“Sewing your own clothes to avoid tariffs” seems like a good idea until you realize it’s very expensive, takes a ton of time, and just about every component — from fabric and thread to sewing machines — are made abroad. I do think this is a great time to learn how to mend clothes, though!
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But yes, I second the value of knowing how to mend!
Get a seam ripper, and grab stuff bigger than you.
If you’re willing to look like a rich noble, you can layer fabrics and buy whatever ones you want.
There is a reason there are beginner projects in learning to sew.
It's a 3/4 size sewing machine made before 1958.
I believe that the consignment boom is going to explode and also increase in pricing.
No tariffs and the machines are beautiful.
https://youtu.be/6XQRgUrTbTM?si=uOk8VaPC0xw0OQaa
Also, there’s no such thing as an American car in production. Maybe Donnie means those hard built kit cars? No wait, their parts are imported!
Also, I love using old sheets! The fabric is so soft because it’s pre washed a million times.
We have a Hobby Lobby, but I will weave fabric from my own cats shed fur before I give them a penny.
I’m also a bookbinder, so I need to see the size of patterns for my fabric to be sure they fit on the covers.
I’m so angry and sad about the loss of Joann.
Feel free to Dm me to further vent/pick my brain. 🤓
If we wind up at a point where making clothes at home is the best option somehow, im bringing back chitons in a big way
Tailoring, esp modern tailoring, is such a pain
But darning the hole in the pants you already own so you can wear them another 10 years? That certainly is helpful.
Learning to sew your own clothes is like trying to reinvent a very expensive wheel
Also bought some fusible interfacing, showed her how to do quick repairs.
We are very much in the “teach a man to fish” era.
My 1940s machines are a pair of White 77MGs (mine, and formerly mine but now our kid’s).
But then I tend to chalk a lot up to 'not allowing the perfect to become the enemy of the good'.
That sounds lovely though. One thing you can count on crafters for is building community
And, JoAnn Fabrics went out of biz … so even less options to purchase what you would need to make clothes.
Plus, illustrates your point that very few are *really* making their own clothes
I like a cotton bra, so I could be using made in USA fabric, but the current batch is not. Elastics, I don’t know. Powernet is Chinese, probably bra findings are as well.
Honestly, sometimes I use a dental tool to pull the threads (vs ripping them)
Take inspiration from quilters of #GeesBend
NO-one believes tariffs will bring jobs back, no-one should believe people who say they believe that.
They have bought shorts or just don't want to say outright that it's about racism.
2) TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST sounded like a LIT place to work; freedom for advancement & the benefits/pay was just FIRE. I mean they had to bar the doors to keep ppl out, rite?
I really think people imagine that it’s a warehouse full of chairs with ladies gossiping while they hand stitch.
One of the reasons why we have modern fire codes about modes of egress; most of the outside doors were locked.
From the Wikipedia:
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association offered compensation of $1,250 to each of the dead victim's families, which is approximately two years' pay for the average factory worker.
https://bigbudpress.com/collections/all
https://www.american-giant.com/pages/about-us
At this point I only buy really long zips, because I know I can at least shorten them
That and I have what seems like a rainbow of thread colors but never the right one
Really?
And what do those many Americans who already need 2 or 3 jobs to get by? Stop sleeping?
Visible mending is not just fun but now a small act of resistance. Cover up corporate logos.
"these jeans kill fascists"
"How hard could it be to spin thread into fabric? People were doing that back in the medieval times and I'm pretty sure I'm smarter than some fantasy-times peasant!"
I thrifted the one I have now - it’s an old good old vintage one🥰
I feel like you can tell if they’re the right age because they are more heavy with metal parts instead of plastic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt-JPCXHQFg
But! I’m kept at it. I YouTube-d. I learned to hand stitch and machine stitch.
Practice makes proficient!
That said, it’s certainly hard to match/coordinate fabric online, and to judge weight and heft online. Going to miss Joann!😕
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/MadeInAmerica/made-america-american-made-textiles-business-owners-struggle/story?id=12971618
And of course, I'm sure some brain-dead capitalist shithead will try to make money off of it.
It’s a fun hobby but not a money saver.
Even being frugal a-f, and sourcing material/tools from alley or street finds, I'm not saving much more than just buying clothes. There's always something you gotta buy from a store.
I'm also, Canadian. Just whining cause i had this same thought when i started :P
Use it up, Wear it out.
Make it do, or do without.
In urban areas in blue states, that is. Maybe people have the same options in rural Kansas...