(Floral blouse – New Look 6598)
One of my top tips for keeping the cost of home sewing down, is to keep an eye out for when the big pattern companies have their cut price sales. It’s worth waiting for.
As I write, Kwik Sew and New Look are both selling their patterns at half price. 50% off. When this happens, I can’t resist filling up my basket, either real or on-line, with all the tempting patterns.
“I’ll have that one and that one. Oh. I like that one. They are half price, right?”
Then I look at the grand total and gulp. Hmm. Time to be selective.
That’s when I fall back on my checklist.
1. Have I already got it? Don’t laugh, this does happen!
2. Have I got something similar? Maybe a blouse has a different neckline I’d like to try, but do I need yet another pencil skirt.
3. Will I ever make it? I check the suggested fabrics. This stops me buying a pattern that recommends fabric that I don’t like working with or wearing. Also cuts out the patterns where the fabric would be far too expensive. A definite way to push up the cost of home sewing.
4. Will it take too much fabric? A saving on the pattern might be eclipsed by the price of the fabric, if it requires metres of fabric.
5. Do I really want it? Will it suit me? Experience has taught me that certain necklines do not work on me. Easy to spot when you try something on in a shop, but harder to judge from a pattern front cover picture.
If a pattern survives the 5 points, then I know I’m safe to buy.
Just one more tip: I also Google to see if anyone has made it and blogged about it. A great way to see how it looks and if they’ve had any problems with the pattern.
(Kili the dwarf from the Hobbit costume)
Before you ask, yes, I’ve grabbed the opportunity and added a few more patterns to my collection. I’m waiting for them to arrive. As soon as I’ve ripped the parcel open and “aah-ed” over the contents, I’ll let you see. Squeee!
edited: sale now over.
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I love your top tips – I have my eye on a Vogue pattern but with it needing over 3 meters of fabric I will definitely waiting for an offer/sale!!!
I’m with you on that one. Patience is the best approach. Good luck in your search.
I have only ever bought three patterns. I can never find quite what I want so I usually end up making it up myself, but I will take a look all the same as you never know…..
You are clever to be able to make it up. I can do this to a limited extent for simple garments, but I’ve never tried with blouses, or anything that needs more than four pattern pieces. Not sure if I should wish you luck in finding a good pattern or not. Maybe fresh inspiration.
You sent me down such a rabbit hole. And I haven’t bought any patterns because I’ve got such a lot waiting to be done, and this year really does seem to be the year of knitting.
I use sewing.patternreview.com at the moment but I’m hoping Textillia.com takes off.
Oh I am sorry (not sorry 😀 ). Good fun looking at patterns. Hope it inspired you for later on. I had a look at Textillia. Always on the look out for a good sewing site like Ravelry. Seems to suggest that it will go over to a subscription, so I wonder how popular it will be. It will be interesting to see.