18 Comments I Get When People Find Out I Sew

Recently, someone found out about my hobby and said the funniest thing. Then I thought about all the comments I get when people find out I sew.

Most people have good intentions and say nice things. But others have given me unwanted advice or backhanded compliments. Yikes!

So, get ready to laugh or cringe as we go through the list!

Comments I Get About Sewing

Okay, I’m going to give the good, bad, and the ugly. And heads up, some of my reflections might get sassy.

1. I used to sew a long time ago.

I get this a lot. There are a lot of former sewists out there, and I meet them just about anywhere.

And I feel like if you once did it, you’re still in my circle. You’ve been there and done that.

The person might bring up fond memories of making things and sharing what it was like to sew in their day.

We might get into a long conversation about cutting patterns, shopping for fabric, and what we like and dislike about sewing. 

I’m so glad to meet people this way, and frankly, I hope they get back into the craft one day! 

2. My grandma used to sew.

You can swap out grandma for mom, dad, or any other family member. People always like to share the fact that they know someone who sews.

I worked a job where people got excited when they found out I sewed. They’d tell me all about the people in their families who did too.

You could feel the pride they held when telling me about all their handmade clothes and toys. Seriously.

Mental images of family members on the sewing machine are something people don’t forget. And people love sharing these with me.

3. I wish I could sew.

I actually hear this one a lot. And if they’re being honest, it’s fascinating how many people say this, but haven’t tried to learn. 

Some people say this as if I were born knowing how to sew. I grew up around sewing, but still had to learn like everyone else. 

I know someone who tells me she wishes she could sew all the time. She even names off all the things she’d do, like fix her clothes and make garments from scratch.

But when I encourage her to take classes, she says she can’t do it or doesn’t have the time.

If you want to learn how to sew, you should. Of course, it takes time, but if you stick with it, you can get good.

4. I could never sew like you.

I get this comment from people who don’t even sew. Or someone might see a garment I’ve made and then say this.

Some might compare their skill level to mine, or think sewing is an impossible task. They may feel defeated from the very beginning.

It’s like me seeing someone run a marathon and saying I could never do that. The thing is, I could do it. 

If I started small and trained over the span of several months, I’d be able to run that marathon one day too. It takes time and patience.

I’m not saying I’d win, but I’d do the best that I could. And sewing is a marathon too. 

You don’t need to have the sewing skills someone else has, and that’s A-okay. Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.

5. That looks like you bought it from a store.

I might get from someone who sees something I’ve made. If people say this, they typically mean it as a compliment. 

When someone says that your clothes look like they were bought from the store, they mean to say your clothes look professional and well-made.

But I also know some people who envision handmade garments as looking poorly homemade. They may have tried sewing or knew someone else who did, and the finished product didn’t turn out well.

Many cheap, fast fashion clothes don’t look good. They might have very long, loose stitches, and unslightly seams and lines.

We sewists know all about that. But creating a well-constructed outfit can be compared to clothes in high-end stores and boutiques.

6. Only old people sew.

Yes, someone said this to me when she found out I made my own clothes. Well, call me old my whole life, because I’ve been sewing since I was a child. 

I responded by telling her that sewing is for all people. Every age, gender, religion, culture, nationality, and race participates in this hobby. 

By her tone, her comment was a way to cut me down. She was my former supervisor and always found ways to cast clouds on a sunny day. 

She would look me up and down and ask, “Did you make that too? Well, aren’t you the handy type?”

It’s too bad she acted like that while working at school. She could have used her power as a force for good.

7. You must save a lot of money sewing.

Well, I get this comment so much that I wrote a blog post about it. Some people may assume that making my own clothes is cheaper than buying them.

And yes, I do save money when I’m upcycling or fixing things. And if you make a very nice garment that would have cost hundreds in the store, yes, you’ll save money DIYing it.

Overall, sewing is a costly hobby. It’s also time-consuming and can be quite stressful. 

But I do it because I love to make things, and sewing is my weapon of choice. So whether I save or not, I can control the fabric, fit, and process, and that’s priceless.

8. You should go on Project Runway. 

What? You think I have the true skills as a designer to go on this show? Well, bless your heart.

Look, I don’t see this comment as negative by any means. It’s actually funny and endearing.

Many of the people who have said this probably have no idea the depth of knowledge and skill that goes into being a designer. 

A home sewist isn’t necessarily a designer. But I know some that are. One could be a sewist or designer, or both at the same time.

I’m not formally trained as a designer, but I can hack up some patterns like no one’s business. However, I’m pretty confident it’s not all that easy to get on the show.

But never say never, right?

9. People still do that?

Yes, people still sew. It’s so strange to get this reaction, and I get this often.

Obviously, it’s not from people in the DIY world. I don’t know how to woodwork or sculpt, but I know those crafts are alive and well.

Besides, everyone who has said this to me was wearing clothes. And I assume they knew that someone had to sew the clothes on their backs.

But they probably meant it in the sense that people don’t sew as a hobby or in the household anymore.

Well, sewing might not be as popular today as back in the Victorian times, or in the mid-1900s. Back then, every household had a sewing machine.

Then fast fashion came along, and sewing wasn’t a necessity for many people. However, there are still many of us doing it for other reasons.

So yes, sewing is alive and well. There are many craft stores that sell sewing patterns, supplies, and fabrics all over the world.

10. Why don’t you just buy your clothes?

People actually ask me this as if I’m wasting my time. It’s like asking a home gardener why he doesn’t just buy his own food instead of growing it.

Because we want to make our own. Yes, I can buy fast fashion, and there’s nothing wrong with doing so if it’s your thing.

But I love the feeling of completing a garment that I’ve worked hard on for so long. I can have control over my whole process. 

Plus, I was tired of wasting my time trying on ready-made clothes, and everything not fitting my body.

I won’t go over all my reasons, as I wrote a whole blog post on the benefits of sewing. If you like making your own stuff, you can relate. 

I’ve been doing it for years. It’s really fun, and it’s something I’m not going to stop doing. 

11. You could sell your clothes overseas.

Okay, I don’t get this one. I’ve had a couple people tell me I could make clothes and sell them overseas. 

If I wanted to sell my handmade clothes, I’d put them on Etsy or eBay. Why would I need to ship them to another country? 

Maybe the commenter was trying to say that my clothes wouldn’t sell in the US. Or maybe people overseas would like the style better. 

Well, I make clothes for myself, and I’m not trying to sell them. And if I did, I’d just post them, and whoever buys them can buy them. 

12. I have clothes that need fixing. 

It’s funny how I get this comment. Someone feels the need to tell me they need their clothes fixed after finding out I sew.

I guess they’re hoping that I’d respond in kind and say I’ll do it. Maybe they assume I’m just sitting around with nothing else to do.

Or they’re telling me this because they don’t know what to say, trying to be funny, or filling the air with words.

Well, if you know any sewists, they’re not going to want to fix your stuff. Especially not for free.

Believe it or not, I had a neighbor bring a load of pants to my door, asking if I’d hem them. What? That’s out of this world!

And I admit I’ve done this for friends and family, and they’ve repaid me in one way or another. That’s because I really like them.

Otherwise, I’ll point them to try the dry cleaner. They repair clothes and do alterations for a small fee.

13. Can you tell me how to take up my pants?

Okay, this might sound similar to the previous comment, but at least this is a question. And I get this one so often, I’m going to have to make a blog post.

People asking this usually aren’t assuming I’ll want to fix their pants. They’re looking for advice and have run across the right person.

I feel like asking a sewist for a solution to a problem is a good way to break the ice. And I love helping out nice people.  

Besides taking up and hemming pants, you can include other common fixes, like sewing a button or patching a hole.

You won’t believe how many people have asked me about these things, and I’ve told them how to do it. And I’ve gotten many gifts and thank-yous in return. 

14. You should make me a shirt or something.

Why do I get this comment from random people out there? Just why?

Do I look like I’m sitting around waiting to make some stranger on the internet a shirt for free?

I get this comment from complete strangers and sometimes from distant friends and acquaintances. They’re not offering any kind of payment either. 

Someone went so far as to send me a picture of the exact shirt he wanted me to make. I don’t know what he was thinking.

In turn, they get to wear my creation and tell people I handmade it? Ha-ha. No.

15. You should make a quilt.

Someone commanded this to me when a relative had a baby. I have nothing against quilts, and actually would like to make one someday.

But I like to make clothes. Not that a fashion sewist can’t be a quilter and vice versa, or do both.

The person who told me this knew I was into fashion sewing. Maybe she assumed that if you sew, you can make everything.

While that might be true, I know nothing about quilting. And I find it funny when people tell me what I should make. 

Maybe they get all wrapped up in the moment and don’t think before they speak.

I politely told her that many quilters sell their beautiful creations. Otherwise, she could get a sewing machine and make one herself. 

16. I wouldn’t have made it like that.

One day, I came to work wearing a dress that I made from a sewing pattern. I had gotten a lot of compliments on it.

And I loved the fabric too. It was bright with large flowers and just put me in a cheery mood. 

Well, that was until this co-worker in a different department approached me. She knew I sewed and she asked if I made my dress. 

Then she said, “I overall like that dress, but I wouldn’t have made the sleeves like that. I would have done this…” 

Then she proceeded to show me what she’d have done. Well, it’s not like I asked her for her opinion.

Mind you, she herself didn’t sew and didn’t know the first thing about it. So she couldn’t even give me the correct terminology when explaining.

Well, I responded to her by thanking her for her expert advice and suggested that she show me step-by-step how to make this alteration to the sewing pattern.

17. I’ll give you advice on making it better.

This piggybacks on the previous comment. I had another co-worker who used to sew back in his prime.

Well, he was much older now, but he had a background in making tailored suits. And while I liked talking to him, he gave out a lot of unsolicited advice.

Once I was wearing a dress, and he told me the next time I make one, I should change up the collar. 

I know he had a big personality and liked to blab, but I liked the dress as is. So I ignored his comments, but he’d persist.

He kept bringing up his superior sewing skills and how I could improve the design of my dresses. Mind you, I sew from patterns and have no problem with it.

Well, I finally told him to make me a pattern and mockup of his great ideas. Then he said that he doesn’t sew anymore. Exactly.

18. I’ll pay you to make a jacket.

I’ve had a couple of people ask me to make them a suit jacket. One guy reached out to me on social media and asked me to make a coat for him. 

He knew the exact fabric he wanted and the type of coat. Even after offering to pay me very well, I still turned him down. 

I’m not into making clothes for other people, even though he asked very nicely. Plus, there’s a lot involved with making a jacket or coat.

I like to take my own measurements. Plus, the price I’d charge would be very high. 

One day this might change, but for now, I’m good with sewing mostly for myself and those close to me.

Final Thoughts

When people find out you sew, you might get a mixed bag of comments. I’ve had my share of strange remarks and questions too.

But most people are amazed to find out about my hobby. You’ll have to let me know about your experiences!

More About Sewing

• Do you want to know how long it really takes to get good at sewing? 

• Sewing has pulled me through some hard times and helped me cope. I’ll tell you how. 

• I’ll tell you the strategies I use to teach kids about sewing. 

Originally published: November 20, 2025