How much does sewing save you a year ?

I don't know I'm climbing so badly that I blow all my stuff so often, but as an all style climber (mountaineering to bouldering) i tend do have to sew a lot each year.
By doing that, I have saved nearly 500$ this year. (3 pair of gloves, 2 pair of gaiters, 1 climbing trousers and some hoodies)
Do you sew, pay for repairs ?

People seem to be fans of my jorts with a huge crotch hole in them

Repairing gear certainly save money. Sometimes lots of money. But there is more to it than that - a few minutes under the machine can keep an item out of the trash stream. Call me a tree-hugger, but we owe it to the planet to stop throwing so many things away. I have done countless repairs, small and large - for friends and strangers for a pittance. IMO it's just the right thing to do.

Why sew when one can use tape? 

50% of my clothes and gear are held together by layers upon layers of tape.

I’m not sure about the monetary calculation there. If I repair my climbing pants I get another year out of them. If I buy a new pair they’re good for three years-ish. My sewing didn’t save me the cost of a pair of pants, it saved me a third that cost.

But it’s also the case they aren’t really “my” pants till I’ve sewn them. I may have bought them, but they’re just my copy of pants someone else made. After sewing them, they remain pants only because of my labor, so they’re mine.

Also also, why is everything so flimsy now? I blame the kids and their Fortnite’s.

Zero.

Cory Bwrote:

Why sew when one can use tape? 

50% of my clothes and gear are held together by layers upon layers of tape.

Tape is aid

I don't actually sow myself, but my neighbor does. I bake pies and other treats and trade em. I'd say it saves me around 300 a year. I'm very hard on clothing.

I'm lucky to have a mom who sews and knows gear.  For me, it is about retaining favorite pieces that can't be replaced and not wasting more resources on a new piece.  The hem eventually fails on all Arcteryx jackets (glue, no stitches).  She has fixed so many that she asked me to bring them to her before they fail since they are easier to sew before fraying out - they have served second lifetimes with that simiple repair.

I've darned several holes in shirts, sweaters, and pants. If you do it right you can't tell it ever had a hole, but it works best with thicker material. https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Darn+a+Hole+in+a+Knitted+Garment/27415 

I think all in all this has saved me from replacing 3 cashmere sweaters, a Patagonia R1, a t-shirt, and a pair of climbing pants. So maybe around $400.

I sew and part of the hobby is messing around with old sewing machines or getting old machines to work again. I currently have 4 machines and 3 are from the 40s and 50s. They can sew through 12 layers of thick canvas or 1/4" leather. So I sew for a bunch of things- fixing or altering clothes, mending gear like backpacks, etc. Making custom stuff for friends like chalk bags and bikepacking bags, I made a down quilt, ultralight tarp and hammock when I did the JMT in 2014 and all that gear has held up great. 

I have an old canvas camper shell on my tacoma and the company went out of business. The canvas finally started to fall apart after 20 years and I got quotes for 2-3k for new canvas from boat upholstery/sailmaking places. I ended up buying the fabric and materials for $300 and am going to do it myself. 

So I personally have saved thousands and I don't have much into the machines. The 2 I use right now cost $20 and free. The old all metal machines are great and a lot of them will hold up to pretty heavy work. 

Even sewing with an awl by hand has saved me a bunch and has been really useful. 

Patrick Lwrote:

I sew and part of the hobby is messing around with old sewing machines or getting old machines to work again. I currently have 4 machines and 3 are from the 40s and 50s. They can sew through 12 layers of thick canvas or 1/4" leather. So I sew for a bunch of things- fixing or altering clothes, mending gear like backpacks, etc. Making custom stuff for friends like chalk bags and bikepacking bags, I made a down quilt, ultralight tarp and hammock when I did the JMT in 2014 and all that gear has held up great. 

I have an old canvas camper shell on my tacoma and the company went out of business. The canvas finally started to fall apart after 20 years and I got quotes for 2-3k for new canvas from boat upholstery/sailmaking places. I ended up buying the fabric and materials for $300 and am going to do it myself. 

So I personally have saved thousands and I don't have much into the machines. The 2 I use right now cost $20 and free. The old all metal machines are great and a lot of them will hold up to pretty heavy work. 

Even sewing with an awl by hand has saved me a bunch and has been really useful. 

I've been looking for a used machine...what do you look for? I'd love to have something that's capable of repairing a hem on a light weight shell and also putting in bar tacks on a set of adjustable daisies! Maybe that's not realistic...

Pete Nelsonwrote:

I've been looking for a used machine...what do you look for? I'd love to have something that's capable of repairing a hem on a light weight shell and also putting in bar tacks on a set of adjustable daisies! Maybe that's not realistic...

I keep 2 machines set up, one with heavy duty thread and needle, the other with finer needle and regular thread. The old machines will do both really well. When I say old I mean from around 1920 to the 1970s. And I'm talking about domestic (home) sewing machines. 

I really only ever use straight and zigzag stitches so I don't really care about fancy stitch capabilities or anything like that. 

Here's a random list of machines off the top of my head that would all be good machines if they work. 

Singer-  66, 99, 15-91, 201k, featherweight 

Pfaff 130- highly regarded by sailors/boat people

Necchi- BU, BU nova, BU mira all metal machines that are really strong and a great machine

Adler189

Any old machine from Singer, pfaff, bernina, Jenome, necchi, elna, husqvarna, viking, Kenmore, white can all potentially be found for cheap at thrift stores or garage sales, craigslist, etc. 

There are also a bunch of Japanese clones of old singer machines that are really good. 

You basically just start looking at machines and then do research on whether it does the stitches you need, if it will work with material you intend to use it on, etc. 

I recently got into sewing. I have saved my self 4 pairs of pants that I used to just replace this year alone. They look terrible but still function. 

It is actually a ton of fun to. Put on some loud music and sew your heart out. 

Add Singer 301A to Patrick's list. They were hugely popular BITD and are virtually unstoppable.

given my hourly earning rate combined with my complete ineptitude at sewing, i would say i am operating at a significant net loss.  but i keep trying :)

slimwrote:

given my hourly earning rate combined with my complete ineptitude at sewing, i would say i am operating at a significant net loss.  but i keep trying :)

Seams like you're saying that you do a sew-sew job? Asking for clarification only, not trying to needle you.

I used to sew a lot, made garments from scratch. Recently I have made curtains for the house and waterproof matress cover for the bed in my van. My roomate is zipper impaired, lots of zippers. But Mostly I am a mutant. A pair of womans small pants go from my  armpits to the floor and have way too much ass.  Girls pants are too tight in the thighs. Some boys pants fit. Kids shirts are too tight in the shoulders, and short in  the arms.  If I get the shoulders right I have to hem the sleeves. Packs are a nightmare,  if I find one that fits I use it till its a patchwook quilt. Burn holes from campfires usually just get tape. As does my  constantly shredded ski gear. Duct tape is a girls best friend. Don't have a $ value, more of a necessity