Sewing is expensive

People often ask how much it cost me to make my own clothes. Often it is assumed that the total cost for fabric+thread+zipper is all it takes. If you score fabric for $10 and you spend $3 for thread and zipper, you'd think that the cost of a dress is $13, right? Well, think again! :)

I took inventory of all necessary tools, equipment, etc., that I use to make a good quality custom-fit everyday dress, and I'm sharing my list with you. Buckle up! Even before buying fabric, we are talking four digits here.

Education: online sewing courses = $1,089 over the course of 1.5 years. This total includes cost of 1 roll of tracing paper and 30 yards of muslin fabric. I wouldn't be where I am in my sewing skills today if it weren't for WW School courses (soon available in English!)

Equipment: sewing machine + serger = $2,147. Serger was $200, you do the math))) (if you are bad at math, the price list is below.) There are of course cheaper sewing machines, and I had a $145 machine for 4.5 years before I bought the best machine on the planet, my beautiful Bernina. I wanted to make sure that this hobby sticks because had it not, I wouldn't have wanted to be stuck with a $2,000 machine :)

Tools: $301. You can see everything that I use in most of my projects in the pics below.

So, all in all, before buying actual fabric and notions, I already spent $3,538. What does this give me? Awesome skills, ability to make clothes that fit me, that are the right length, color, style, etc., and that nobody else has. Powerful and smart sewing machine, that makes every operation easy and frustration-free. Amazing teachers 6,000 miles away that share their knowledge with me. You can't even put a price on that. Just like you can't put a price on the amazing sewing community both online and offline. Sewsisters unite! :) Also, everyone knows that sewing = therapy. When you know what you are doing of course :)

Here are the pics of the inventory :)

And here is the fabric. In this picture, it ranges from $5 per yard to $280 per yard, like the real Chanel blue/gold tweed on the top shelf. I got it with an 80% discount because the store was closing (they are still selling online though: www.tissudallas.com) The silver fabric on top of Chanel was $175 per yard, and I scored it with 80% discount as well. They will need to wait until they move into the sewing room in our new house. I will need to buy or build a few more desks for it, put a big mirror there, buy a better dress form ($250-300?) and a professional iron ($500.) Four digits, I'm telling you! :)

sewing machine	1947
serger	200
cutting mat	14
big cutting mat with ruler	30
yellow rulers	55
ruler	11
ruler	3
ham	10
sleeve roll	11
seam ripper	5
old seam ripper	5
Olfa cutter big	13
fiskars cutter small	12
wrist pin cushion	8
iron	30
fiskars small scissors	8
main shears	19
stork scissors	12
snips	10
pinking shears	9
chalk roller pens	14
tailor's chalk	5
water soluble pen	7
seam gauge	4
loop turner	5
measuring tape	2