You might wonder, what’s the big idea! Why alter and sew clothes by hand, or remake stained and unfitting clothes to make them wearable again? What’s the big deal anyway? Well, I can only answer that with a photo.
This is just my overabundance! LOL, just one woman’s attempt to store clothing, art and home goods gone awry. Maybe I don’t make that much of a difference. I have three baskets in the hallway full of clean clothes, a big heap of dirty clothes on the floor in the bedroom, a clothing rack that I recently picked over to donate to ThredUP and three huge bins of clothes to donate or sell. Plus I have a closet full of clothes.
The reality is, most houses have a room like this. And most people have way too many clothes! I think women are usually more guilty of hoarding clothes than men are. But we buy things because we think we need them, until we have way too much. Why is it that people feel like it is so much easier to dress well when they have fewer pieces of clothes? Capsule wardrobes are becoming a huge trend. And so many women are talking about downsizing their wardrobe.
It is so easy to buy clothes, but what happens if you don’t like something or if it stops fitting. Heaven forbid you spill on a shirt.
When you sew your own clothes, you slow down and take your time. You make something that fits how you want. You make something you want to wear for a long time. And if you outgrow the clothing, you can remake it to fit your new body shape! Win win! Patching and mending are wonderful skills too, that keep clothes out of the landfill. When you sew your own clothes, you no longer pay for corporate greed. You no longer pay for people who are sewing clothes for pennies a day.
This is just a gentle nudge, my book is a pretty quick read. “The Portals of Locke Meade” introduces teens to the concept of sewing their own clothes, and teaches them why it matters. The book might not be available for very long! It’s a cozy weekend read, perfect for a quiet evening. Also, check out my website! It has tons of posts on sewing your own clothing, altering and upcycling to make things like new!