7 Ways To Save Money When Sewing 1

7 Ways To Save Money When Sewing

Sewing is a very enjoyable activity that allows you to express your creativity, originality, and imagination. While there certainly is a practical side to sewing, especially with the ability to make your own bags, dresses, quilts and a whole range of other items, it can still be on the expensive side when your factor in fabric and accessories.

Still, it is highly satisfying creating your own items through sewing. There is a sense of pride completing a sewing project, and better yet, you have a new piece of clothing or a pillow case, or whatever you have managed to successfully put together with your sewing skills.

There are ways you can sew without breaking the bank account, with a bit of savvy shopping and taking a little time to look around, sewing on a budget is feasible and still allows you to produce eye-catching designs.

Don’t let sewing cost you an arm and a leg and follow our useful tips below to save money when you have the itch to thread a needle. Sewing is a fun hobby that you can take a real passion in, so make sure you are getting the best value when deciding your next project!

1) OP Shops are a goldmine for fabric & accessories

Browsing your local OP Shop can be a really effective tactic in securing both new and old fabric for sewing projects. With heavily reduced prices, it’s a perfect place to buy cheaply and stock up, so you have a great selection of fabric choices for a whole range of different sewing activities.

Picking up cheap second-hand clothing and then making alterations and changes to them, so they stand out with your own signature, can also be a fun sewing project. With many OP Shops selling clothing from as little as $1, buying a bunch is cost-effective and provides many choices and opportunities to let your creative streak go wild.

Be sure also to use OP Shops for picking up sewing accessories on the cheap. This includes buttons that can be cut off old, worn clothing, or other interesting sewing decorations such as lace and ribbons. So the next time you are passing by your OP Shop, go inside and have a look for some savings.

2) Search for free patterns

There is a wealth of sewing patterns available as free resources that can save you big when compared to spending money on acquiring expensive designs. Looking online offers a wide range of websites offering free patterns, and it’s as easy as going to Google and searching for whatever item you’re looking to sew and the phrase ‘free patterns’.

Many sewing books will include patterns or tutorials that may be of interest to you. Don’t purchase these books. Rather, have a search at your local library to see what sewing books they have available. Most libraries also have a photocopy machine, allowing you to make copies of pattern prints cheaply and take them with you for a new project.

Another way to obtain an interesting pattern for free is to have a look at your current collection and see if you can mix and match them to create a new unique look. You would be surprised at what you can make by combining older patterns in interesting ways.

You can also check out the current free patterns we have listed on our website: tote bags, dresses, and quilts.

3) Check remnant bins in fabric stores

For specific smaller projects or practice materials, remnant bins in fabric stores should regularly be checked to score a bargain. Remnants are cut of fabric that are too small to be left on the bolt by themselves. So if you require less than a yard of fabric for your sewing task, ensure you have browsed through these bins for great savings.

4) Shop for fabric during sales & end of season

It may seem obvious, but buying fabric during sales can lead to a huge saving of money, particularly if you also buy in bulk, which can save you even further. You can sign up for mailing and emailing lists with fabric stores such as Spotlight, who will notify you of sales periods or special discounts. This way you can stay prepared and be ready to make fabric purchases at the times when it’s most cost-effective.

Just like any other retailer, many fabric stores will have end of season sales where clearance racks can be a treasure trove of cheap, quality fabric. Take advantage of these stores offloading seasonal fabric as the prices should be reduced to make way for new stock.

5) Check out community sewing options

Expensive sewing classes can sometimes stand in your way of learning new skills and increasing your experience. One good way to get around this is checking if your nearest community house run sewing classes at a more affordable price.

6) Always compare pricing – online & brick and mortar stores

Fabric, just like any other commodity will vary in price from one location to another. Use the internet to do a quick price check between stores to make certain you aren’t vastly overpaying for the same or similar type of fabric. It also never hurts to ask if a shop will match a price if you have seen the fabric cheaper somewhere else.

Depending on what fabric and how much you require for the job, it may be worth checking out the range of online fabric stores. With fewer overheads than traditional brick and mortar stores, large savings could be had with minimal delivery costs.

7) Combine your small pieces of fabric into something new

A fashionable trend today is making clothes with different patterns sewn together. Make use of you left over scraps of fabric to create something truly unique and original! You can also consider making new garments from stitching together pieces of fabric from old clothing you don’t wear anymore. It’s a fun way to recycle your old stuff while also saving some dollars.