This is a quick article because I imagine this is a boring topic and I’ve already kind of told you about it, but I learned to sew! I took classes at my local recreation center for a year. My mom gave me an old sewing machine and I bought a serger (a machine to make nice-looking edges).
As helpful as the classes were, I felt like I didn’t really learn until I sat down and worked through it myself. I read through the pattern and tried to follow it step by step. There’s a whole language of sewing that you have to learn before the patterns make sense. Bias cut. Selvage. Notches. Notions. I did a lot of Googling and watching Youtube videos and then just messing around with fabric.
A year later, I’ve made:
Several glasses/sunglasses cases
Five aprons
Two dog sweatshirts
Two crop tops
Three onesies
Two skirts
A few dresses
I’m most proud of two of the onesies and one particular dress. I wear them more than you would think.
Onesies are great for costume parties, camping in the mountains where it gets cold, and just laying around in your house on a chilly day. I love them.
And this dress I wear around the house on a hot day. It requires no bra and has pockets! I added the pockets myself. The pattern didn’t have them.
Cost
This is not a cheap hobby. I put off learning this hobby because it’s not a cheap hobby. I used to be good at keeping track of exactly how much I spend on things, but I’ve become a lot looser over the years as I’ve realized the early retirement thing is working. (It’s working!)
Sewing class was $90 for 20 hours worth of lessons. I took $360 worth of lessons.
I’ve spent hundreds on fabrics and threads and cutting tools. Tuning up my serger cost me over $300. The total for everything is in the thousands at this point. This is a way more expensive hobby than reading books from the library and writing novels nobody will read.
My other qualm about sewing was the space. You need space for your sewing machine and sewing accoutrements. It’s a lot of stuff, which I’m generally against. But it’s a fun hobby that I enjoy and am going to keep pursuing, so I’m not complaining, only commenting.
I didn’t know when to cross off this life bucket list item. I’m still learning, but I think I can say I can sew. I think I can. I think I can.
Early retirement for the win?
Finally, I’m going to say it even though it might not be true. I’m not sure I could have crossed off this life bucket list item if I wasn’t retired. My sewing class was from 1-3 on Wednesdays. I would spend entire days working on pieces, trying to learn. I never had much energy when I was working a real job. All of my mental focus went to my employer and I’d just sit on the couch after work.
That was me, anyway. Maybe you’re better than me and can do both, have a job and a life.
Love you all. Thank you so much for subscribing and listening to me talk.
Love it! Love the self-sufficiency in being able to make your own clothes. What you made is very passable for shop-bought, showing you have skills!
Thank you! There’s no greater feeling than getting a compliment on something and replying with a “Thanks, I made it!” 🙂
Did you ever get fulfilment from your previous job?
I’m always weighing up job + some time for hobbies + buying vs FIRE and spend less on hobbies but lots of time. I feel sometimes that because of the lower income I’m too careful with spending so I don’t do the hobbies, whereas when working, like you, don’t have the mental space or the time to also jump into the hobby.
I think a potentially good compromise could be finding a job that was less mentally exhausting, but actually was enjoyable, and as such either felt like time well spent and energising, or left enough that could do both job+hobby and have some income so didn’t feel worried about spending.
Anyway, I toy with all those conundrums, but congratulations on the sewing, the stuff you’ve made looks very nice – especially the dog jerseys and the cool onesies!.
No, never really felt fulfilment at any of my jobs. Flight attendant was fun, but I prefer my freedom.
I think you more you get into the FIRE journey, the more comfortable you get spending money.
Everything you’ve made looks very beautiful (AND efficient). I am particularly a fan of the pattern of your dress 🙂
I’d be surprised if lots of friends and family weren’t sending you requests to sew handmade items for them. Hopefully you won’t drown in requests which turn the hobby into a chore
I bought the fabric here. 🙂
It’s always nice to hear you’ve accomplished another goal! Congrats!
It’s been encouraging and motivating to hear! Yay to early retirement. I’m encouraged to get there soon too.
I’m counting down the days with you!
Loving the dress! 💜
Thank you! It’s my current favorite thing in my closet.
Congratulations, this is awesome!!! I love love love your dog’s hoodie, what an awesome idea – and your dress and your onesie are great too 😊 It must be so satisfying to make one’s clothes and not be so dependent on the fashion industry. I’ve been trying to knit and so far haven’t done much beyond simple rectangular pieces. You encourage me to try harder!
The dog’s hoodies were presents to my boyfriend’s mom for Christmas!
Knitting is fun. I’ve knitted some booties and a scarf/hat, but I’d love to make sweaters one day!
Great job!! I plan to take some classes when I finally get to retire next November, not sure about sewing though but maybe.
That’s the best part! You get the try out whatever speaks to you. I tried pottery, jewerly making, and sewing and sewing was the one that stuck.
The onesie looks great!
It’s so warm!
The dress is very pretty, this is some remarkable stuff! It’s nice to see you blogging again Thrifty, I’ve missed your writings.
Thank you! I appreciate the encouragement on the writing. 🙂
Hi. I’m impressed at how you tackled learning this. I also take an all-in approach when something catches my eye. You’ve made some delightful things, as your photos show. The dress is particularly cool. My wife is a knitter, and has supplied me with socks for years. So I recognize a passion for something. Thank you for sharing, and know this is only boring to dull minds.
Ooh, homemade socks! I love it. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
I’m delighted to see an update from you and that you’re working through your bucket list items. Your work is beautiful. I hand-sewed a few dog bandanas recently so I can start to appreciate what goes into the craft. Pottery is my preferred hobby but I find it challenging to find the time and energy for it while working my admittedly not-very-demanding, but technically full-time job. Somehow there never seems to be enough time in the day.
My local rec center gives pottery lessons. I find that lessons make me make the time.
But I hear ya! I could never find the time to do things when working full time. Now there feels like enough time. 🙂
Well done! I love sewing because it spurs on my reluctant creativity (something a financial career didn’t allow.) and I love clothes. So nice to see you writing again!
You’ve nailed it about sewing. I don’t feel creative, but I can follow a pattern!
Additional benefits: having clothes that no one else has, creating a product of my own mind, challenging my linear brain in a new, artistic way–Those are big motivators for me.
I love the way you phrased that. Challenging my linear brain in a new artistic way. I feel the same!