6 Ways to Actually Save Money When Sewing

When people find out about my DIY fashion, they often say, “Oh, you must save so much money making your own clothes!” So, I thought about it.

And I hate to be that person, but it depends. You can save, but also end up spending more doing handmade.

I’ll share some things I do that I actually save money when sewing. This is from my experience, and it might give you things to consider that’ll help you save too. 

Ways I Save Money When Sewing

Well, you might think sewing is a cheap hobby, but it’s not. But knowing where you’ll spend your money can help you budget though. 

The bulk of my spending goes to fabric, thread, and patterns. However, I find ways to trim those costs.

1. Fix and Alter Clothes

Do you throw away shirts and buy new ones because a button falls off? Or a seam comes undone?

Yes, I know people who do this. Instead of buying more clothes, you can fix the ones in your closet. 

You can save money by replacing buttons or sewing up those loose seams. Buying buttons at the craft store is cheaper than buying a whole new shirt. 

Hemming your pants, repairing holes and rips, and replacing zippers will save you money, too. 

I know someone who buys good-quality vintage clothes at the thrift store. He gets them at a cheap price and fixes them. 

Now that’s a way to save some money. And that’ll probably be cheaper than making a new garment from scratch. 

2. Upcycle Clothes

I’m a big upcycler of fabric. If I have a garment that doesn’t fit or I don’t like it anymore, I’ll make it into something else.

Actually, I save a lot of money by doing this. Why? Because when you upcycle, you don’t need to buy new fabric.

For example, take a look at my denim jacket. I upcycled several skinny jeans to make this. 

The jeans didn’t fit me, plus I outgrew the style. I could’ve bought a new denim jacket from the store or more fabric.

But this would have cost me money. And I already had good, used denim in my closet.

I have also turned pants into skirts, shorts, and tote bags. Not only is upcycling a great way to save money, it’s good for the environment, and a great way to be creative!

3. Buy Fabric on Sale

I’m not going to sugar-coat how much fabric can cost. More times, it’s way cheaper to buy a ready-to-wear outfit in the store.

Think about it, you can buy a cheapo skirt for $30 or less in the store.It has already been sewn.

If we make a skirt from scratch, shopping for nice fabric can cost you $15 to $25 per yard. Let’s say we need 2 to 3 yards of it. That could cost us $30 to $75 just for the fabric.

We know that beautiful outfit you made from the quality fabric will last a long time. Compared to that cheap one from the store, you can wear yours many times over without it falling apart after wearing it once.

Now, I’m not sewing clothes to be as cheap as possible. I love shopping for fabrics, but I prefer to buy them at a reasonable price.

Most of us sewists have enough fabric and supplies in our stashes to last three lifetimes… Ha-ha! Yup!

But many of us know to buy when there’s a sale. Plus, we save the remnants and scraps for other sewing projects.

4. Maintain the Sewing Machine

If you use a sewing machine, this will also be an added cost. That’s why you have to consider maintenance into its lifespan.

I started with an old Singer sewing machine that my mother gave me. After a while, the gears ran down and I couldn’t replace them. 

But that machine lasted 30 years! So it was well worth the money. Then I upgraded my sewing machine to a new one that cost $1,200. 

However, I knew I’d use it for years to come, and didn’t mind spending that amount. But I save money by taking care of this machine so it’ll last.

And it’s more cost-efficient to use a machine for years than to keep buying cheaper ones that break down every couple of years. 

You can look for quality used machines at family-owned stores. There are pre-owned ones that are cheaper than the new versions. 

Later, I also bought a serger, which cost me around $2,000. But it was so worth it to have nice finished seams. 

But the yearly maintenance and cleaning run me about $140 per machine. I’ve had my current machines for almost 15 years, so I’ve gotten my money’s worth!

5. Buy Discounted Notions and Supplies

Buying buttons, fasteners, interfacing, and zippers are also sewing costs. Although these are small compared to fabric and sewing machines, they can add up.

Again, you can look for sales at craft stores and online. And, I’ve seen some sewing supplies at thrift stores, if you don’t mind pre-owned stuff.  

I like to wait for these items to go on sale, or at least shop around. You’ll be surprised to find big price differences between stores.

If you use quality thread, this cost can add up. My sewing machine only takes certain types of thread, and my collection could last for years. 

I found a spool of thread online for around $9. That same exact spool I found in the fabric store near me for $3.50!

And I go through needles like crazy. You’ll be replacing your sewing needles a lot… at least you should. 

Sometimes it’s more cost-effective for me to buy them in a larger pack.

I’ve found beautiful and rare buttons in the fashion district near me for a great price. 

Also, you’ll need a good iron and ironing board for sewing. You can find irons on sale around holidays, and I’d look for one that can last a while. 

6. Buy Sewing Patterns on Sale

I like to buy commercial sewing patterns, and this can add up. I’ve got so many of these!

However, I always buy patterns on sale. It’s rare that I buy a pattern at full price. 

Have you ever noticed how much some patterns cost? We’re talking $15 to $30! 

When you catch them on sale, you can save up to 75%. You can find sales in fabric stores and online. 

You can also find some free ones online. Mood Fabrics has a lot of nice freebies.

Independent companies also have sales on PDF, or digital patterns. Plan to spend money on paper and ink with these types of patterns.

I’ll admit that you only need a few patterns. You can learn how to change them once you get good at sewing. But, I just love buying the new releases anyway!

Final Thoughts

From my years of sewing, I’ve learned how to save money while doing it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a cheap hobby by any means.

I spend less by upcycling, buying when things are on sale, and maintaining the items I have. As much as I love sewing, I don’t want to break my pocketbook!

More About Sewing

I have more related posts on my blog. You might want to check them out. 

• Would you like to learn how to fix a small hole in clothes without sewing? 

• Speaking about fabric, I’ll tell you all about making clothes with quilting cotton.

• If you’d like to know where you can learn to sew, I’ll tell you and include places you might not expect.  

• Check out the basic sewing supplies you’ll need when starting.

I’d love to hear about your sewing journey!

Originally published: September 8, 2024