Economy In The Sewing Room For 2006

I do not remember what website I found this on, but it has some very useful tips in it. (I, of course, am a packrat, so I save every little piece of sewing stuff I have left over that is big enough to use on something. Even if only on a doll's outfit or a stuffed animal!)

According to my dictionary, the meaning of economy is " careful management of resources to avoid unnecessary expenditures."  That is an excellent description of the following tips compiled by my loyal members showing how they save both money and time in the sewing room.

Zippers from outgrown blanket sleepers are always worth taking out...they come in tons of colors and you can always bar tac along the bottom to make them the length that you need.  If I find sleepers at yard sales for cheap that are stained or whatever, I always pick them up and remove the zipper.... ten cents for a sleeper or even a quarter sure beats the 2.00+ you pay to buy zippers.
(Tip from dudsanddoodads)

When my husband & sons outgrow or have torn briefs I cut the elastic off & use inside casings for pajama pants.  It is usually still good & soft enough to use again. The rest goes into the rags for dusting.
(Tip from MomofSix)

Keep all the buttons from the shirts, dresses, etc in a button jar.
(Tip from SummerEchos)

I keep a small plastic bucket next to my machine and any small pieces of trim, hem tape, bias tape, laces, etc go in there for doll clothes, small craft items, etc.  Sometimes 3 or 4 inches is enough for a small craft item, or doll dress or blouse.
(Tip from LeapFromLibby)

I save anything that's useable again; I string matching buttons & tie in a knot to drop in my jar. That way I don't have to dig for ones that match & I know how many matching ones I have.  I save material scraps that are large enough to use in a quilt, save trims, zippers, you can make things out of empty spools or give them to camps for kids to make things, used needles are good for sewing on papers, paper clips work where you don't want straight pins, hair clips work also.  I save old jeans, denim skirts & shorts; they are good to make lots of things.  I save the water solvy scraps & add some water to make a brush on solvy for embroidery.
(Tip from beachgirl)

I tend to buy a lot of patterns at 2nd hand stores, especially for kids patterns and craft patterns.  I can get them for 25 cents each and find lots that have never been used.  I also check out 2nd hand stores for fabric remnants, zippers, bias tape, etc and always check out my local fabric stores for remnants, especially on sale! Sometimes I have been blown away at what I can get for a few dollars!
(Tips from bridesmom)

The white selvage edges of cotton quilting fabrics make great stabilizer tape for shoulder seams in knits or other stretchy garment fabrics.

(Tip from Patsy)

I sew onto a scrap of material at the end of each seam.  Saves an awful lot of thread and I never have to worry about the ends getting caught in the teeth when I start the next seam. Easy to hold on to the scrap to get started if necessary...especially if you have arthritis.
(Tip from mamahoogie)

I find unbelievable fabric for hardly any money at my local thrift store. Imagine getting 25 yards of brand new Waverly decorator fabric (with large beautiful magnolias) for only $4.99 - that's $4.99 for 25 yards!!! I knew there was more at my local fabric shop for $15 a yard, but I waited for it to go on sale and bought another 20 yards for $5.99 a yard.  I am going to be using this fabric in my sewing room for curtains, and slip covered large & tall book shelves. I also found 20 yards of beautiful medium weight curtain/drapery fabric for $10.99 in a beautiful solid ivory color. I know that particular fabric was going for $6.99 a yard on sale. I also have found wonderful fabric on eBay and have found tons of thread and zippers on eBay as well. It is not unusual for me to get 100 zippers for less then $10. My secret for finding unbelievable bargains such as this is to shop often. I hear people say they never find anything at a thrift store - I say if you don't find something the first time - try again.  Try and find out when they put out new stuff.
(Tip from Laurab2851)

Shop the seconds' area of outlet stores. I just found a dress and skirt that have minor problems on them that make them unsaleable, but I'm going to change the dress into a skirt and use the fabric in the skirt to make a shirt or something. I've heard you can get
 old bridesmaid dresses from goodwill and do similar things.
(Tip from pucktricks)

Use throwaway clothes for muslins. Men's sizes work great for smaller ladies and kids. You can piece and splice if need be before cutting out your pattern.
(Tip from mamagoose)

I use old, soft sheets that have a rip or worn area in them for crib sheets, so soft. Crib sheets are expensive! You can do the same with flannel pj's. They make soft receiving blankets.
(Tip from patti2)

I've used old men's shirts for pocket linings, etc. You can sometimes get nice matching patterns as well as solid colors.
(Tip from Longblades)

Low stash. I calculate yardage carefully in order to avoid remnants. I also very rarely buy stash fabric. Right now my "stash" consists of two small shelves worth.  

Finish UFOs. There are *so* many times I want to buy a bunch of fabric for my new project, but I force myself to finish the current one. I think this helps me keep disciplined about my sewing addiction and more serious about what I commit to. It keeps my husband happier, too.  

Use adult clothes to make kids' clothes. My husband wears out the hems and the crotch of his pants. Plenty of good leftover chino or khaki to make pants for my little ones. Same with t-shirts (see tip #4).

Two words: t-shirt surgery. You can make tops, skirts, purses, anything out of t-shirts. Go to the thrift store and buy a shirt for $1. It is also tremendous fun. Last weekend
I went to my 10-yr. high school reunion wearing a t-shirt skirt and got tons of compliments.
(Tips from blackie)

When my DD was younger I found cheap t-shirts & tank tops & added a cotton skirt to the hem. If there was enough fabric I made shorts &/or put an appliqué on the top. She had some really original outfits for not much money.
(Tip from MomofSix)

You can make pattern weights by cutting small squares from scraps and stuffing with B-Bs or small pebbles (like for aquariums)

I also cut buttons off of old shirts before throwing them out, as well as some laces and trims. I save it for crafts and crazy quilts.

Old wool skirts and blazers found at the thrift store are great for recycling into wool quilts or penny rugs. (Wash them first to felt the wool.) The prices for wool items are especially cheap in the summer time.

I have a new policy for doing free sewing, hems, or alterations for my mom, dad, sisters, friends etc. They have to buy the thread and/or fabric and I keep what is left.
(Tips from Bama)

I keep an eye out for sleeveless knit tops on sale, lightweight fabric, and get them for $1 or $2. Or sometimes I use the tops that have been sitting in my dresser, and never been worn. These I use for the top of nighties I make. For the bottom of the nighties I use remnants from the fabric store or from my stash.  I don't even need a meter for the bottom. Using my serger, all I have to do is gather the bottom part of the nightie to the top, and then serge a hem at the bottom. A little leftover lace or ribbon at the neckline finishes it off.  A new nightie in no time, and very inexpensive.
(Tip from ellymolin)

I buy the majority of my fabric at thrift stores. I find GREAT stuff at very low prices. You are guaranteed to find prints that you would never see around today--and that's a good thing!
(Tip from e50e)

My thrifty-ness was to use t-shirts (which seem to multiply in the laundry!) to make pillow covers. The designs on the t-shirts were cute (kittens, flowers) and I just cut the front and back, added a zipper, and covered the throw pillows in the rec. room. The kids loved them because they were soft!
(Tip from acdngydr)

Old sweaters, using the front and back, cut into squares, serging the edges and putting pillows into them. I did it with a real funky 70's sweater I picked up at Value Village for $2, added some buttons and it turned out really cute.
(Tip from bridesmom)

Obviously from this list there are loads of ways to save both money and time in the sewing room. I will be adding to this list in the coming weeks, so be sure to stay tuned for tips about old patterns and lots more really ingenious ideas to keep us sewing smart!