In light of the economic problems currently happening, now is a good time to learn to sew if you don't know how, or improve the skills that you do have. At one time clothing construction was a common knowledge skill, taught to daughters by their mothers and grandmothers. Ready-made clothing was not always easily available and then only for the well-to-do, so out of necessity it was important that someone in the family knew how to make the clothes that everyone needed.
It is troubling to me to see that so many fabric stores have closed down. Fabric and thread and other sewing supplies are needed, especially in hard times, when the price of everything is so high.
Preparing ahead of time for a disaster: Keeping some yardage on hand of fabric that can be made into simple clothing would be a good idea. It could be thought of as adding to your disaster preparations, the same as you would store food or water, or medicines, or tools. Some suggestions would be a bolt of muslin; several 3 or 4 yard pieces of 100% cotton, like calico; some lightweight canvas or denim, and flannel. This yardage can make shirts, skirts, pants, sheets, dishtowels, pillow cases, diapers, cloth pads, scarves, napkins, blankets, tarps, shade shelters, curtains.
Another suggestion to have on hand: Extra large white 100% cotton t-shirts. Why? Right now buying knit fabric in a store like Joann's is expensive; the last time I looked it was about $9.00 a yard not on sale. But you can buy t-shirts for less than half that price. There is quite a bit of material in a big t-shirt. The knit fabric in a t-shirt can be made into comfortable underwear, also diapers, cloth pads, pillowcases, washcloths, headcoverings for cold weather, and rags when it all gets too worn for wear.
Owning a functional sewing machine that can sew any type of fabric is also important. A treadle or hand cranked machine would not require electricity to use.
It would be good to find a basic pattern that can be used to make many different types of clothing and know how to use it that way. If you were knowledgeable you could draft your own patterns as needed.
None of us knows what the future will be. Right now with our global economy failing, we just don't know how that will play out, as it has never been like this before. We have come to rely on clothing made cheaply from Asia and other parts of the world. Will these always be available and affordable? Will you always have the money to pay them?
Having a skill like sewing and having the tools and supplies on hand to make what you need, could mean the difference of you and your family being healthy, secure and comfortable - or not.
It is something to think about. Edey
