Sew What?
Does anyone make their own clothes anymore? I’m talking about the kind of sewing that involves choosing a pattern, buying fabric and constructing an entire piece of clothing at home. And the women wearing the very homemade-looking shirtwaist dresses in that weird polygamist Mormon cult don’t count. They obviously know how to make a sewing machine work.
My question about whether anyone still sews came to mind when I was in a JoAnn Fabric store last week shopping for buttons for a sweater that I had knit. On my way to the button aisle in the back of the store, I walked past the bolts of fabrics and a mannequin modeling a jacket and dress made from a Butterick pattern.
Did I stop for a moment to see if the outfit had any potential as something I might wear? Nope. The thought that ran through my mind was that I could probably find something more stylish for less than the cost of the fabric next door at Target. And I could wear it right away without investing hours of time to make it.
And over the years as I’ve chatted with other moms, I have never once met one who said they made any of their own clothes or their kids’ clothes. Is sewing an archaic skill that no body does anymore like changing your own oil?
I know how to sew so making something like I saw on the mannequin is fully within my skills. It was my sister who taught me how to sew although if she hadn’t, I would have learned the basics in my “home economics” class in junior high. Instead of a computer lab…because there was no such thing as a personal computer back then…my school had a classroom with 20 sewing machines and all girls were required to take basic sewing.
I actually loved the sewing class because it was a chance to show off my more advanced sewing skills. I clearly remember many of the fabrics I used and the outfits I made. I was very proud of wearing something I had made that fit well and showed no hint of being homemade. It didn’t get much better for me than perfectly straight rows of parallel topstitching on my pocket flaps.
But it’s been decades since I seriously considered making an item of clothing for myself. Who has the time and motivation when there are so many options for places to buy relatively well-made clothing that’s not expensive which I can try on so I know that it’s going to fit?
And young women these days don’t know how to sew. My own daughters are examples of that. Where I work, I’ve become the go-to person when a pair of pants needs to be hemmed. When I sewed on a button in about 30 seconds, everyone reacted as if I had performed magic.
Knowing that I was pondering sewing, Steve kept an eye out on Craig’s List for me. In the course of a week, he forwarded about 10 requests for people looking for sewing help of varying degrees.
So…since women like me who can follow a pattern to sew a skirt or dress choose not to, and girls of my daughters’ generation aren’t learning how to sew, I come back to my original question of who is buying the fabric and patterns?
In the next week, I’m going to do a little research to see if I can get an answer.
I sew regularly. It has been a burden ever since we lost JoAnn Fabrics here in Petaluma but still I persevere. Ebay loves me. I hate having to drive to RP just to buy sewing thread but I have to have it.
I got tired of not finding what I wanted to wear at the stores. Not to mention the hours wasted just walking around and accomplishing nothing. So, I started to sew more often.
I enjoy the opportunity to be more creative. Many young people don’t know how to sew because I don’t think it is offered much in HS anymore? One of my sons did learn how to sew and can follow simple instructions? My daughter? Well, she wasn’t too interested in it as a hobby. I enjoyed making clothes for my kids as they grew up and now I get to make things for my grandkids. I don’t make everything that they wear. I just focus on special projects for the kids.
True you can buy many things at the store but to get something really nice, it is still reasonable to make it yourself. I looked for days to find something worth the money that I really liked and ended up back at my sewing machine. I like making my Renaissance costumes and being able to sew offers me a lot more dress options.
by Penny C.
I absolutely sew! Almost all of my daughters clothing and most of my boys PJ, also lots of stuff for the home. You are correct, fabric and notions have become expensive, which means you watch sales and clip coupons, and buy things on the internet. Most of the patterns you find in the fabric store books are not very modern or attractive – however, there is an abundance of things online, PDF patterns that cover 2 and 3 times as many sizes as store patterns, and lots of free stuff on peoples blogs that they share.
It is a lost art, one passed to me by grandma and mom and DAD, and one I’m passing to my daughter and sons.
by Donnie
I buy patterns and fabric all the time. I take a classes from Alicia Pucci of http://www.sew-it-all.com. She has classes all over the bay area and offers private lessons as well. It’s a great hobby and I really enjoy it. I have made now a few things that I really love. It can be an expensive hobby but if you are really into it there some great discount fabric options in San Francisco, Fabrix being a favorite of mine. It’s a great feeling to make something that you end up loving!! One of my favorite purses I have I made, and no it’s not just a cloth sack
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by Lou
Oh and I’m 29
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by Lou
I first learned to sew when I was 10 years old. My mom, an accomplished seamstress, taught me and it took hold. I sewed clothing throughout high school, college and into my early years of marriage, making mostly curtains, duvet covers, and pillows at that point. When my daughter was born in 1981 I was delighted to make dresses and sunsuits for her, but as she got older sewing for her kind of went out the door. I can’t say that I ever sewed for her older brother. Now as a busy shopkeeper and mother of two grown kids, my sewing interest has shifted to sewing quilts. That’s been my creative outlet for the past 11 years and I can say I don’t miss sewing clothes anymore.
by Dana Prichard
I meant to mention that a local Petaluman, Marie Stenberg, has started a new business , Sewbiz4kids. She’s teaching young ones the fine art of sewing and doing a great job at it. She’s got several classes a week and you’ll find her studio in the McNear Building. Here’s a link to her blog:
http://www.sewbiz4kidz.com
by Dana Prichard