DiY rather than Shopping?

I haven't mastered a lot of sewing techniques, so I am good at making skirts that have elastic in the waistband and a style of very loose (very comfy) pants that look like a skirt (also with elastic). I would love to be able to make more of my clothes, but it never seems to work that way for me. What I do like doing is buying stuff at GoodWill and then altering it slightly to fit my style. I love replacing buttons on shirts and cutting off jeans (or turning them into skirts). That way, it seems like I've got something brand new, but I only paid a few bucks for it, as opposed to $20+.

I agree the cost of clothing is outrageous now days. Unfortunately the cost of DIY isn't much better if you're making things from scratch. By the time you factor in the cost of the pattern, fabric, thread, lining, zippers/buttons, elastic, etc., it can be almost as expensive. Sometimes I catch really good sales on ebay for fabric and I'll buy a few yards. But then you're running the risk of it being a little different than described. So far I've been very lucky in that area. Most of the fabric I've bought has been exactly what I expected. Also there are times when I'll find a couple of old shirts I've stuck away, especially now that I've lost about 60 lbs, that are way too big for me now. I plan on taking those and making something new with them. I do a lot of my clothes shopping at Goodwill and Salvation Army stores. It takes time but you can find a lot of brand new or near new looking clothes. You may have to go thru 3 racks to find one thing that suits you but to save $20 or $30 it's worth it to me.

I don't know how well this would work - fabric and yarn can be pretty expensive. I know when I priced out knitting sweaters, the yarn cost just as much as buying a sweater in a store. It would depend what you were making.

to be honest, i dont think its worth making your own clothes anymore...by the time you spend money on material, thread etc and not even factoring in your time, you might as well just go out and buy it ready made. i have bought stuff at thrift stores and even at a dollar store (yes, some of our dollar stores carry clothes that no one else wants - i bought a liz claborne skirt for $1-!!!) how can you make it for that?

I have thought of this before, but i simply do not have the time to devote to it, I do like to hemn things and minor repairs like that, I find the skill the be very usefull.

i cannot sew!!!!! hmm i kinda of agree with you that it is super frustating when you are unable to get what you want from the shops out there. and even if you saw the design you like, you dun like its colour/material/etc. and lastly, you dun like the price! its just makes the shopping experience horrible. then you will have to make do and buy something cos you need something urgently. AARGG since i cannot sew, i do hope that i have some DIY machine that could produce the exact top/skirt i need. dreaming!!!

Well I always make the girls costumes by hand for Halloween and I tell ya, that is enough sewing for me, LOL. I am all thumbs when it comes to that and I just can't seem to get the hang of it. Last top I try to make for myself, my daughter ended up with it and she was 9 at the time, LOL. So I say if you can do it, you go girl I envy you.

I would love one day tobe able to sew my own clothes, and my Hubby'sa lol as I really like old fashioned costumes..But I will need more time and money to do it as now all my energy is focused on my online businesses which wilol be enough within one year to retire early..then I can have more time to do the things I really would like to do more of..creative stuff that is..

I've wanted to make my own clothes for like the longest time but I don't know how. Sometimes when I have my creatives juices flowing I make nice sketches. But since I can't make clothes, I just buy them.

I have ever tried DIY for clothes and found it more expensive. I spend time shopping for the cloth, thinking of the design, cutting it and sewing it. At the end of it, the time spent is not worth it. It is definitely much cheaper getting it ready made. As to your topic on whether to DIY rather than shopping, DIY is my choice if the price I pay out is significantly lower and provided I know how to DIY.

I've been thinking about this for a couple of years now, especially since fatchick clothes seem to have taken a hard left turn, straight to fugly! In two words: Polyester's back! My main holdup is, I don't know where to get fabric. I've been to the craft shops and craft sections, but all I find is either too lightweight or just plain cheap! Guess I'd have to go to NYC or something, to find stuff worth using.

I would love to be able to make my own clothes, but I am not very talented in the sewing area, plus my machine is broken. I used to make my own scrubs when I worked in the hospital and it was much cheaper to do that myself and pretty easy, I would just watch for clearanced material. I don't usually buy anything new for myself, I am a thrift store and garage sale maniac! But, if it is something that you enjoy, you might find that it is cheaper to make your own clothes with your height and everything. Good luck!

I prefer DiY because lots of time it's fun to make and you can learn stuff by making it yourself. I think shopping is boring :P

no but that is a good idea. every time i go shopping ether its to big, its to small, to long, to short what ever. i think that's great if you how to sew.

Hi Ravenladyj! I wish I had a sewing machine and I wish I could sew. My aunt sews all of her own clothes and they are beautiful. She has made me some outfits too. I do think its worth today to make your own clothes because the cost of clothing today is unreal. So you go girl!

Oh I have so talked about doing this for the last several years! I HATE clothes shopping for myself. I hate almost all trendy stuff and that's what these stores sell. Unless it's the older demographic/middle aged people clothes. Sorry not into that either LOL. I too hate spending a fortune on the clothes I do find I like. My goodness you can spend $60-75 on one 'outfit'. Drives me crazy. But I still haven't actually done it yet. I'm a bit nervous about making clothes because I haven't really ever done it. Well I did make a vest once in parenting class in high school but I didn't do that great of a job. I have made three quilts though in the last two years and they turned out real good. One of these days I will start making my own clothes. Though I do find material to be expensive too. I've got a lot of respect and admiration for those who are seamstresses (both amateur and professional). I applaud you and I wish you all the best with making your own clothes :D

I can't sew. I have tried to make things in the past but stick with non-wearable items like blankets and quilts. The last time I tried to make a shirt it ended up with three arms. I have no idea how I managed that but it was pretty funny. I think that if you make your own clothes you will save money but you do have to consider the amount of time you are going to have to put into it.

I've been thinking about doing clothes for myself more. I usually only do a couple of things a year. But I do a lot for my son. I found a tutorial online for making a pair of pants for a kid out of an adult sized t-shirt. You can actually use articles of clothing you already have as a pattern for other clothes of the same design. Like pants, you fold them in half along the seam down the middle and lay them so that the outside is on the fold of the fabric, cut 2 and then sew them together, hem and do the waist however you like.

Oh yeah, and I love your pic. :)

I find it's easier to buy and alter, too. Especially pants. I'm into the "skinny jeans," yet they're so expensive, I just alter my own. It's a painstaking process since I barely know how to sew and I don't have a sewing maching, but it's totally worth it. I've also started to buy cheap shirts at The Goodwill and spraypaint them with stencils I've made. It's super fun and the results are amazing. I'm going to start selling them on Ebay, in fact.