rotary cutters and self-healing mats. I was surprised to see rotary cutters and self-healing mats in a local dollar chain store. It was one of the smaller self-healing mats I’ve seen and it would work best for small projects.
Seam Rippers
When you make a mistake a good pair of seam rippers will make it easy to undo your sewing. Dull seam rippers require more effort to use and are more likely to tear your fabric. Avoid old and second hand pairs. Ergonomic models are easier to hold and good quality ones are expensive. You may find ergonomic and non-ergonomic models in department stores. Liquidation and dollar chains may also have them.
5) Pins, Clips, Glue & Tape
You may want to secure parts of your sewing project together while you’re sewing them.
Pins
Quality straight pins are often made from nickle plated steel, are magnetic and are very sharp [https://www.cleanersupply.ca/packaging/clips-pins/straight-pins/straight-pins-1-lbbox/#sku=pi2]. There are different lengths of pins, types and sizes of pin heads, and price points based on quality. All pins will dull with use, but poor quality pins will dull faster and are more likely to bend when you’re pushing them into your fabric. Department store sewing sections, liquidations stores and dollar chains all have budget options.
Sewing Clips
Sewing clips are handy for holding thicker layers of fabric together and for holding fabrics that would be damaged by pin holes. They are available in a variety of sizes. High quality sewing clips are more expensive than budget models but they also last longer. Online retailers may carry a them in a range of qualities and prices. Small binder clips and plastic coated paperclips are lower budget alternatives.
Glue
Temporary and permanent fabric glues available for sale. They remain flexible when cured. I’ve used both glue sticks and school glue as a temporary fabric adhesive with varying degrees of success. Glue sticks only held for a short period of time. School glue took a long time to dry, made my project stiff, and was difficult to wash out.
Tape
Fabric tapes have adhesive on both sides. They may be self-stick or they may require ironing to activate the adhesive. Depending upon your project you could use school glue or glue sticks, hand basting, pins or fabric clips to achieve the same result.
6) Needles & Threads
Prior to the industrial revolution, all sewing was done by hand This versatile skill is great for portability and precision tasks.
Hand needles
There are several types of hand sewing needles and sizes for each type. Specific hand sewing needles work for specific projects, threads, and fabrics. I seldom hand sew and all my hand needles are from dollar chain and liquidation stores. If you’re working on a project like embroidery, darning, tapestry etc, match your needle to the project.
Thread
Thread is made of silk, cotton, polyester, nylon or blends of those fibers. Select the thread size that best matches the fabric or project you’re sewing. Department stores may carry the same brands of thread that you find in sewing stores. Sometimes department store prices are lower. Dollar chain stores often carry thread. Quality varies. Bulk sized spools of thread tend to be cost efficient if you’re sewing a large project or large number of projects.
7) Sewing Machines
Sewing machines allow you to sew faster, stronger, more durable stitches than hand sewing. It can be difficult to duplicate these consistent stitches by hand. Basic sewing machines may cost as little as $150 while top of the line sewing and embroidery models can easily cost more than $1000.
Buy used
Look for used sewing machines for sale on different online market places.
Rent
There may be sewing machine rental options near you.
Borrow
Borrow a sewing machine from friends or family is a to save money. They may give you some pointers about using their machine.
Sewing machine needles
Sewing machine needles are available in different sizes, types and brands. Match the needle to your fabric for best results. I’ve had good results buying generic sewing machine needles.. Dollar chain sewing machine needles didn’t fit in my machine.
Conclusion
There are numerous ways to make sewing less expensive. Keep in mind that budget tools and equipment may need to be replaced more often. Cheaper fabrics, thread, and other materials may be lower quality or their prices may reflect discontinued stock. Marking tools and adhesives that aren’t designed for fabrics may not wash off or may leave your fabric stiff. If you become proficient and sew sewing, you can save a lot of money by not buying a sewing machine. If you don’t have that skill or your project is large and time consuming, discover what you could buy second hand, rent or borrow.
Did you enjoy this post? Do you have any additional tips for sourcing your sewing? Comment below and/or Pin me for later!
Happy New Year!
Tanya
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