Is It Cheaper to Sew Clothes or Buy Them at the Store?

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Well, it depends…

If you’re making something simple, like a t-shirt, you’re probably better off buying the t-shirt premade from the store instead of sewing it yourself. However, if you’re making something expensive, like a prom dress, you can usually save money by sewing it yourself.

I make the decision on whether to sew or buy on a case-by-case basis.

If I think I can sew something for less, and I have the time to do it, I’ll make it myself. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, such as when I really like the fabric of something from the store or it fits too well to pass up.

To determine if you can make something for less money than buying it at the store, you have to look at the cost of the fabric, what notions you’ll need, what you already have at home, if you have a pattern, and how long it will take you to sew. In general, I don’t bother sewing something if I can buy it at the store for less than $15-$20.

Consider the Cost of Your Fabric

If you’re like me, you tend to like fabric that has a high price tag — I’m always going for the silks and wools. If you want to sew clothes for cheaper than you can buy them at the store, you’re better off buying the cottons and cotton-poly blends. They are less expensive.

I try never to buy the more expensive fabrics without a coupon. Most fabric stores run regular promotions where you can get a discount on a single cut of fabric or a discount on your entire purchase. I typically shop at JoAnn Fabric, so I signed up to receive JoAnn coupons by email so I always have one on hand when I go to buy fabric or notions.

One great place to look for cheaper fabric is on the remnant rack, especially if you’re looking to sew something small. Most fabric stores also have a discount rack. Just like clothing at stores, fabric comes in and out of season, so there are sales and clearances to reflect the store’s stock levels. Use this to your advantage and build up your fabric stash.

Don’t Forget to Add the Cost of Notions

Notions are where the costs can really add up on your sewing projects. You’ll easily pay a few bucks for buttons, zippers, elastic, thread, beads, lace, interfacing, and any other notions you need to sew something. People think, “Oh, I can get this fabric for $3.99/yard, so making my own dress will definitely cost less than buying one at the store.” What they neglect to factor in is all the notions that their dress will require.

Just like with fabric, you can save money on notions by using coupons. I try to stock up on zippers and buttons when I see them on sale or I have a good coupon. Over the years I’ve gathered quite a nice supply at home, which helps me save on the cost of my future sewing projects. If you’re really looking to save money, you can take the buttons and notions off of old clothes and reuse them for free.

Patterns Cost Money, Too

On top of your fabric and notions, you also have to buy a pattern. Patterns are very expensive if you buy them at full price. Yes, you can use them more than once, but I make it a rule not to buy a pattern unless it is under $10. I’m lucky because my fabric store occasionally sells patterns for $1.99 each.

Lately I’ve been using a lot of indie sewing patterns from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop and Rebecca Page Patterns. They have some fun sewing projects that are easy to sew because of their sew alongs.

Once you’ve been sewing for a while, you’ll probably have plenty of patterns to use without spending more money, but you’ll have to buy them upfront until you have a good stash. You can also make your own patterns, but you’ll need quite a bit of practice before they come out perfect. I sometimes make my own patterns, but I usually just alter the patterns that I have until I have a clothing design that I like.

So overall, yes, you can definitely still sew things for less than you can buy them at the store. You just have to stay away from the expensive fabric and notions and use coupons to keep your costs down.