I sewed my own clothes for many years and today, find it more expensive than buying them ready made. I shop at factory outlet type of stores and couldn’t come near buying the cloth to make them for the money I spend. There are reasons for sewing, but finding inexpensive clothing today is not one of them. If you can do fancy needlework and need it, then yes, it would be cheaper.
Just this weekend i sewed up the side of a pair of jeans I own, saving me around 50 dollars.
I shop the best stores twice a year. For winter clothing, go in March and for summer clothing, go in Aug.
There are incredible deals. My target is $15.00 and it's doable. My pastor's wife dresses her children beautifully from yard sales, etc.
Clothes are cheap nowdays.
I make one A-line skirt and one Fundamentalist Frump jumper, and an occasional craft or costume for my kids. The Salvation Army supplies most of my clothing needs! If I improved my sewing skills, I’d probably end up with a better wardrobe, but nobody sees me, anyway!
Just last week, I went through all my back issues of Threads magazine. Yes, I can sew couture-quality if need be. But, yikes, the cost of fabric nowadays! Even Vogue patterns are in the $20 dollar range! I used to sew their designer patterns all the time. I just don’t want to spend the money and countless hours creating my own wardrobe anymore. So, I am on hiatus, at least until that first granddaughter appears. (Visions of frilly, lacey dresses in my head.....)
I was just going to say that my wife has stated several times that it doesn’t pay to do it anymore due to the fabric costs.
She still does some of the kids clothes once in a while when she finds a suitable fabric on sale.
In some cases she has bought clothes off the rack on sale for less than what the fabric would cost and then converted to her needs.