If you have ever stepped into a fabric store, you know that fabric isn’t cheap. In fact, it can be quite expensive! Considering all the great ways to get clothes inexpensively (or even free), buying fabric and taking time to sew clothes for your family hardly seems like a frugal option.
Unless you can get fabric for free or super cheap.
I don’t mean just a good sale or low quality material at discount prices. I’m not talking about fabric samples. I’m not even going to mention the 40% off coupons at JoAnn’s or Black Friday deals at Hancock.
I want fabric cheaper than that.
Think outside the bolt with me here
Let’s look at some great options for frugal fabric!
Bedding -sheets, duvet covers, pillow cases
I have successfully used all of these bedding items to sew for my family. Sheets are often a great time-saver because they have finished edges! If you plan things right, you won’t have to hem or finish edges yourself! Sheets are also wonderful because they come wider than most fabric you can buy on the bolt. They make great backings for quilts.
If I find a cute pillowcase for a quarter at a year sale, you better believe I’m getting it! You can make an entire dress or nightgown (or blouse for an older girl) from one pillow case! If you haven’t ever done sewing with repurposed fabric, a pillowcase dress or nightgown is a great place to start!
Tablecloths
Tablecloths are often discarded when they get a stain or two, but they are large enough that patterns can often easily but cut around the stains. You can find a variety of colors, patterns, and fabrics of tablecloths that can be repurposed.
I had a nearly new table rectangular tablecloth that didn’t quite fit my oval table. Plus, my toddler was constantly pulling on the edge any tablecloth we used, which was always bad news. It was a fun flowery pattern, so I turned it into an Easter dress for my daughter and necktie for my son.
Curtains
If Maria can clothe seven VonTrapp children and herself from the curtains, then so (or sew) can we! As with sheets, you may be able to take advantage of the curtain’s finished edges.
And More
My friend made herself a skirt from a Christmas tree skirt. Turn an old leather purse into baby shoes. Adult t-shirts can be turned into leggings or dresses for kids. A women’s skirt can be transformed into a girl’s dress. The possibilities are endless really.
What if I don’t have any bedding, tablecloths or curtains that I want to cut up?
Ask your network
Send out emails to family members or people in your church congregation. Ask your friends on facebook or twitter. Let people know that you’re looking for fabric or linens they don’t need.
Freecycle
Join your local freecycle if you aren’t already a member and send out a request for any unwanted fabric, tablecloths, bedding, curtains, etc.
Craigslist
Hop on your local craigslist.org and post an ad in the arts+crafts, free and wanted sections. Describe what you’re looking for and what you want to pay (or not pay). As always, be safe and ignore scammers.
Thrift stores
On half price day, check out their fabric remnants. My local thrift store often has linens half off. When they do, I always take a peek at the sheets and pillow cases. I have found some real treasures, often exactly what I am looking for.
Garage sales
Garage sales are always hit or miss, but it never hurts to ask if they have any fabric or sheets that they would like to get rid of.
Spread the word
Let people know you sew! When word gets out that you like to sew and are always looking for fabric, you will have friends of friends calling you up to come pick up the fabric they just inherited from their great aunt.
Find a nice place to store your newly found fabric stash. Plastic under-the-bed tubs work great. Just don’t forget to use it! See how long you can go without going to the fabric store! Get creative and use the fabric you have instead of buying any.
You’ll Also Enjoy:
Dear sirs can you ask around the world wide web site help with sewing supply fabric make pillowcase for me iamhandcaip got sezuire no money debbiebarlogio 9939gouldst Oakland ca94603.2344 look for Rose’s teas cup fabrics thank you god.bless al
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Dear Stephanie,
Thank you for this post, the memories, and the smiles you brought me. I am so glad I found your site. It came up when I did a search for where to get fabric scraps. As I was looking for a helpful resource to pass on to my readers.
I have a lifelong sewing history, and a blog that is six weeks old. So, again, thank you.
Like you, curtains and bedsheets are some of “my favourite things” to turn into clothing and accessories.
You have a wealth of ideas. And I thank you for sharing them.
Dear Stephanie,
I looked for a blog like yours, after my local Walmart is Cutting Overbearingly the Fabric Section down to practically nothing. These Big Wigs don’t know what their doing to the local farming communities that support it. Many do like to Quilt, but- I do Alterations and some Special Sewing for people. So, I have relied on the Walmart to help in this regard for the most part. Don’t know if this happening in other area’s of the country. I also take curtains from Thrift Shops and make Clothing. I like allot of your ideas. Thanks for letting so many know how to stretch their $. And most of all- Have a little Imagination.
You are right. It appears that Walmart is downsizing their material and it some stores eliminated it all together. I have written to Walmart corporate office and encourage everyone out there to do the same.
You are a gal after my own heart! I agree with you wholeheartedly! Fabric has been a lifesaver all my life – when I couldn’t afford something I turned to fabric: I put it on walls, covered boxes with it, made all my kids clothes and mine with it, I’ve created so many things with fabric in my 80 years! The past 25 years I’ve been creating designs for greeting cards with it and it was our vacation money and presently it’s my pin money. 60 years ago you could get sotton fabric for 25cents a yard – my grandmother didn’t pay a thing for it, she used the seed and feed bags my grandfather brought home to make aprons, curtains, dish towels, quilts, etc. etc. etc. Fabric is the most wonderful medium – and yes it has become very expensive compared to what it was, but if you are a wise shopper, the fabric stores have sales and coupons to use and true, sheets were always my mainstay and still are. Hats off to you! There’s not many today as frugal! Keep up the good work! the Kalico Kardlady
Another tip for fabric is purchasing directly from the textile mill. I don’t like spending $9.99-29.99/YR and instead spend $0.60-3.00 per yard direct from supplier bypassing the supply chain like JoAnns, Mood etc. Use the global trade site Alibaba.com. Trick here though is you have minimal orders. You can filter through this by changing the min order total numbers when you search if you don’t need 1000 Yards but only maybe 25 yrds at $0.60/Yrd. You can also contact supplier directly to inquire further as well as get free samples before purchase. Now shipping though takes like 30 days since supplier can be anywhere in the world, but its so worth the wait. Just food for thought 🙂
I like the way you think. Because most of us can’t afford IKEA furniture, etc. Same idea with fabric. If I have any to work with, it’s generally recycled clothes and such. I have saved this in my favorites. Thank you.
The standard size for shower curtains is 72″ x 72″ and these days they come in many nice patterns and fabrics, not just plain-old-plastic. I’ve used them to make table cloths, pillow shams, place mats …. I’m about to re-use some that didn’t really work in our guest bath but will make a gorgeous Christmas tree skirt.
My greatest coup was when some temporarily insane manufacturer decided there was a market for shower curtains made of heavy and beautiful material that happened to be dry clean only. HUH????? Bed Bath and Beyond was all but begging us to take it off their hands.
The lady who found the light quilts for $1 each has my profound respect and envy. I’m thinking about slipcovering a futon to look more couch-like. My estimates for fabric so far are slightly more than a new couch. Shoot, possibly a new couch AND a love seat too.
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Free or cheap fabrics always seem to be very low quality. I have really been looking more into the quality fabric websites. One of the best ones I have found is Stash Builder Box. they have very high quality fabrics and make it extremely easy to shop for fabric online. They have a subscription that delivers 3 yards of fabric to your doorstep every month. It is a great place to buy fabric and is very high quality.
http://stashbuilderbox.com/
I think it’s important to keep in mind a certain target good quality — even as we are making do! Fabric stores are having sales and sending out coupons for total crap that’s made in China! If a quilter doesn’t have the best eyesight or is drunk with pleasure at going shopping with her friends and not really looking at the horrible thread count and sizing on the junky fabric, she will use this stuff to make an “heirloom” NOT! This makes me angry and I want to cry. I have sold good fabric, shopped in beautiful stores in San Francisco and looked online at stores I know have high standards (Farmhouse Fabrics). I have some pieces of Liberty cottons, for example. So in envisioning a new project, I would look at old linens, pieces of lace, and old finished clothing in thrift shops. The gathered, flared or circle skirt may not be your cup of tea, but the fabric (trim, buttons) may be lots nicer quality than we can easily get today. . . . Men’s dress shirts in thrift shops still have much good fabric for clothing, home dec, etc. And next time you need a pretty top to wear to someone’s picnic or deck party, collect several thrift shop silk print sport shirts, cut them apart, and patch together with bits of white rayon thread and silver beads to make a floaty top that would be thousands at Neiman-Marcus. Don’t tell anyone the designer no matter how much they beg!
You are a genius. These ideas make me want to learn to sew!
Hi, I’m looking for free donations (sample book, charm packs, etc…) I make blankets, children’s clothing, etc…. to ship overseas to the more unfortunate children. Without your help with donating the scrap material I would not be able to continue with this ongoing project. So please help me and donate some of your fabric remnants. If you can reach out and help, please send donations to:
Robin Corson
7934 W. Franklin St.
Mount Pleasant, NC 28124
I enjoyed your article but was disapointed that you didn’t seem to know where I could buy gingham. I have been making cross-stiched baby blankets for more than 30 years and all of a sudden NO GINGHAM CHECKS> I’ve looked everywhere including on-line, garage sales, thrift stores. NOBNE
Can a former tablecloth become a quilt in its next life? Yes, it can! Before I started quilting, I never knew that, like you were saying, fabric comes from all types of places! Thanks for setting me straight and helping me use my resources better!
As a quilter, it didn’t occur to me that fabric works for all kinds of things, even if they were previously put to someone elses’ use! It is always good to know that a former tablecloth can become
I bought a prom gown at a thrift store for $15 and made 2 outfits of dress up clothes for 4 yr olds. I even used the braissiere part of the dress for a purse and the spaghetti straps for the handles of the purse. No hemming. and i felt SO creative making this! I’ve been looking at thrift shop clothes very differently now and appreciate your additional ideas! I see it as a challenge to epicycle clothing!
Great Post! I learned a lot!
Quite a few years ago, I volunteered at a day camp with a Hawaiian theme. We wanted to provide all the campers with sarongs, but naturally that got real expensive real fast. One of the volunteers found bed sheets on sale at a thrift store, and then dyed them to make a variety of colors for the kids to choose from. Since then, I’ve always been trying to think of ways to reuse the fabric from worn-out clothes and linens.
Great idea to dye the sheets! 🙂
I make my nightgown from old sheets – they’re softened just right to comfort my old bones and sensitive skin. Great ideas – i’ve used some of the same ones in my long years.
So true Doris. Used fabric is nice and soft!
I forgot all about Freecycle! Thanks for the reminder!
I (like so many) get an idea in my head to sew but, I don’t want to waste $
on fabric (even old sheets) so I go to the thrift store and buy a dress (does
not matter the style, or color….just to get the fabric for what I call my
“prototype idea”.
Also go through the racks of clothes to find buttons in so many colors.
Buttons are so costly!
Love all the posts and ideas from everyone!
Yes Bev! I’ve bought or held on to many dresses or skirts because I like the fabric and have good intentions to make something fabulous with is someday! 🙂
I love your website I do baby Quilting, Upholstery shops have great materials, there is one close to my house I go there a lot. there is a ben with the end of the rolls they charge $5.00 the last one I got had 5 1/2 yds on it,
Funny you should mention Maria from the Sound of Music. One Halloween, I actually bought a curtain at a thrift store and made myself a Von Trapp outfit.
What a neat Blog, I am bookmarking to come back when it isn’t almost 4AM 🙂 and read more!
I found you while I was looking for a place to buy inexpensive but decent looking fabric to make curtains for my twin daughters’ bedroom, I bought some curtains (they were so, so bad, blindingly shiny and the top part looked like poodle fur!) from Wal-Mart and my mom’s first words upon seeing them were exactly what I had thought – “Oh no! It looks like a bordello here!” (we do the “great minds” thing here too :)) so since I have never even used a sewing machine, she has & has made curtains, so hurray, I think we can do it.
I need the opposite though, I think, of what you did – I need fabric to make into curtains (just for one window, they love hot pink and sky blue and sort of lime-ish green, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for something fuchsia to raspberry, then maybe the blue or green used as tie backs. I’ll check back to see if anyone has thoughts (and will check out the Joanne’s sale! I really like that store)
Thank you for sharing all of the cool things you are learning! I have a teeny budget as well, but my kiddos are about to have a big b-day and I really want to do these few little things to make their room a but cheerier.
I once found a clearance of lightweight quilted bedspreads, $1 each. I bought six of them and reupholstered our couch, the cover was worn out and we couldn’t afford a new one. It turned out beautiful, and no one knew it was just my old couch with a new cover. Another time I found a whole bolt of material that they made car headers out of for $15. It was a breathable vinyl and there was enough to completely recover my living room furniture. Got a lot of miles out of that furniture, thanks to finding good deals on fabrics.
I haven’t read all the comments, but when my children were small, my younger sister was a teenager and my mother made all her clothes. There was always large scraps left over of really nice materials. There was enough to make a dress for a toddler and I made shorts and shirts for my son. Sometimes there was enough to make them matching outfits. As they got older I would combine two coordinated fabrics to make a dress or pants and shirts. You will be amazed at how many toddler’s clothes you can make from scraps of adult clothes or other projects. Look for simple patterns, like apron dresses and little boys shirts that have two front pieces, a back piece and a collar, sleeves are optional if it is summer. Shorts pattern I had was just four pieces and elastic at the top. I even made doll clothes for my daughters dolls out of scraps that matched her clothes. What I need now is a really cheap way to make curtains for my sons house, he is coming home and I am trying to get it ready for him. The problem is that the windows in the house will be replaced so I have to make curtains larger than what are in there, but don’t really know the exact size so materials have to be really cheap or free.
Rummage sales are great for sheets, etc. I am going to two in the next two weeks Cheap, cheap fabric.
I found a lightweight “bedspread” a while back that is the same material as the “spa” robes now being sold for over $50. I think I can get enough from the bedspread to make one for myself. Just have to pick out the pattern.
I use tea towels to make a lot of clothes for my 3 year old- you can buy them cheap and when you get a set they match- I have made several wide brim hats- one tea towel for outer and one for inner and tea towel pants – one leg per tea towel- I also make dresses from tablecloths, old sweaters, adult tops etc. The only clothes I buy are socks and shoes.
Great ideas for tea towels! Thanks for sharing!
Just love your ideas and I also like what you did, the dress. Awesome!! I want to start learning how to sew. Took a class in high school, that’s just about it but I think that’s also a way to save money.
Thanks
Sewing is a great way to be both creative and resourceful!
The first things I sewed were pot holders from scraps, then tea towels and then throw pillows. These are small projects that teach you how to finish edges and make straight seams. The throw pillows give you practice at doing a little handstitching when you close them. This will build your confidence and soon you will be sewing everything. I even taught myself how to make men’s suites, your only limit is your determination, if you have it you will succeed. GOOD LUCK!
I love your website I make rag rugs I buy sheets from yard sales and at thrift stores I’m just now learning how to sew would like to sew tote bags for grocery store what should I use to sew them something that’s heavy for can food or jar food thank you missy
My grandma makes rag rugs and I love them! 🙂 For grocery totes, I think the most important part would be to have handles that are sturdy and attached solidly to the bag. I think you could use sheets to make bags too, except use a double thickness. Making them without a seam at the bottom would also make them stronger. You could use a long rectangle folded in half so the bottom of the bag would be the folded part, then make box corners in the bottom of the bag so it has a flat bottom and you can decide with width of the bag. I’m sure you could find some great tutorials online. Best of luck!
I work at a textile mill that specializes in fabric dying and finishing. I have been tasked with in recent months with the sale of our scrap and second quality cloth. If you or anyone you know may be interested please contact me at robroberts.mocaro@gmail .com. and I will promptly get back in touch with you.
Thanks for the offer Rob. Maybe a future reader will have a need and find your comment.
Just contact your local secondary school… they will use it in their textile classes…
Guess it is too late to get any of that fabric, but if not I would love to have a chance to get some of it as I have to make curtains for my sons house and need cheap fabric for that.
Shirley Henry
[email protected]
[email protected]
The second email is probably the most dependable one to reach me with. Thank you. Shirley Henry
Hello Rob. I am a long time sewer. My church also has a quilt mission. We donate the quilts with other items in personal care packages. They go to Matthew 25 and our overseas missions. We have used nearly all of the workable fabrics that we had. I’m currently working on a letter to ask lical fabric stores for donations. We use cotton or cotton/poly blends for the quilt tops. For the backing we have used muslin, but any lightweight cotton could work. Natural or white are best for the backing. I live in Cincinnati. Where are you? Does this sound like a cause you’d be willing to donate to?
I love my local charity shops and often use bedding and curtains for sewing projects as they come in a wide range of designs and colours.
We have Ardene’s here and they do great sales. I recently got one of those very large cowl type scarves for a little over a dollar- way more fabric than i could buy at say fabric land. it was enough to make one of those slouchy shawl cardigan things- very boho.
Awesome! Scarves are something I haven’t done much with. Great idea!
Nice to see that I’m not the only one who does this. I was upcycling and repurposing before it was cool to do so! I started with costumes for my children who were in a play–I refashioned thrift store clothes into amazing costumes for them–and they all 3 came away with the awards for best costumes! I use sheets for quilt backs and bindings and have made fashion pillows out of thrift store dresses and so many other things! 🙂
“I was upcycling and repurposing before it was cool”– Love it Tania! 🙂
Thrift store drapes make great quilting material, I use lightweight blankets as filler for them and bargain sheets for the back, I do embroidery on them with yarn and tie the corners of the blocks with the same yarn, since they don’t require extensive stitching with blankets that will stay flat instead of cotton that will bunch up.
Forgot to add that if they are lined drapes the lining makes a perfect backing for your quilt, saving even more money.
Great post! I get mine at our local eco art renewal store. They charge $2.50/pound.
I’ve never heard of anyone selling fabric by the pound!
Sometimes fabric outlet stores will sell by the pound–generally factory seconds, but still great buys.
Great ideas! I am always looking for ideas to save. Just came across your site and am excited to be here! Will be visiting again!
Thanks for stopping by Elizabeth!
These are great tips! I needed white fabric the other day and a sheet was a fraction of the cost for about 5 times as much!
Horray! That saves so much money!
Another money saver, recycle lamp shades by using sheets or satin slips to make new covers for the shades. I even bought some lining material for $1 a yard that was 60 inches wide and made beautiful new lampshades for my lamps. You can save time by using hot glue carefully to attach the new fabric to the lamp shade frame. Remnants of trim bolts make pretty trim for the top and bottom of the shades.
Thanks for all the great ideas. Though I’ve been using some of them for years, I’m always looking for more ideas. While teens are sooo hard to sew for, young adults become somewhat easier. When my son got married I dyed used white sheets to match the wedding colors as a background. When another son got married outside I again used sheets to provide a walkway for the bride. Both daughter-in-laws were happy that I could save money on their wedding budget.
What a great idea and such a money-saver! And scoring points with the daughters-in-law is a bonus!
New mom. Broke mom. I needed this.
Best wishes Heather!
Great ideal. I have thought of it but never done it before .
It will save so much money Linda. It’s also a fun way to look at fabric and really opens up lots of frugal possibilities!
Great ideas. I think I’m going to need to spend some time on your blog.
Blessings,
Laura
Thanks Laura 🙂
The free bins at garage sales are often where I find zippers and buttons for sewing projects – yes, it takes a bit of work to remove them from the “throw aways” but it has saved me a ton of money over the years!
That’s great Melissa! I think it’s a talent to be able to see through the “junk” in the free bin and find the treasures.
I love this! I recently bought a flat sheet for $1.99 at the thrift store that matched my daughters room colors and will make an awesome curtain for her double windows. All I have to do is cut it up the middle and hem. No other sewing necessary. I never thought about using them as curtain backings though. I have curtains I made from broadcloth and was going to buy expensive curtain liners. Duh, I just have to go back to the thrift store and get another flat sheet. Now both girls rooms will have cheap, awesome curtains!
That’s great Stephanie! Sheets are wonderful! I love that they come much wider than fabric on the bolt. They are so useful. That’s really exciting to have cute and inexpensive curtains for your girls’ rooms!
What great ideas! Your son and daughter are adorable. Now if only I could sew in more than a straight line… Pinning this article to share.
A straight line is a great place to start! 🙂 Thanks for pinning!
This is a great idea.. although I probably need to get a sewing machine and learn to sew before I start stocking up on too much fabric. lol One day!
Yeah, right! 🙂 Be careful though, you might get addicted!
Hi Stephanie!
I haven’t started blogging yet (its coming) but this I’d one of the topics I was thinking about writing on, too! I think you beat me to it by about 6 months, but with much nicer offerings (than I currently have) to show as examples, lol! Great Easter outfits for the munchkins, there. My teenagers won’t wear anything that has even the slightest look of not being ready to wear (like its missing a tag, or logo 🙁 ), but making things for our home, like throw pillows, turning tablecloths into napkins, tearing anything badly stained into strips to make rag rugs, towels can become slippers, pot holders, etc. Sometimes, a but of a dye job (I prefer natural dyes) can make stains disappear & increase your repurposing options, too. Turmeric for example, makes anything a gorgeous yellow, & most people (who are into fabric/fiber crafts) know about coffee, tea & cool aid dying… The possibilities really are almost endless! Thank you for sharing this list of fabric resources! 🙂
Carla
Thanks for stopping by Carla! Kids are definitely more fun to sew for than teenagers! I better enjoyed it while I can!
Dying is a great idea! Thanks for all the natural dye ideas. I haven’t done much dying, just a onesie and a shirt, but I think that would be a great way to hide stains and repurpose fabric. Thanks for sharing!
You have to teach your kids to sew, to get them (not you) ready for when they are teen-agers. My kids are on a strict monthly budget too, so they’ve learned how to find good stuff at the second hand store, and alter it in some way. Sewing is an amazing skill for fashion-conscious girls to have, and they (you) can save a lot of money by being handy. Clothes are so important to teen-agers, but can be horrendously expensive if they don’t use their imagination. (This is a warning from a mom of two teen-age girls!)
That’s awesome Maia! I love it when kids, especially teenagers can use their imagination and be resourceful like that. It sounds like you’ve done a great job!
It thrills me to see so many young women on this site that are learning to sew and recycle. I am 75 years old and was beginning to despair that young women were losing interest in sewing and it would become a lost art. Hooray for you young mothers that are preserving it for the future.
My mother started me sewing when I was 8 years old. I even got a kids singer sewing machine for my 9th Birthday. I love sewing and have made outfits for my children out of baby blankets. you can use other peoples clothes, I once used my husbands shirts XXL (he gained weight so the shirts no longer fit) to make boxer shorts for my boys when they were young. My daughter loved new dresses with ruffles and lace. When hers got too short my mom would add a ruffle or two and lace so the dress would look nice.
The other thing you can do is when a shirt gets too tight take out the side seems and a upside down triangle of material on each side. So save the pieces of any material, you never know what you might need them for.
My girls weren’t much into used clothes until they went off to college on a skinny budget. They found a group of friends who frequented a place called “The Dig” ! It was a thrift shop,where their less monetarily challenged fellow students got rid of things no longer of use to them! Ha! All my thrifty sewing in their youth began to come back to them as they “Dug” in the clothes piled on sheets on the floor and tables of this funky, kid style shop. Now I’m working on using up the scaps and pieces I had left over from their babyhood for cute things for their little ones!
I will definitely take a second look at any “ruined” fabric before cutting them up for rags now. Thank you for the tips.
Yes! When something doesn’t fit, or gets a stain or tear, I start thinking of what it will be in its next life!
I love these ideas, and have picked up a few items for this purpose. It’s hard to see stains sometimes, so I’m always super cautious. I like the transformations you showed us. Especially the zebra print!
Thanks Jessica! I agree, stains are definitely disappointing. I’m glad you look carefully 🙂
It’s so nice that you shared this information with everyone. I’ve been using flat sheets as tablecloths for years, and the amount of lace in a bed-skirt is unbelievable!
Happy Creating!
Thanks Sam! Great idea to use sheets for tablecloths! Yes, you can get some great lace and trims from repurposing too 🙂
I love this -all such good ideas. I was just looking at a like new skirt yesterday that no longer fits and thinking I could do something with it. Thanks again
Awesome! Good luck with repurposing the skirt Vickie!
Thanks for all of the great tips! I do a lot of sewing for charity giving and this will help me be able to do more. Glad you linked up at LWSL.
Cheryl, that is wonderful that you do sewing for charity. I hope these tips can help you give more for less 🙂
I can’t afford fabric or patterns and we don’t have unused fabric items around the house so what do I do
There are lots of free patterns and tutorials available online. Talk to people you know and ask if they have old sheets or fabric they aren’t using. Post a request on freecycle. There are lots of people who no longer sew and would be delighted to have their stash put to good use.
Ask around at work, church or play group. Check on Craigslist, Freecycle, or on buy/sell/trade Facebook pages for your community. You can also carefully take apart a well-liked and threadbare piece of clothing, press it, and either trace around it on newspaper or paper sacks or pin it to your fabric as a pattern, making sure to add 1/2″ for a seam allowance. Check YouTube for how-to videos; you can find them for everything from basic sewing lessons to making a wedding gown. The Internet has made learning a new skill much more accessible than ever before.
Raikia-
Have you had any success in your pursuit to sew?
Brilliant ideas, Stephanie!! I was just cringing at the store yesterday as I looked for fabric that I need to buy to finish a bedroom project. Glad I didn’t buy – now I’ll look for free/cheap fabric to use instead. 🙂
Just wanted to say I’ve been reading your blog (found it via your comment on Money Saving Mom) and just love it! I’ll be a regular reader…nice to have someone I can actually relate to, in terms of debt payoff!
Welcome April and thanks for following along! It’s amazing how many of us are in the same boat. I’m excited for us to encourage one another.
This is so encouraging. I’ve been wanting to learn to sew for so long, even to the point of borrowing my dad’s sewing machine but every time I sit down to try, I can’t get it to work- i.e. loose stitches or the top stitches but not the bottom. I get so frustrated and just push it all to the side. I’ve got a lot of flannel sheets from my parents that don’t fit the beds we have anymore and I’ve wanted to make them into pj’s.. at this rate though.. they’ll just remain a pile of leftovers :-/
Hi Kim! Making pjs from flannel sheets is wonderful. The whole family can match 🙂 Don’t give up! Sometime it just takes a little tweaking of the thread tension (which can be frustrating…. I know). Would your dad be able to sit down with you to make sure the machine is set up correctly? Stick with it– your pjs will be awesome!
One trick I learned is to go to you tube and see if they have a video of adjusting the tension on your brand of machine. They also will help you learn to sew. I recently bought a serger and was intimidated by it so I turned to you to learn to thread it ( I’m a sight learner) so watching what the did really helped me.
Hi Kim: How long has it been since the machine was cleaned? Like all machines, they can get dusty; dust can jam up the works or make the machine run sluggishly. Check the tension, make sure you’re using the right needle and thread for your project, and go for it! I used to make clothes for my kids from clearance fabrics for two reasons: first, it was cheaper and with how fast they grew it didn’t make sense to use fancy fabric on day-to-day clothes; second, goofing up on cheap fabric hurts a lot less than it does on fabric that costs $15 a yard. I often learned as I sewed, making things I had never tried before. It was a lot easier to take chances on cheap, free, or repurposed fabric. In fact, a great fabric deal sometimes made me more brave than normal (thinking of the $1.50 a yard fabric and the Jessica McClintock dress pattern with 12 buttons down the front I made an adorable dress from for my 6-year-old daughter). OmaTrisha
Sounds like Dad’s machine needs a wee tune up and cleaning from a pro. It’s soooo worth the money.
If dad’s machine has a bobbin housing .. and if it has a little layer of metal that the thread passes under .. check the tension in that little screw. Go online and look up the brand, model/model number of his machine .. the website for the company that made his machine may have an owner’s manual .. things like thread tensions are an easy fix usually and it sounds like it might be a thread tension problem. I have my mother’s machine and just learned to sew. Reason for learning is that I had a lot of her clothing after she passed .. have things from my grandmother .. things relating to my son’s growing up years .. and decided that eventually I wanted to make a quilt that would some day remind him of his mom, gramma and great grandmother as well as being personal to him. At this point i’m making pillows with eight point stars .. and pillow cases (never had a set of really nice ones until now.. just bed in a bag variety.) I had a thread tension problem where I was only getting top stitches .. or getting looping at the back .. and it turned out to be thread tension on the bobbin housing that needed to be fixed. It was just a matter of going online .. finding the owners manual .. looking in the trouble shooting section .. as well as looking at a few “how to fix it” websites. Never know .. might be an easy fix. 🙂 Good luck.
Also….make sure your presser foot Is In the up position while threading the machine.
Great post! As an avid sewer, I was just about to write a post very similar to this, you beat me to it! I love shopping thrift stores and garage sales for vintage sheets to use for quilts and skirts!
Thanks Katy! You know what they say about great minds!
Great idea!!! I’ve been doing a little of this a while now! Not as extensively as you, mind you!!! You are an awesome seamstress!!!!! I also visit a factory outlet where they have “bolts” of remnants for about $2. They always have a special that if you buy 8 or more bolts you get them for $1 each. HOWEVER, the bolts usually only have 1-3 yards of material. You have to check them really well but I have used them to make pillow covers, bar stool covers, etc. I did buy some quality drapery material there for $3 per yard and make drapes for my living room. The draw back: MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU GET AS MANY YARDS AS YOU NEED BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO BACK, IT PROBABLY WON’T BE THERE!!!!
That’s really cool! I wonder where the nearest factory outlet is! Those are great prices!
I love this site; ran across it because fabric stores are disappearing and around here all we have is Joannes,which is expensive.When my mom taught me to sew 55 yrs. ago, we sewed because it was so much cheaper to make things. I got addicted as I made things for my house, kids, and things many people wouldn’t think of.I put sheets on the rough ceiling in the basement as a quick fix. Also shower curtains, window treatments, even covered ugly plant containers w/ leftover fabric for outdoors which lasted 3 yrs. Thanks for all the great ideas!!!