Machine sewing isn't that much more expensive, and it's a VAST improvement over hand sewing unless you've got plenty of time, and lots of boredom.
this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2025
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unless you’ve got plenty of time, and lots of boredom
also if you like needles relentlessly stabbing your thumb.
That's what thimbles are for, my dude.
They're not part of a drum kit? Tho thrange!
Also space and peace of mind. Sewing machines aren’t the largest of machines, but they do require a dedicated space, and can be somewhat noisy.
Sewing machines also are much worse for patching things.
Just think through the logistics of how you would use a sewing machine to reinforce the knee of some pants or to reinforce/repair a well loved stuffy.
If you are actually Making things, a sewing machine is well worth it. But it doesn't replace knowing a few basic hand stitches.
Just think through the logistics of how you would use a sewing machine to reinforce the knee of some pants or to reinforce/repair a well loved stuffy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO6VezZSfus
Like this -- Doing knee patches, or small stuffies isn't difficult with a proper sewing machine. You just bunch up the material to get around it.
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My view is if I have a friend with a machine or there’s a community center or something with one I’ll absolutely use it for many projects.
But since I only sew to repair my own clothes, live somewhere fairly small, and am poor, and don’t like having lots of stuff (makes evictions more devastating), I won’t get one myself.
I'd imagine that machine sewing is quite useful in "making the thing," but hand sewing is more fun for "doing the stitch". And there can be some stitches on a "thing" that require hand sewing even if most of it is machine made, so it's not a bad idea to know some different hand stitch techniques.
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You can also use a sewing machine whilst watching TV.
Also, the fabric IS the expensive part because you start going “oh that’s a pretty fabric” and end up with a pile of fabric. Then you buy another sewing machine
Don't forget about the serger.
And the cutting board, especially if you get the rotary cutter. And the adjustable mannequin…
PLEASE BUY THE ODD SIZES FROM THE THRIFT STORES AND NOT THE SIZES I WEAR THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
PLEASE DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS POST, NORMAL SIZED PEOPLE HAVE PLENTY OF CLOTHING OPTIONS. LEAVE THE ODD SIZED CLOTHING FOR ODD SIZED PEOPLE
CAN WE PLEASE STOP YELLING, IT'S STRESSFUL
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE NOT BUY THAT JACKET I WANT TO BUY THEY DO NOT MAKE THEM LIKE THEY USED TO, PROBABLY ON PURPOSE
BIG JACKET CONSPIRACY STRIKES AGAIN
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I AM L FOR LUMPY AND SOMETIMES M FOR MANGLED OR XL FOR EXTRA LUMPY I AM FINE IF YOU BUY THE REST PLEASE AND THANK YOU
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
I hand-sewed some goat legs for halloween last year with basically zero sewing knowledge, it was genuinely such a blast to figure stuff out :D Took like 2 weeks worth of evenings while watching a show but 10/10 would do again.
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do not use these scissors for anything else
- Buy scissors for sewing
- My family uses then for everything but sewing
- Someone loses them
- Repeat from step 1
Cheap 3-scissor-set from IKEA to the rescue!
With 4 of these you will only lose your beloved scissors half as much.
When you have clothes that you want to keep and they get holes in them, just sew up the holes ya dingus! For your health!
I was taught how to hand sew in school for an art project and it has been so useful. As a teenager I was intentionally getting damaged clothes at the thrift store for extra cheap and sewing them back up myself.
I need to re-do the patches on my jacket that I applied with fabric glue and want to just sew them on, but IDK how to do the ones that are over the breast pockets because I can't get my hand fully inside to stitch it up. I don't want to stitch the pocket itself shut.
Edit: Curved needles. Curved. Needles! 😊 Gonna need to see if I can get one at Micheal's since my little repair kit doesn't have one.
Can you post a picture?
Love the patches. The pockets seem rather big, so the problem is not that you aren't getting anything in, but that you cannot comfortably put the needle from inside to the outside? And I guess it is too thick to go in and out with the same stitch? If this would somewhat work you could consider a thimble, I recently rediscovered that little metal thing and it saved me a couple of times. Gets you through thick layers as long as your needle is stable (or you're willing to sacrifice 4-5 needles for a project).
Are the patches decorative or functional? If they are decorative (i.e. covering up imperfections) you would only need a couple of stitches to hold them in place, right? Or try another glue? If they are functional (i.e. covering up holes and necessary for integrity) you would need a more profound stitch. In that case, would you consider ripping the seam on the side of the pocket to open it up? That would allow you to have better access. Once you're done you'd obviously have to sew the pocket back on.
The other alternative is to find a friend with a kid that has small hands and pay them in gummi bears for their labor.
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Don't forget to pick up a tin of cookies at the dollar store when you get your kit. You get snacks and a place to store your sewing supplies that is needle-poke-proof.
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Just be careful with the thread and needles you're not using/watching if you have a cat.
I have made two plushies this way and I feel an extra connection to them. I look at them and think "aww cute" but also "I did that!"
https://edunham.net/2016/04/11/plushie_rustacean_pattern.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9bjNCo3dk4
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If you ride a bicycle and keep getting holes in your ass, I recommend patching with webbing. Think seatbelt material.
You can buy a roll of it from Johanns. They sell it for weaving the seats of outdoor chairs.
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knitting too. Knit patches on sweaters / cardigan are silly easy to do and can often look pretty badass.
also careful. these hobbies are cheap but cozy yet ADDICTING. 😂
I have always wanted to learn to knit, how cool would it be to make sweaters?!
I knit sweaters. I don’t like knitting socks, I don’t wear hats, and so sweaters it is. I get lots of compliments on them and when people find out I knit them myself, they’re always pretty astonished.
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I hate sewing, but it has saved me thousands of dollars over my lifetime and I am convinced that everyone should know how to do it unless they really don't care about money.
I've thought about learning to sew by hand for just this reason - to make minor repairs and save some money and create less waste. Does anyone have recommendations for a kit or which items to buy to get started?
Well, a sewing needle, needle pins, some thread and a project.
Sewing kits are okay, but usually very low quality and with a lot of junk (looking at you, mini-foldable-scissor)
You can get lucky thrifting and get huge amounts of high quality thread for no money. You probably know someone who has a lot of sewing stuff who would love to hook you up.
Otherwise, just buy what you need for the project you are doing.
Use cotton thread for cotton fabric, poly thread for synthetics. Match the thread with the fabric.
If you mainly repair stuff, buying supplies will save more than you spend pretty quickly.
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I personally would hyphenate "stupid cheap" in this context, I thought you didn't like hand sewing at first.
And if you're a fan of puzzles, try wearing gloves and then hand sewing your hands together
Well, if it's stupid I think I'll refrain. /s
The crotch on a couple of my pants are held together with a backstitch.
Anyone know some good offers for nice (nerdy) patches? There are nice embroidered patches on Etsy, but at 7 USD per patch they're a bit expensive for everyday repairing (let alone extensive projects like a GNU/Linux-themed biker's vest).
Depending on where you live, those thrift store shirts are not material you really want to use for anything you would touch. "Lightly worn" means very different things in different areas and the more bougie areas tend to get picked clean REAL fast by all the "life hack" kids. And the less bougie areas... there is very much an argument for leaving the thrift shops for those who need them but that ship has sailed.
But yeah. I would just add on that it is well worth it to pay the extra buck or two for some self threading needles and a thimble. If you can't thread a needle for physical reasons (e.g. vision or dexterity limitations) you probably don't want to be doing too much sewing for things that experience wear, but not having to thread a needle is borderline life changing. Just stick the needle in something to stabilize it and then pull the thread down into the eye and boom, you are done.
A good trick is to thrift “by touch” - feeling for cotton or heavier materials. There are a lot of quality cotton XXL blood drive/college or work event t-shirts that no one will ever want. I’ve volunteered doing some sorting through donations for a homeless shelter before, and they weren’t lacking for those at all. It was more a lack of dress pants for job interviews that were needed.
Resellers are usually going for names and not necessarily quality from what I’ve noticed.
I thought that every pack of needles came with a needle threader, which looks like a diamond shaped metal wire and a little part that you hold. That already is a big help.
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