Cheap tricks: fabric

Sewing your own things can be cheap if you already have the fabric, or if you get it at a great price, but for the most part, making your own things are more expensive just from buying fabric. For this reason, when we are ready to throw away clothes, I save them. I never let my  husband toss a pair of jeans that are beyond repair. This is also a great way to use sentimental clothes. I showed you a while back how to up-cycle a T-shirt that you don't want to throw out. I have also made my little girl a dress from a bridesmaid skirt that I knew I wouldn't wear again. Like saving anything, use discretion when saving, have a purpose in mind or you will just be hoarding*. (There are a few things like jeans that I always keep because I can always make my girl another pair of jeans) on the other hand, keep it out for a few days so that you are thinking about it and see if you can come up with a project to use it on but if its just scraps or you can't think of anything to use it for, don't hold onto it.

So, that's using fabric you already had, what about things you want to make, not with fabric you already have? I can make lots if things for a little girl from our clothes, but I can't usually up cycle my clothes into more clothes for myself. Keep an eye open when you go to the fabric store; sometimes, they will have awesome sales when they get new stock in or at the end of a season, just as long as you're not too picky about your fabric, you can buy a lot on sale and use it for more than one project. 

Another way to get cheap fabric for clothes is to buy things at thrift stores and alter them to fit you the way you want. I haven't done this a whole lot, but if you have never visited http://refashionista.net/  then now is the time! This woman changes the ugliest things into cute clothes! Find something that you love the fabric of and get creative! 

*in my book, saving clothes is different from saving store bought fabric. If you have fabric left over from a project, hold onto it always. I have made so many things from that end that I cut off of a quilt backing or a dress that I bought too much fabric for. I even had enough left over from my wedding dress to make a baby blessing dress.