#57: Can Sewing Save You Money?

This is first of a two-part series about sewing and saving and buckle up because it starts with an unapologetically political rant about the current cost of living crisis. I then explore the question, ‘Can sewing save you money?’ looking at mending, garment making, quilt making and making reusable products. I also share a listener question about opportunities to use sewing skills in a voluntary capacity to help those in need.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Hear the episode of Fiber Nation called Home Economics Vs Hilter.

‘Soaring costs could strip ‘basic dignity’ from millions in UK’, by Patrick Butler is an article which featured in the Guardian 2//9/22

Find Shams el-Din Rogers on Instagram @shamseldinrogers and listen to Shams on Episode 49: Sewing as Art and Political Action with Shams el-Din Rogers.

I explored the following topics in an attempt to answer if sewing can save you money:

Mending

Making your own clothes

Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes by Dana Thomas

Quilt making

Making Reusables

This includes:

• washable sanitary products
• reusable incontinence pads and pants
• washable nappies, cleaning cloths
• kitchen and tableware
• bowl covers
• handkerchiefs

Period Panty Kits from Sew Projects

Listen to Yelena in Episode 25: handmade Period Pants with Yelena Buck.

Period Panty Gusset Only kit.

Free cloth menstrual pads patterns by Luna Wolf.

Volunteering

Listen to Noah in Episode 45: The Art of Rescue with Noah Hirsch.

You can make washable pads for organisations Days for Girls and The Pachamama Project.