Hi all,
Happy New Year!
This time of year is all about clearing out the old and bringing in the new. Not only are we saying hello to a new year, but also a new decade. The 2020s are upon us. I wonder if they will be as roaring as the 1920s.
I've been thinking a lot about old and new lately. It seems we live in a throw away age of fast fashion and disposable garments. No sooner has something been worn and washed, it's out of date and clogging up a landfill somewhere.
I'm making it my mission for 2020 to sew more of my own clothes. My goal is to sew, alter and mend rather than buy ready made fashion designed to last five minutes.
In order to make more of my own clothes, I'm going to need a more diverse range of sewing patterns. My collection so far seems to be a little... eclectic with a heavy dollop of cute. I'm a pushover for a soft toy pattern.
Unfortunately, commercial sewing patterns can be expensive. When you add the
cost of the pattern to the price of fabric, stitching your own clothes
can work out more expensive than buying ready to wear.
So
why do any of us bother sewing our own clothes?
Fits a Treat
The first reason is fit. Ready to wear clothing comes in a range of sizes but, if you fall between those sizes things start looking too big or too small. If you sew it yourself, you can adjust it
to fit you perfectly.
Pattern, Style and Fabric
The second reason is you get to choose the
pattern on the fabric, the type of fabric and the color
combinations. Instead of being just another top on a rack full of the same shirt, your own self-made garment will be unique.
Better For The Planet
Another
positive is that it’s more environmentally friendly. Especially if
you pay attention to where you buy your supplies. From using local fabric stores to upcycling discarded items at a thrift store, it all helps to reduce your carbon footprint.
I
tend to buy my fabric and patterns from local thrift stores and yard
sales. Buying
second hand is a great way to cut the cost of what is fast becoming
an expensive past-time. It also reduces the number of items heading for landfill.
There
are some things to consider though. Particularly when buying used sewing patterns.
Make
sure the patterns are in good condition
The
biggest drawback with used patterns is that sometimes they are cut.
If they are cut, there is a distinct chance some pieces will be
missing. There's nothing worse than opening up a pattern to find the
parts you need are no longer in the packet.
I was given a used cut pattern once by a cashier at a
charity shop. I was buying some others and she thought I’d like it.
It had been in the store for
a while and she probably just wanted to get rid of it. The pattern
was in a really bad state of
repair. The packet was ripped with bits hanging off it; the tissue was stuffed in roughly and it was
badly crumpled.
When
I opened it out, all that was in there was the waste tissue from
around the pattern pieces. The pieces themselves were gone.
Thrift
stores or charity shops probably won’t know if the pattern is
complete. And it’s not usually practical to open up a pattern in a
store and start checking for pieces.
Patterns on eBay or Etsy usually
state if the pattern is cut or not. If it doesn’t ask the seller
before you commit to purchase. Always check the pictures as these will help determine if a pattern is used.
A good rule of thumb in both cases is to
check the condition of the pattern. The better the condition, the more chance it will be complete.
Here are a few examples:
This New Look pattern has been taken out of the packet and unfolded.
But it isn't cut. Someone has taken care to refold it neatly.
It's in good usable condition.
You see how the edges of the pieces on this Simplicity pattern are all at different levels? Some are on a slant; some are a bit crumpled?
This pattern is cut. It may be missing some pieces or be cut to a smaller size than you need.
Of the two, the one to go for would be the top one, the refolded one.
Factory
folded is fantastic.
What
do I mean by factory folded? Well, this means that the pattern is definitely uncut. This New Look pattern is in excellent condition.
It hasn't been unfolded since it left the
factory. These are the best patterns to look for on eBay, Etsy or from
second hand stores.
As you can see the pattern is neat, the folded lines are crisp. The pieces are in pristine condition.
Buying second hand can be great for the sustainability of both your pocket and the planet. But choose wisely. An abused pattern will dent your sewing mojo. And that's not good for planet or pocket.
Bye for now
Olly
Thanks for reading. For more sewing tips and adventures follow me:
Facebook.com/olwenwhite/
instagram.com/olwenwhitewrites/
Twitter @OlwenWhite
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