Sewing skills

[MountainMeg]

I'm giving myself a high-five for this.  (Would that simply be clapping your hands over your head?)  I learned to replace zippers and went nuts.  Fixed hubby's favorite lined fleece sweatshirt (replacement jacket cost $40).  Replaced the zipper he broke on his winter parka (replacement coat cost $80).  Bought a name brand coat for my son for $3 because it needed a new zipper to attach the removable hood (Cost of new coat for son $60 last year).  I think I've saved enough to buy an actual zipper foot for my sewing machine now.  I've been picking up new zippers at the Goodwill when I see them and stashing them.

Just love, love, love my sewing machine.

[Atash Hagmahani]

Good idea. Zippers are expensive.

[Dame]

The local seamstress fixed a winter parka for me last winter when I needed it in a hurry and told me that much of the time zippers need only new pull tabs to keep them done up.  I need to get back to her for a lesson in how to replace the tab.  She is busy enough she would be happy to show me how and sell me the tabs.  She also runs a very well stocked notitions store. 

At times I collect absolutely trashed articles of clothing just for the zippers, buttons, and other trim or even to cut out some part of the pattern as trim on other clothing.  If nothing else they may eventually make good bargain items and I rarely need to buy buttons.

[hippiechick]

As the economy gets tougher, sewing skills can also be helpful to downsize my clothes to fit my daughter, as she grows out of hers, or to take those old flannel flat sheets that we seldom use to make warm comfortable pajamas.

[MountainMeg]

When I find zippers at the Goodwill they're typically 59 cents.  The parka zippers I had to buy for hubby's coats ran about $4.50, but way cheaper than replacing the coat.

Hippiechick, you may enjoy this website if you have a up and growing daughter.  http://www.newdressaday.com/  It's amazing what this woman does with absolutely awful thrift store finds. 

The other thing I've managed to accumulate are patterns.  Joann's runs a $1 sale on patterns every few weeks.  This week it's Simplicity patterns.  I've stocked up basic shirt/pant/skirt/dress/jacket patterns for all four members of the family.  At $1, I often buy multiple copies of a favorite pattern so when daughter grows from one size to the next, I can pull a new pattern and cut that size.

[Ryder]

I have fixed quite a few zippers thusly....when you have a zipper with a double pull on it (can zip it both ways) Normaly on something like a jacket you use one pull only so when the zipper starts not closing or pulling apart it is still fixable. At the top of the zipper cut the zipper so you can take both pulls off then reinstall the unwore out pull upside down from what it was originaly. You just install it back on the one side of the zipper and leave the worn out pull off. Then take some thread and a needle and sew the top of the zipper such that the pull can not come all the way off.

[Atash Hagmahani]

One of my daughter's teachers, who was a big inspiration in her life, once made the "amazing $6 gown".

She bought the end of an expensive fabric--same kind as used in wedding gowns (I forget what it's called--a fairly substantial and glossy fabric), but in a shade of royal blue, on clearance for $6.

She already had thread and other supplies.

To save on expenses she didn't bother with a zipper. She has to wiggle into it.  Sowed it up a few days before a social event and it looked stunning.

With her level of sewing skill, it looks like what would cost you a cool $600 at Nordstrom's. 

Very artistically talented young woman. 

[hippiechick]

Great link Meg I plan to show this one to my daughter....will give her some good ideas.

[hippiechick]

Now that the gardening and canning is done, I can actually have time to sew.  I'm like you Meg I stock up on cheap patterns and such, and now have more projects to do than will ever get done.

[MountainMeg]

Now that the gardening and canning is done, I can actually have time to sew.  I'm like you Meg I stock up on cheap patterns and such, and now have more projects to do than will ever get done.

I'm getting ready to start on a couple of projects I've set aside.  If I pick up anymore sale priced fleece remnants I think my hubby won't allow me back into Joann's!     He just brought in the 3 bags I had stashed in the back of my car.  (Oops!)  Guess I better start those mittens, hats and scarfs!

[Dame]

If I pick up anymore sale priced fleece remnants I think my hubby won't allow me back into Joann's!     He just brought in the 3 bags I had stashed in the back of my car.  (Oops!)  Guess I better start those mittens, hats and scarfs!

My DH is right now working on completely weatherproofing a loft in an unheated outbuilding for such collections.  Mine have grown huge and hardly need ongoing access or heated space.  That way I simply need to stash them where they will not be either rumaged or competing with space he wants to use.  He does not fit well through the inside access and seldom sees reason to take an exterior ladder to the palate (fork lift accessable) door.  This space is the reason I can save bales of flax straw and other such whimsical and currently impractical items.

[Ozark Lady]

I stored fabric for years.
I found patterns free and brand new zippers for a dime a piece, at a local charity store, needless to say, I have a lifetime supply of fabric and zippers.
Now, I need to come up with a source for inexpensive thread, have you priced a spool of thread, lately?

[Dame]

Now, I need to come up with a source for inexpensive thread, have you priced a spool of thread, lately?

During the Depression, they took the thread out of the worn out clothing they were going to use for rag and reused it.  Garage sales are where I find the best thread collections.  And I talk about looking for thread semi-occassionally at church at the grocery store etc.  People will actually call and give me what they have when they are packing to move.

[Ozark Lady]

Maybe I need a spinning wheel and make my own thread?

It would be pretty difficult to sew with bits of thread salvaged from fabric, on a sewing machine.

I have salvaged many older machines, wish they were treadles, but they do have the wheels that could be converted to a belt and manual operation.

Around here it is amazing how many sewing machines complete with cabinets are free, or $5.00 each!

[Dame]

When I have seen salvage thread used, it has been for hand sewing.

I will not have to buy thread for some time, if ever, as many of my Aunts passed their thread and button collections on to me when they moved out of large family homes into retirement sized appartments.  Other collections have come from yard sales and neighbours.