Whether you thought about it before, are in the process of doing it now, or wrote it off as something only women and homemakers did because it is still considered taboo in most cultures, learning to sew for yourself has more benefits than just mending a hole or putting a button back on a shirt.
With the American dollar loosing its value, our country still at war, and people from all walks of life feeling the effects of Mother Nature's attempts to survive global warming and mans made pollution, times are calling for us to be just a little more economically frugal, resourceful, ecofriendly and self sufficient. With this in mind, what better way to support all of the above by taking a class, or two, or three. The pros outweigh the cons, and in the end, you are adding yet another entry to your list of accomplishments.
If you still feel uninspired, maybe the list below might encourage you to try something new.
Top 10 Reasons for Learning How to Sew!1. It will make you more independent and self sufficient.Think about it. What better feeling than to be able to say that you can do it yourself!2. It will save you money.
This really should be number one, but I am a big advocate for liberating folks, so second place
it is. Why pay more for clothing and home accent pieces than you have to. A pair of new
trousers at most retail stores will cost you an average of $25-75 bucks. A pair of your own
machine sewn trousers will cost you about $10-15. You do the math.
3. You will never meet your reflection on the street.
This might be more of a concern for ladies then men, but most people cringe at the thought of
coming face to face with the same barbie pink dress on another passerbyer. Create the look
you want in the size you want, when you want it.4. It can bring out the creative God/Goddess in you.Whether you use a machine or hand stitch, there is something about crafting fabric into
something new that stirs your imaginative juices. Give it a try.
5. It will bring out the alpha male in you.
You didnt think sewing was just for woman did you? The appeal of a man who can hem his
own pants then run out and save the world with his intellect and charm is just too delicious!6. It will always come in handy.
Whether you find yourself needing to replace a button, repair a rip or attend an affair, all you
need is a good pair of scissors, a strong spool of thread and a trusty machine to become your
own hero.
7. If you can sew, you can create great gifts for holidays, birthdays, any day!Unique one-of-a-kind gifts that might also be cost effective... way to go!
8. You dont have to be an expert in order to sew a straight line, you just have to be willing.
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned seamstress, basic garment construction is much
simpler than it seems. Learn the basics and the rest will follow.
9. Learning a new skill is cool!
The brain is a muscle that excersize strengthens. Excersize your brain by learning something
new.10. You can become famous for your creations and for saving the planet at the same time!From Betsy Ross to Linda Loudermilk, the weaving of a needle and thread into fabric has not only created historical figures and top fashion designers, it has also combated the over indulgence of Mother Earths resources into recycleable goods, making the idea of learning to sew not only appealing but essential too.
Sitting behind a machine and constructing usable items out of fabric may not be for everyone, but after reviewing the list above, maybe it might just be the newly aquired skill for you. It never hurts to try!
Good Luck!
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Labels: conservative, eco-friendly, frugal, sewing, sewing-classes
What is going on with the Fabric Industry?
First Walmart starts phasing out their fabric departments. Now, Hancock fabrics said its six subsidiaries - including their website, HF Enterprises Inc and HF Merchandising filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday April 28th 2007. Hancock has defaulted on a $115 million credit line. The company has stated that they are going to close at a minimum of 100 of their 400 stores.
Today, it seems like fabric stores are a dying breed. Putting the kids into the car and going to the local fabric stores, is something of a quaint notion as today you can purchase anything pre-made from curtains to tablecloths. Is it the case that Americans are too busy to sit down with their sewing machine and create with their own hands. Is that the case?
We believe that there is a slight resurgence of sewers and crafters. HGTV and other design shows maintain interest in the fabric industry. These shows are not enough to support a fabric store in each community. Also, community and school sewing classes will help insure that sewing and other fabric arts do not fade into hobbies of the past. By stressing both fun and practical sides of sewing, both sewing classes and network design shows demonstrate that there are still plenty of uses for sewing abilities, abilities that almost anyone can develop. In reality, the only limits will be those imposed by your imagination. We still need sewing classes from grade school to high school. Sewing is not a hobby of the past but a ability that anyone can achieve. Sewing can help you make anything you want with any fabric you can find. One is not limited on what they can do or make.
Furthermore, because of the internet new fabric stores have emerged. The selection of fabric is bigger than the sewer of 30 years ago could have imagined. If you need a floral tapestry just go to a search engine and type in floral tapestry and there will be a vast selection of fabric stores and fabric patterns to choose from. If you need a dog fabric just go to Google and type in dog fabric and you will see 50 or more sites with all different kinds of dog fabrics to choose from.
Do the Hancock store closings and Walmart scaling down their fabric department affect you as a sewer, quilter, seamstress or designer? Will you even notice they are gone?
Posts by J&O
Fabrics StoreLabels: fabric-industry, fabric-store, fabric-stores, sewing-classes, textile-industry